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McLean, Virginia - Applications are now available from 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. (3-A SSI) for candidates interested in becoming a credentialed 3-A SSI Certified Conformance Evaluator (CCE). Those who meet the application requirements will be eligible to sit for the CCE exam on Monday, May 5, 2025. The exam will take place at the Chicago Marriott O'Hare, 8535 W. Higgins Road, Chicago, Illinois, site of the 3-A SSI Summit on Hygienic Design on May 6-8, 2025.
Accreditation as a CCE is required for independent inspection professionals to conduct an evaluation of finished equipment and other product attributes to affirm conformance to the applicable 3-A Sanitary Standard or 3-A Accepted Practice. The inspection criteria detailed in the 3-A SSI Third Party Verification (TPV) Program are required for 3-A Symbol authorization and the related 3-A Replacement Part programs. A complete on-site TPV inspection is required upon application and once every five years thereafter, or any time there is a significant design change or non-conformance.
Exam candidates must have a bachelor’s degree in a science or engineering-related field, plus three (3) years of experience in relevant food or pharmaceutical processing. In addition, at least one (1) year of the three (3) years of a candidate’s general experience should be directly related to the 3-A Sanitary Standards/Accepted Practices equipment design or sanitary processes. In lieu of a bachelor’s degree, a high-school degree plus five (5) years of experience in relevant food or pharmaceutical processing may be accepted with three (3) years out of the five (5) years of general experience directly related to the 3-A Sanitary Standards/Accepted Practices equipment design or sanitary processes.
Beyond basic education and experience requirements, all CCE candidates must have the ability to interpret 3-A Sanitary Standards or Accepted Practices as well as understand engineering drawings and designs and the ability to travel to manufacturing facilities throughout the world as an independent contractor. CCE candidates are required to provide professional references attesting to the candidate's work experience and integrity.
The CCE application form may be found in the Certified Conformance Evaluators Manual on Appendix 2, pages 10-14 (https://www.3-a.org/evaluators-cce). Please ensure you have reviewed all details about the requirements for application and maintenance of the CCE credential in Section A.
Complete CCE application packages must be received by 3-A SSI no later than Friday, March 28, 2025 (Close of Business).
A non-refundable application fee of $475 is payable by check to 3-A Sanitary Standards, Inc. This fee covers the Application, CCE Exam Fee and the applicant’s first-year credential fee.
For more details, contact Eric Schweitzer at (703) 790-0295, ext. 1 or by email at erics@3-a.org.
