BICSI is an international professional association that offers certifications in communication and information technology. Its certification program helps applicants master the skills to work with wireless systems, copper-based or optical fiber systems, and officially certify the knowledge and skills gained.

BICSI Certification Program

BICSI offers a number of certification pathways that are designed by real-life experts with real-life case studies in mind. Thus, you can pay attention to the following accreditation tracks:

First and foremost is the ICT Cabling Installation Program, which consists of 4 designations that aim to confirm your skills and knowledge of the installation process. So, this pathway includes BICSI Installer 1 (INST1); BICSI Installer 2, Copper (INSTC); BICSI Installer 2, Optical Fiber (INSTF); and BICSI Technician (TECH).

And ICT Design Certification program that offers candidates the next qualifications:

• Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD) certification gives applicants the opportunity to consolidate their skills in ICT design, integration, and implementation as well as learning more about the infrastructure components of telecommunications distribution systems.
• Data Center Design Consultant (DCDC) certificate is suitable for those specialists who want to become skilled in data center design and understand how to implement best practices, meet the industry standards and apply the specific codes.
• Registered Telecommunications Project Manager (RTPM) accreditation focuses on offering the project managers complete information on how to identify and implement the most suitable best practices for different types of projects.
• Outside Plant (OSP) Designer certification is chosen by the professionals who want to develop outside plant projects and want to determine the installation and design phases.

As you can see, there’s a wide range of the certifications offered and you can choose any that is in line with your interest and preference. One of the most demanded certifications is RCDD and below you will find its description.

BICSI Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD)

A certified RCDD professional is an individual who has verified knowledge in telecommunication integration, design, and implementation. Also, s/he is skilled in data communications technology infrastructure and systems. So, the RCDD designation targets the professionals who want to develop advanced knowledge in integrating the design in an already-built infrastructure or create and implement the design phases for a new system.

Regarding requirements, the specialists who want to obtain the RCDD certificate should meet one of the following eligibility criteria:

• Have a minimum of two years of practical experience in ICT design plus one of the BICSI TECH, DCDC, RTPM, or OSP accreditations

Or

• Minimum two years of working experience in ICT design plus two more years of attending a higher education course related to ICT

Or

• Five years of verifiable experience in ICT

Adding the RCDD certification under their belt helps candidates obtain improved salary offers and expand their career field in the ICT domain. Also, they will enter a unique community of professionals who speak the ICT language and have a positive impact on their professional image.

BICSI RCDD Accreditation Exam Details

The candidates who decide to take the exam for the RCDD certificate should complete 100 questions for two hours and a half. The task formats are multiple-response, multiple-choice, and enhanced matching.

The application fee for this test is $510 for BICSI members and 725 for non-members. In case they fail the exam, the test-takers should pay the recertification fee of $230 for members and $355 for non-members. The registration process should be done on the Pearson VUE platform.

RCDD-003 Exam Blueprint

The professionals who want to pass the RCDD qualification exam from the first try should demonstrate knowledge on the following topics:

• ICT Design Scope Definition

  Before designing an ICT project, the candidates should understand the requirements and scopes of ICT they will need to use. Also, they should know in detail the standards and codes necessary for ICT design to meet the jurisdiction and legal compliance requirements. Additionally, the examinees must be able to estimate the project’s costs and workforce necessary to complete it.

• ICT Solutions Design

  A candidate has little chance if he or she cannot create the project documentation and estimate the size and location for ICT telecommunication spaces and coordinate with the project’s stakeholders. Besides, the test-takers will need to identify the space system and electrical requirements to manage the equipment load and location coordination. Finally, the applicants have to be skilled in ICT system testing, penetration, firestop, and system administration techniques to meet the code compliance requirements.

• ICT Bid/Tender Process Support

  Regarding this exam area, the candidates will meet questions concerning proposals and request quotes that will satisfy the stakeholders’ requirements. In addition, they will realize how to reply to such quotes and conduct discussions with the parties involved in the project to understand their expectations. Besides, the certified specialist must have the ability necessary for participating in tender activities such as meetings, bidders’ conferences, and site walks.

• ICT Installation Support Process

  Don't forget about the installation process, as the professionals need to know how to create ICT submittals and send them for approval. The reviewing process of the submittal is important together with the revising phase based on the comments received. Moreover, the candidates must understand how to prepare the close-out documentation and review it to reach the highest level of accuracy.

Professional Path

As a result, the specialists who become BICSI certified demonstrate that they have advanced time management, negotiation, budgeting, and negotiation skill set. Meanwhile, recruiters prefer them as they have verified expertise in project design and are reliable team players. Therefore, an RCDD certified professional can apply to different positions, such as:

• Sales Engineer
• Operations Manager
• Project Engineer
• Project Manager
• Senior Electrical Engineer

If you are interested in specific numbers, according to the information available on Payscale.com, the annual wage of the RCDD certificate holder is $81,300. At the same, if you decide to become a Senior Electrical Engineer, then you will earn a salary of $110,000 per year. Anyway, great prospects.

Certification Path

The candidates who manage to earn the RCDD certificate can access other accreditations offered by BICSI. For example, the RCDD certificate is an option to be considered for Data Center Design Consultant certification, to prove your expertise in data center design.

Alternatively, RCDD qualification and one year of hands-on experience in ICT project management will give you a pass for RTPM validation, which will establish you as a knowledgeable specialist in the management of ICT infrastructure projects.