Membership:

1.  What does IMSA stand for?
2.  Am I a member of IMSA?

Certification:

3.   Do I have to be a member of IMSA to maintain my certification?
4.   What are the results of my exam?
5.   When is the next review class in my area going to be held?
6.  How much do one of your review courses cost?
7.  Could you tell me the necessary prerequisites for the different certifications?
8.  I will be taking my Traffic Signal Level II exam soon.  I currently have2 years working with traffic signals and do not know if that would satisfy the two-year requirement.  Do you have to have your Level I Certificate for two years to receive Level II certification?
9.  How do I become a Moderator for IMSA?
10.  How do I obtain IMSA Level III Certification?

Certification Renewal:

11.  Why is IMSA requiring certification renewal?  Is it just a way to increase IMSA income?
12.  If I hold a certification that requires Work Zone as a prerequisite do I have to renew my Work Zone Certification?
13.  Do I have to take the certification review program again in order to renew my certification?
14.  The certification renewal letter I received states "certifications will be issued 'valid' for a three year period…"  Does this mean my membership is now valid for three years?
15.  I have 6 traffic signal and 4 traffic sign employees with IMSA certification.  In the cover letter it mentions a volume discount. Does the discount apply to multiple employees, or simply to an individual employee with multiple certifications?
16.  I did not receive a letter from IMSA regarding my certification but my co-worker did.  Why?
17.  If there has been something with legal endorsement formulated, when are the members and entities holding certificates going to be presented this information?
18.  Who technically is the owner of the certificate? Is it the person whose name appears on the certificate or is it the entity who paid for an employee to attain certification?
19.  What if I choose not to participate in the certification renewal program?
20.  If IMSA chooses to remove you from their database, is this legal since you were issued this document, supported by published public documents which state the certification is for life?
21.  Have agencies/employers been officially notified by IMSA of IMSA’s intent to revoke certificates if renewal fees are not paid by a stipulated date?
22.  Is the cost of a renewal examination included in the certification renewal fee?
23.  Is certification renewal required in order to continue to serve as an IMSA moderator?

Journal:

24.  How do I get an article published in the IMSA Journal?
25.  What is the deadline for new product releases, ad material, etc.?
26.  What line screen do I need for the IMSA Journal?

Mailing Labels:

27.   Are mailing labels for the IMSA membership available?

Manuals:

28.  Could you please tell me the price of your different manuals?

Membership:

1.  What does IMSA stand for?
   International Municipal Signal Association.
2.  Am I a member of IMSA?
   If you receive an IMSA Journal and have a current membership card you are a current member of IMSA.
   

Certification:

3.  Do I have to be a member of IMSA to maintain my certification?
   No, but being a member will keep you informed of IMSA certification updates in the IMSA Journal.
   
4.  What are the results of my exam?
   The International Office will notify the sponsoring agency of the results of the graded exams approximately six to eight weeks after the exams are received at the International Office and the exam fees have been paid.
   
5.  When is the next review class in my area going to be held?
   You may check our web site under Certification Program Schedule in the Certification listing in the top menu for upcoming classes. If you don't see anything for your area, please feel free to call your area Section Secretary or Section Certification contact. Click on "Contacts" in the top menu, go to "Section Secretaries & Directors", then click on your state or province. You will find the name and telephone number of the secretary for that section who will be able to assist you.
   
6.  How much do your review courses cost?
   The International Office can only quote the International Conference prices. Check with your local IMSA Section for the cost. To find out the different prices of our manuals, click on Products located under Resources on the menu.
   
7.  Could you tell me the necessary prerequisites for the different certifications?
   Go to the menu, click on Certification, then click Certification Descriptions.
   
8.  I will be taking my Traffic Signal Level I exam soon. I currently have 2 years working with traffic signals and do not know if that would satisfy the two year requirement. Do you have to have your Level I Certificate for two years to receive Level II certification?
   The prerequisites state two years in the field, not two years from your Level I certification date.
   
9.  How do I become a Moderator for IMSA?
   Contact your Local Section Chair. They will have the responsibility of seeing that you have had the Educational Methodology Course and are suitable for a Moderator position in their Section. They Have the appropriate paperwork to fill out and have to sign off before it is filed with the International Office.
   
