There is something big happening at the National Certification Board: THEY ARE LISTENING!
I caused a little uproar earlier this year when I scooped their announcement on this blog about the membership organization the NCB was planning to launch. The response to that announcement wasn’t very cordial on any front; everyone from the certificants to the other professional associations spoke out about it, and I am glad to say that the plan is on hold, according to their press release of Oct. 20. Ditching it before they spend a huge pile of money on it seems like the best course of action, in my opinion.
According to Paul Lindamood, CEO of the NCBTMB, the decision was based on “input from the profession.” That is the second time in a week that phrase has been put forth by the NCB, the first being when the announcement was made that the unpopular decision to require proctors for home-study and distance education classes was being rescinded, at least temporarily, until the issue could be revisited.
I’ve been slamming the NCB pretty hard in the past couple of years, and one of my most vocal complaints has been that they don’t listen and they don’t respond. If nothing else, these two announcements are evidence that they have come to the painful conclusion that they need to wake up and smell the coffee. I made a personal promise to Mr. Lindamood that I would spread the good news when I thought there was something good to spread, and I’m as good as my word, so here it is.
I applaud every one who contacted the NCB to express an opinion, and I urge you to keep doing it. I think they may have seen the light at the end of the tunnel and realized it was the headlight of an oncoming train. It has seemed for quite some time that they were just going to crash and burn, which would be a sad end to what was formerly a pillar of the profession.
When the NCB screws up, I report that. I don’t get any kind of pleasure out of doing so; I just think the stakeholders have a right to know. And when I see the evidence that they’re paying attention to us and trying to do better, I’m fair enough to report that, too. Let’s hope this is a good sign of better days to come.
Peace & Prosperity,
Laura Allen
