How to join INCE-USA

INCE Sustaining Members

INCE-USA Awards

Contact Information:

INCE Business Office
7150 Winton Drive, Suite 300,
Indianapolis, Indiana, 46268.
Phone: (317) 735-4063
E-mail: ibo@inceusa.org

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Directors
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Information for Advertisers

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• General information on membership requirements
• Associate information
• Member information
• Board Certified Member information
• Distinguished International Member information
• Annual fees for INCE membership
• Student Associates of INCE
• INCE examinations offered (Professional and Fundamentals). See also a separate page on INCE Examinations
• Membership Secretariat information
• Information on One time dues payment (life membership)
• Member emeritus information
• Policy on resignation, reinstatement, etc.

I. GENERAL
This statement describes the membership structure of the Institute of Noise Control Engineering of the United States of America, Inc. (INCE/USA). The qualifications and requirements for membership are defined, as well as the procedures to be followed. Individuals having professional responsibilities or an interest in noise control engineering at any level may participate in the activities of the Institute. One of the goals of the Institute is to include within the organization a broad representation of individuals who have a professional interest in research, in teaching, and in engineering applications involving all aspects of noise control. The roster of the Institute includes INCE Members, INCE Distinguished International Members and INCE Associates. An individual interested in full INCE membership first enrolls as an INCE Associate, and then makes application to become an INCE Member. An INCE Member may also be Board Certified in Noise Control Engineering by the Board of Directors of the Institute. INCE Distinguished International Members are elected from among distinguished noise control engineers who reside outside the U.S.A. INCE Associates may remain in that status if they do not choose to apply for full INCE membership.

The two basic requirements for an individual to advance from INCE Associate status to full membership in INCE/USA are that the applicant: (1) have earned a baccalaureate (or equivalent four-year academic degree), or higher degree, from a qualified program in engineering, physical science, or architecture offered by an accredited university or college, or have had at least one sole-author paper or two first-author papers published in or accepted for publication in the Noise Control Engineering Journal; and (2) have instructed, or have enrolled in and achieved a grade of “B” or better in, at least one full-semester (i.e. three credit or more) course of instruction offered by an accredited university or college devoted to the physical principles of acoustics, or have demonstrated at least five years experience in noise control engineering involving research, teaching, professional practice or any combination thereof. Both requirements must be satisfied.

A satisfactory grade on the INCE Fundamentals Examination, or a grade of "B" or better for completion of a course, approved by the Membership Committee, on the fundamentals of noise control engineering, may be considered sufficient for election to membership in lieu of one or both of the basic requirements above.

II. INCE ASSOCIATE
To become an INCE Associate, the applicant shall:

• affirm an interest in noise control engineering;
• complete and sign an INCE Associate application form (212 KB .pdf), pay the annual INCE Associate fee as prescribed by the INCE bylaws, and mail the form and payment to the Membership Secretariat, Institute of Noise Control Engineering, 7150 Winton Drive, Suite 300, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46268. Telephone: (317) 735-4063; E-mail: ibo@inceusa.org. Upon receipt and review of the application by the INCE Membership Secretariat, the applicant will be notified in writing of his/her acceptance as an INCE Associate.

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III. INCE MEMBER
To become an INCE Member, the applicant shall:

1. be enrolled as an INCE Associate (Member applicants are automatically enrolled as associates while their credentials are reviewed);
2. have earned a baccalaureate (or equivalent four-year academic degree) or higher degree from a qualifed program in engineering, physical science, or architecture offered by an accredited university or college
   OR have had at least one sole-author paper or two •rst-author papers published in or accepted for publication in the Noise Control Engineering Journal;
3. have instructed, or have enrolled in and achieved a grade of “B” or better in, at least one full-semester (i.e., three-credit or more) course of instruction offered by an accredited university or college devoted to the physical principles of acoustics
   OR have demonstrated at least five years experience in noise control engineering involving research, teaching, professional practice, or any combination thereof; and
4. have the application form endorsed by an INCE Member.
   A satisfactory grade on the INCE Fundamentals Examination will be considered sufficient for election to membership in lieu of requirements 2 and 3 above.

Based on the information contained in 1) above, the INCE Board of Directors or a committee or board designated by the Board of Directors will approve all applications for membership based on the basic requirements stated in section I. Applicants who are considered deficient by the Membership Committee in satisfying the two, basic requirements of section I shall be given the opportunity to take a two-hour INCE Fundamentals Examination. The purpose of the examination is to evaluate the applicant's knowledge of the fundamental principles of acoustics and noise control engineering. A satisfactory grade on the INCE Fundamentals Examination, or a grade of "B" or better for completion of a course, approved by the Membership Committee, on the fundamentals of noise control engineering, may be considered sufficient for election to Membership, in lieu of one or both of the basic requirements stated in section I.

