2023 Jul-Aug RETA Breeze

information is important to safe and efficient operation of refrigeration systems. CRST meets ARTG Technical skill level by assessing skills, knowledge and competen cies for personnel who: • Have successfully performed at the Operational Level • Make decisions regarding operating strategies, setpoints and limits • Optimize system operations for improved cost and reliability • Schedule and/or perform major repairs and rebuilds • Recommend system upgrades and improvements • Perform system inspections and mechanic al integrity checks • Participate extensively in the Process Safety Management program • Perform complex troubleshooting • Oversee or inspect system construction/ installation activities • Supervise Operational and Entry Level operators • Coordinate shutdowns and pumpdowns • Administer preventive and predictive maintenance systems CRST requires CARO or CIRO and/or four years of technician experience. CRST adds Industrial Refrigeration Book 3 (IR-3), RETA’s Ammonia Refrigeration Compliance Guide line, and RETA’s CO2 study Course to the list of CIRO references. RETA’s Certification Committee revalidates and updates CARO, CIRO and CRST when- ever a new edition of one of the RETA books is published. All RETA books are developed by subcommittees of the Education Committee. Under ANSI 17024 Standards, RETA’s Education and Certifica tion Committees must remain completely independent and separated by a firewall between the two groups. The firewall is crucial to maintaining the fairness and integrity of all RETA creden tials. Education committee members prepare RETA books but have no access to secure

exam questions. RETA encourages instructors to use RETA Practice Tests for CARO, CIRO and CRST to help prepare candidates, but no questions on these practice tests appear in full RETA exams. Similarly, all questions on CARO, CIRO and CRST include one BEST answer and three incorrect answers based on the judgement of RETA’s Certification Committee, whose Incorrect answers in RETA exams seem plausible to candidates who do not fully understand a question, fail to read the question and all the answers carefully, or make common errors in using information about refrigeration system operations in system screens and references All of these steps are essential parts of RETA fulfilling its mission “To enhance the professional development of industrial refrigeration operating and technical engineers.” This has been the purpose of RETA since it was founded in 1909 and it continues to be RETA’s mission in carrying out the objectives that emerged from the 2002 retreat to create national operator and technician credentialing exams. We welcome your questions about RETA’s credentialing exams and activities. Send your questions by email to certification@ reta.com. Dr. Ron Rodgers, RETA’s Psychometrician (testing expert) and Accreditation Man ager, has guided development of all RETA credentialing exams since 2002. RETA Testing Corner provides information and answers questions from RETA members, candidates and others to help them earn and benefit from RETA credentials. members average over 18 years of industrial refrigeration experience.

• Perform system troubleshooting CIRO requires documentation of at least two years of machine room experience. CIRO tests knowledge represented in IR-1, Industrial Refrigeration Book 2 (IR-2), safety information in IR-4, and Basic Electricity Books 1 and 2 (BE-1 and BE-2). CIRO also requires candidates to diagnose and resolve problems based on sample screens from control panels of industrial refrigeration systems. CIRO candidates can see all 24 of the operating system screens that appear in the examination in the CIRO Study Guide. The Study Guide also includes questions based on a sample screen. A supplemental answer key for these questions appears on the CIRO screen on the RETA website. It includes explanations of how each question can be answered and the reason why that

Dr. Ron Rodgers RETA Accreditation Manager and Psychometrician

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