ABET’s 31 professional technical societies nominate members of their organizations to become program evaluators. Therefore membership (or pending membership) in one of the societies is required (ACM or IEEE / CS for computing professionals). Effective program evaluators have the following characteristics and skills:
- A genuine interest in improving technical education worldwide;
- Formal education and degree(s) appropriate to the profession;
- Some experience with quality improvement processes is helpful;
- Proficiency using modern computing applications (word processing, spreadsheets, etc.);
- Ability to work in a team-based environment; and
- Ability to participate in program evaluator training.
Read the full version of the Program Evaluator Competency Model.
Society-Specific Qualifications
In addition, some member societies also maintain additional eligibility guidelines, application deadlines, and selection procedures. Find the society-specific program evaluator qualifications and schedule here.
All applicants who are selected by their society participate in ABET program evaluator candidate training, which includes both web-based study and a one and one-half day Face-to-Face training session offered each spring.
Candidates who successfully complete this process are added to a pool of program evaluators maintained by each society. Assignments to program review teams occur in the summer, as needed to fulfill responsibilities during the subsequent accreditation cycle.