10.  How do I obtain IMSA Level III certification?
    To obtain IMSA Level II certification you must complete the following:

Traffic Signal Level III Bench

• Have five years experience in the traffic signal field.
• Obtain IMSA certification in Work Zone, Traffic Signal Level I, and Traffic Signal Level II Bench (Electronics).
• Pass the one hundred question basic Level III Bench exam.
• Pass the Electronic III Supplemental exam or the Electronic in Traffic Signal Exam.
• Pass the IMSA Microprocessors in Traffic Signals exam.

Traffic Signal Level III Field

• Have five years experience in the traffic signal field.
• Obtain IMSA certification in Work Zone, Traffic Signal Level I, and Traffic Signal Level II Field (Electrical).
• Pass the one hundred question Level III Field exam.

Signs & Markings Level III

• Have five years experience in the Signs and Markings field.
• Obtain IMSA certification in Work Zone, Signs and Markings Level I, and Signs and Markings Level II.
• Pass the one hundred question Level III Field exam.

Municipal Fire Alarm Level III

• Have five years experience in the Municipal Fire Alarm field.
• Obtain IMSA certification in Municipal Fire Alarm Level I and Municipal Fire Alarm Level II.
• Pass the one hundred question Level III Field exam.
  

Certification Renewal

11.  Why is IMSA requiring certification renewal? Is it just a way to increase IMSA income?
    The IMSA Board of Directors made the decision to require a certification renewal program in order to maintain the integrity of the certification program.  A special committee spent over eighteen months researching the issue and concluded that it was in the best interest of persons holding IMSA certification to develop and implement a program to insure continued competency.
    
    On April 30, 2004 a draft version of the Certification Renewal Program was sent to all of the IMSA Section Certification Chairmen, Section Secretaries, Section Treasurers and IMSA Directors and Alternates from Mr. Glen Bollinger, Certification Renewal Sub-Committee Chairman asking for comments.  In his memo, Mr. Bollinger also said “Please keep in mind that we have to start somewhere and we need to have a ‘procedure’ ready for approval in July at the Denver Conference.”  The International Board of Directors, the governing body of the Association, voted to approve the certification renewal program and set the fees for the program.
    
    IMSA did not develop certification renewal to increase income.  The fees generated by certification renewals go towards the development of new and expanded certification programs and cover the cost of administering the program.
    
12.  If I hold a certification that requires Work Zone as a prerequisite do I have to renew my Work Zone Certification?
    No.  If the Work Zone Certification is a requirement of a higher certification it is not necessary to renew your Work Zone certification.  The Committee did not feel that was necessary if someone could prove competency of a higher level.
    
    Please note that the state of Florida has mandatory Work Zone renewal requirements.  The State of Florida requires that in order to renew your Florida Work Zone certification you must either complete the Florida Work Zone Renewal Program or take the Florida Work Zone Program again.  Please note that the State of Florida does not allow you to challenge the Work Zone Certification examination.  You must complete the program.
    
13.  Do I have to take the certification review program again inorder to renew my certification?
    Renewals will be required every three years.  The first renewal will simply involve a fee and a letter stating that you have remained active in your field of work.  Beginning with the second renewal and thereafter you will be required to choose one of the following methods for renewal:
• Renewal hours by Personal Log
• Continuing Educational Units (CEU)
• Higher certification level
• Attending the current level Certification Course (exam not required)
  
14.  The certification renewal letter I received states "certifications will be issued 'valid' for a three year period…" Does this mean my membership is now valid for three years?
    Your membership in IMSA will continue to be on an annual basis.  You will receive a dues invoice each year.
    
    Certification renewal will be on a three year cycle.
    
15.  I have 6 traffic signal and 4 traffic sign employees with IMSA certification.  In the cover letter it mentions a volume discount.  Does the discount apply to multiple employees, or simply to an individual employee with multiple certifications?
    The volume discount for certification renewal is per individual.  A person holding multiple certifications may renew them at a discount with a maximum fee for four or more certifications.
    
