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History of BCPE

The BCPE was incorporated as an independent nonprofit organization in July 1990. The development of ergonomics certification, however, dates back to the mid-1980s when committees of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, the International Ergonomics Association, the Department of Defense, NATO, and the National Academy of Science/National Research Council performed several reviews of job/task analyses to identify the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of human factors/ergonomics practitioners. These domains were later categorized by the Ergonomics Abstracts (London: Taylor & Francis, ISSN 0046-2446, 1993) schema and evaluated for validity and reliability against the most widely used textbooks and handbooks in human factors/ergonomics degree programs.

The BCPE utilized these earlier job/task analyses reviews to develop the criteria and procedures for BCPE certification, and in 1992, initiated certification for the Certified Professional Ergonomist (CPE) and Certified Human Factors Professional (CHFP) credentials. Credentialing for Associate Ergonomics Professionals (AEP) and Associate Human Factors Professionals (AHFP) followed in 1995, and in 1998, certification as a Certified Ergonomics Associate (CEA) was established, in recognition of the expanding scope at which ergonomics is being practiced.

BCPE Governance

The BCPE is governed by an elected Board of Directors, composed of Certified Professional Ergonomists (CPEs)/Certified Human Factors Professionals (CHFPs) who establish corporate policies and procedures. These volunteers are leaders from within the profession and represent the diverse domains in which human factors/ ergonomics is practiced. Each director is nominated for election by a Nominations Committee and elected by the Board to a term of three years. Corporate officers (President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer) are elected annually by the Board from among the directors.

In addition, the BCPE is managed by an Executive Administrator and a Financial/ Information Systems Manager (staff) who oversee administration of BCPE’s certification program by implementing and abiding by established policies and procedures.

The BCPE also adheres to a set of rules referred to as bylaws, which define BCPE’s primary objectives and describe how BCPE functions. BCPE’s bylaws were first adopted on September 2, 1991 and are consistent with the current practices and legal requirements of Washington State, BCPE’s state of incorporation. Subsequent revision of these bylaws has occurred as needed by amendment and is noted at the end of the document.