Upon election to full Member status by the INCE Board of Directors, the INCE Membership Secretariat will inform the applicant in writing of his/her election. Duly elected full Members of the Institute may use the letters "INCE" following their names in professional correspondence, on business cards, and in curriculum vitae. No other abbreviations are authorized.

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IV. BOARD CERTIFICATION IN NOISE CONTROL ENGINEERING
Board Certification (BC) in Noise Control is offered by the Institute of Noise Control Engineering of the USA (INCE). Because noise control engineering is multi-disciplinary, multiple approaches are offered for complying with the requirements for INCE Board Certification. The INCE Board Certification Committee (BCC), chaired by the INCE Vice President – Board Certification, is responsible for receiving, reviewing, and determining whether an applicant complies with the requirements for Board Certification. The BCC recommends applicants to the INCE Board of Directors for approval of Board Certification. The BCC is also responsible for maintaining and administering the INCE/USA Professional Examination.

a) Membership
Applicants for Board Certification shall be full Members of INCE/USA, and shall be in good standing for at least one (1) year prior to applying for Board Certification.

b) Educational Requirements
Experience required for INCE Board Certification depends upon the educational background of the applicant. Applicants for Board Certification shall possess a Bachelor of Science (BS), or equivalent, degree in engineering from an ABET-accredited college or university curriculum, or from universities that the BCC determines to have a curriculum that is equivalent to an ABET-accredited engineering curriculum, and shall have successfully completed with a grade of at least a “B” (or equivalent) at least two semester-length courses directly related to acoustics, noise control, and vibration either as part of the undergraduate study or comparable professional courses in acoustics, noise control, and vibration. The Applicant shall arrange for delivery of a copy of an official transcript from the degree-awarding institution to the BCC. As an alternative to a BS in engineering from an ABET-accredited curriculum, applicants with a post-graduate (MS or PhD) engineering degree from a college or university with an ABET-accredited undergraduate curriculum (or a university program that the BCC determines to be equivalent) shall comply with one or more of following additional requirements:

1. Successful completion of two semester-length graduate courses in acoustics, noise control, or vibration control, or any combination taken as part of an engineering curriculum
2. Possession of an advanced degree in acoustical engineering or other engineering curriculum with a specialty in acoustics
3. Successful completion of professional courses in acoustics, noise control, and vibration equivalent to 40 hours of class time and as approved by the Vice President - Board Certification

c) Alternative Educational Requirements
Applicants not holding a BS degree in engineering from an ABET accredited curriculum in engineering are invited to apply for Board Certification. Applicants with degrees in fields related to noise control engineering (such as architecture or physics, and other degrees approved by the BCC) shall comply with one of the following additional requirements:

1. Successful completion of at least two semester-length courses in acoustics, noise control, and/or vibration taken as part of a degree curriculum
2. Possession of an advanced degree in acoustical engineering or other engineering curriculum with a specialty in acoustics
3. Successful completion of professional courses in acoustics, noise control, and vibration equivalent to 40 hours of class time and as approved by the Vice President - Board Certification

The BCC will determine whether a non-engineering degree held by any applicant is sufficient to comply with these requirements. This determination is subject to BCC review and acceptance of a copy of an official transcript delivered to the Chair of the BCC by the applicant showing award of the degree, as well as a curriculum description from the college or university that awarded the degree.

d) Professional Experience
An applicant for BC shall furnish a copy of a detailed and current curriculum vitae (CV) and other appropriate documentation that demonstrates evidence of having at least the following numbers of years of post graduate, progressive Professional Experience in acoustics, noise control, and vibration engineering. The copy of the CV shall be provided to the INCE Business office for the attention of the Chair of the BCC. Post-graduate degrees in an acoustics-related field (such as Engineering Acoustics) are equivalent to and will substitute for some of the required Professional Experience as follows:

• One (1) year of experience for an applicant with a Master of Science degree
• One (1) year of experience for an applicant with a Master of Engineering degree
• Two (2) years of experience for an applicant with a PhD degree or a degree equivalent to a PhD

The Professional Experience required depends upon the candidate’s educational background and is as follows:

The above minimum requirements for Professional Experience may involve research, teaching, professional practice, or any combination thereof, and may include the control of noise (and associated vibration) produced by commercial products, transportation vehicles or industrial plants; noise (and associated vibration) in buildings; the development of special acoustical instruments, measurement and analysis techniques, facilities and equipment; teaching, consulting, research, and supervision of professional activities in noise control engineering. Special cases are subject to review and determination by the BCC.