    IMSA continues to offer discounted membership fees for multiple employees in the Public Agency classification.
    
16.  I did not receive a letter from IMSA regarding my certification but my co-worker did.  Why?
    The IMSA certification renewal program is being phased in over the next three years.  You will be required to renew your certifications based on the date you received your latest certification.  The following schedule has been adopted:
• If your latest certification was issued prior to 1990 you must renew your certification(s) before June 30, 2005
• If your latest certification was issued between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 1999 you will receive a letter from IMSA by January 1, 2006 and your certification(s) must be renewed before June 30, 2006.
• If your latest certification was issued between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2004 you will receive a letter from IMSA by January 1, 2007 and your certification(s) must be renewed before June 30, 2007.

All of your certifications will remain valid until your renewal due date.

17.  If there has been something with legal endorsement formulated, when are the members and entities holding certificates going to be presented this information?
    This information was included in the Executive Director’s article in the January/February 2005 issue of the IMSA Journal that was mailed to the membership the first week of December, 2004.
    
18.  Who technically is the owner of the certificate? Is it the person whose name appears on the certificate or is it the entity who paid for an employee to attain certification?
    The IMSA certificates are issued in the name of the individual who passed the certification exam regardless of whether the individual or the individual’s employer paid the exam fee.  The owner of the certification is the person whose name is on the certificate .
    
19.  What if I choose not to participate in the certification renewal program?
    IMSA is confident that those who value their IMSA certification will see the value of keeping it current.
    
20.  If IMSA chooses to remove you from their database, is this legal since you were issued this document, supported by published public documents which state the certification is for life?
    IMSA does not remove people from their database.  IMSA was advised by legal counsel that the risk of offering certification for life far outweighs the risk of instituting a certification renewal program.
    
21.  Have agencies/employers been officially notified by IMSA of IMSA’s intent to revoke certificates if renewal fees are not paid by a stipulated date?
    IMSA has never stated that certificates would be revoked.
    
22.  Is the cost of attending the current certification course for renewal included in the certification renewal fee?
    No.  The fee for attending the current certification course to be paid to the section.  The renewal fee is an administrative fee for processing and maintaining your certification renewal and is paid to the International office at your time of renewal. Please see the renewal fee schedule for those fees.
    
23.  Is certification renewal required in order to continue to serve as an IMSA moderator?
    Yes.  Remember that moderating IMSA certification programs counts towards your continuing education requirement.

Journal

24.  How do I get an article published in the IMSA Journal?
    If you send it to the International Office, it will be reviewed for publication.
    
25.  What is the deadline for new product releases, ad material, etc.
    Click here for the Editorial Calendar
    
26.  What line screen do I need for the IMSA Journal?
    150 line screen for both black and white and color. Right reading emulsion side down.

Mailing Labels:

27.  Are mailing labels for the IMSA membership available?
    IMSA does make available its membership list in the form of mailing labels to appropriate audiences.

    Procedure

    Sections of  IMSA may obtain the labels at cost ($.05 per label).

    Other organizations which promote educational materials or courses may obtain the labels at a cost of $.08 per label.

    Organizations or institutions which sell public safety related products or services may obtain the labels for $.15 per label.

    Requests for the use of mailing labels will be made in writing to the Executive Director of IMSA.  All requests will state the purpose of the mailing as well as include a sample of the materials to be mailed.

    Policy

    The Executive Director of IMSA will have the responsibility to approve or disallow such requests.  The Executive Committee will resolve any difficulties arising between parties requesting the mailing labels.

    IMSA will not allow use of mailing labels to advertise products or services in direct competition with IMSA sponsored products or services.

    Each order for mailing labels is for a one-time use only for the purpose and materials submitted and reviewed by the Executive Director.  Each purchase is a separate contract between IMSA and the user and shall imply no obligation of IMSA to enter into future contracts for the use of the labels.

    All rights to distribution and use of the labels are solely the property of IMSA. The labels may not be reproduced or stored in any manner, either in part or whole. 

Manuals

28.  Could you please tell me the price of your different manuals?
    You will find the manuals that we offer and the price on our web site at Study Guides and Manuals.