e) Professional References
The applicant shall arrange for submission of professional references from five (5) people who are familiar with the applicant’s professional qualifications and experience. Each reference shall attest to the capability, competence, and character of the applicant by completing and submitting confidential INCE reference forms directly to the INCE Business Office. Of the five (5) required references, three (3) shall be from full Members of the Institute, and two (2) of the three (3) Members shall be INCE Board Certified. In addition, no more than two (2) references may be from the same firm, institution, or agency. As an alternative to one (1) of the required references from a Member that is INCE Board Certified, the BCC may consider a reference from an INCE Distinguished International Member, if there are appropriate reasons why references from two INCE members with Board Certification are not attainable. It is the responsibility of the applicant to assure that the individuals chosen as confidential references comply with the above requirements and that all five reference forms are returned to the INCE Business Office 10 weeks prior to the exam date.

f) Application & Review
Each application for Board Certification shall be reviewed by the BCC for completeness and compliance with the requirements for BC. Those applicants who, in the opinion of the majority of the BCC, comply with the requirements for Board Certification shall be permitted to sit for the next available offering of the INCE Professional Examination. The examination fee shall be paid in full prior to taking the exam.

g) Professional Examination
For applicants who are approved to sit for the INCE Professional Examination, granting of the status of INCE Board Certification requires achievement of a satisfactory grade on that examination as determined by the BCC. The INCE Professional Examination shall evaluate and test the applicant's detailed knowledge and experience in applications of noise control engineering, as well as the ability of the applicant to assume senior-level professional responsibilities in the practice of noise control engineering. The examination period is eight hours. An applicant, who initially sits for the INCE Professional Examination, but fails to achieve a satisfactory grade on the examination, is permitted to sit for up to two (2) of the next administrations of the examination without formally re-applying and without payment of an additional application fee. After the third attempt to achieve a satisfactory grade on the examination, a candidate shall re-submit a new application (including payment of the application fee in effect at that time) prior to subsequent attempts to take the examination. References originally submitted with the initial application may be used for subsequent applications if the reference has been submitted within the previous five (5) years. The application dossier for each applicant who achieves a satisfactory grade on the Professional Examination shall be reviewed by the BCC for determination by majority vote of whether to recommend to the INCE Board of Directors that the applicant be granted the status of INCE Board Certification. The INCE President shall advise the successful applicant in writing of the granting of INCE Board Certification.

h) Board Certification Designation
INCE Members who achieve INCE Board Certification are permitted to use the title “INCE Board Certified” or the abbreviation “INCE Bd. Cert.” following their names in professional correspondence, on calling cards, and in curriculum vitae. No other designations or abbreviations signifying INCE Board Certification are approved or authorized.

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V. INCE DISTINGUISHED INTERNATIONAL MEMBER
The status of INCE Distinguished International Member is conferred by the INCE Board of Directors upon eminent acousticians who reside outside the U.S.A. This distinguished, honorary status is conferred upon individuals who have personally made extraordinarily significant contributions to the theory and/or practice of noise control engineering. Nominations are submitted by a committee of peers who are active in noise control engineering in the country of the proposed nominee. Applications not being accepted, the only path to INCE Distinguished International Member status is by peer group recognition and nomination. Nonetheless, full Membership in INCE/USA, as well as Board Certification in Noise Control Engineering, is available to all individuals who meet the requirements of Sections III and IV above, regardless of nationality or country of residence. INCE Distinguished International Members are entitled to use the abbreviation "INCE.Dist.Intn'l.Mem." following their names in professional correspondence, on calling cards and in curriculum vitae.

VI. ANNUAL FEE
The annual fee for INCE Associates, Members and Distinguished International Members is US$ 110. All receive an annual membership directory, Noise/News International (quarterly) and Noise Control Engineering Journal (bimonthly). Postal charges for delivery outside the U.S.A. are assessed in addition to the US$ 110 fee. In all other countries, the fee is US$ 25.00.

VII. STUDENT ASSOCIATES
Full-time students enrolled in engineering, physics or architecture at a college or university having at least one ABET- or ACSA-accredited program, may, upon completion of the application procedure of Section II above and submission of certification that they are enrolled at their academic institutions, become INCE Associates for an annual fee of $20

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VIII. EXAMINATION FEES
There is no fee for the INCE Fundamentals Examination. The fee for the INCE Professional Examination is listed on page four of the application form. Both exams are administered annually in conjunction with regularly-scheduled NOISE-CON conferences or INTER-NOISE congresses held in North America. Any requests for special offerings of INCE examinations require the approval of the INCE Vice President-Membership or the INCE Vice President-Board Certification, as appropriate, via the INCE Membership Secretariat. Such special offerings require that there be a reasonable number of candidates to take the examinations at the proposed time and location. In addition, candidates for specially scheduled INCE exams will be required to prepay a special examination fee to defray the expenses of preparing and administering the examinations.

IX. MEMBERSHIP SECRETARIAT
Information on all matters relating to membership, including application forms for INCE Associates and INCE Members, and for Board Certification in Noise Control Engineering, may be obtained by contacting:

Membership Secretariat
Institute of Noise Control Engineering
7150 Winton Drive, Suite 300,
Indianapolis, Indiana, 46268, USA.
Telephone: (317) 735-4063
E-mail: ibo@inceusa.org

INCE Membership Policy Statements

The following policy statements have been reprinted from the INCE President's Handbook.

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ONE-SUM LIFETIME DUES PAYMENT

CONCEPT: By paying the fixed amount of lifetime membership dues in one lump sum, any Member shall be entitled to lifetime membership in the Institute without paying any further annual membership dues.

POLICY: (1981 December 03; revised 1989 December 03; revised 1991 April 29)

The one-sum lifetime dues payment is an optional method for payment of dues for INCE Members. The one-sum payment is a multiple of the annual membership dues then authorized. The sum depends upon the age of the member, age being determined as of the end of the calendar year in which dues become payable. The age and rate structures for future lifetime dues payments are reviewed periodically for adjustments as needed. For an INCE Member whose age is less than 30, the multiple of annual dues is 16; for a Member whose age is between 30 and 39, the multiple of annual dues is 14; and for a Member whose age is between 40 and 59, the multiple of annual dues is 12. For Members aged 65 and over, the multiple of the annual dues is 6. For Members aged between 60 and 65, the following table applies:

  Age              Multiple of Annual Dues
  60               11
  61               10
  62               09
  63               08
  64               07
  65               06

All one-sum lifetime dues payments will be retained in a separate account that will be known as the INCE Life Membership Fund. At the discretion of the Board of Directors, the income from the Fund may be withdrawn to pay for the Life Member's share of his member services, if this income is required. The fund shall be managed by the Treasurer under the guidance of the INCE Life Membership Fund Committee, which shall consist of the President, Immediate Past President, President-elect, Treasurer and Finance Committee Chairman. An accounting for the fund shall be submitted to the Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors for a review by the Board. An INCE Member who makes a one-sum lifetime dues payment will be known as an INCE Life Member.

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MEMBERS EMERITI

CONCEPT: INCE Members who are retired may, at their own request, become Members Emeriti.

POLICY: (1980 January 19; revised 1989 December 03; revised 1991 April 29; revised 2004 January 25)

INCE Member Emeritus status is available to those INCE Members aged 65 and over who are retired. A Member Emeritus pays dues at approximately one-third the regular annual rate. Dues are to be paid every year. No dues are due after age 80. The INCE Member Emeritus shall not be eligible to serve as an Officer or Director, but otherwise shall have all the other privileges of an INCE Member, including the right to vote on Institute matters and to serve as a member of committees and boards. Members Emeriti shall be listed on the membership roster of the Institute and in the annual membership directory alphabetically with the other Members of the Institute without special designation.

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RESIGNATION, REINSTATEMENT AND DROPPING OF MEMBERS

An INCE Member remains "in good standing" with the Institute as long as his dues are paid for the current year. In the event of a change in job assignment, illness, or for some other reason, an INCE Member may wish to discontinue membership in the Institute. After a period of years, the former INCE Member may wish to be reinstated "in good standing" in the Institute. This policy statement describes the action to be taken in the event of resignation, reinstatement, or dropping of an INCE Member.

POLICY: (1980 January 19; revised 1989 December 03; revised 1991 April 29, revised 1994 May 01)

Resignation: If by nonpayment of dues, an INCE Member indicates his desire to discontinue his membership, he should be encouraged to submit a letter of resignation to the INCE Vice President-Membership. A copy of this Policy Statement may be sent to the resignee with the response from the INCE Vice President-Membership.

Reinstatement: In the event a former INCE Member who has resigned wishes to be reinstated after a lapse of one or more years, he submits a written request addressed to the INCE Vice President- Membership in care of the INCE Membership Secretariat. The INCE President shall designate an ad hoc committee to examine the qualifications of the applicant. The committee shall recommend to the Board of Directors whether the applicant should be reinstated.

Dropping: If the dues of an INCE Member are not paid by June 30 of any calendar year, the Member is sent a form letter from the Office of the Managing Director which informs the delinquent Member that if his or her dues are not paid within 45 days, he or she will be dropped as a Member, and will no longer receive INCE publications. Members delinquent in dues payments will not be listed in the Membership Directory for the following calendar year. The Office of the Managing Director will, at the Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors, submit a list of Members who, in the calendar year, have been dropped from the rolls of the Institute.

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