Industry Certifications
The Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF) provides three industry certifications (Pre-Engineering, Robotics, and Robotics in Manufacturing Fundamentals) for schools, students in engineering related programs, and robotics clubs. These certifications were designed by a team of accomplished professionals composed of engineers, college professors, and high school teachers.
The RECF Certifications Program is a response to a global need for more students in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
Robotics in Manufacturing Fundamentals
The Robotics in Manufacturing Fundamentals (RMF) credential, focused on the fundamentals of manufacturing robotics, provides a starting point for career pathways in the field of robotics.
RMF is focused on assessing a candidate’s comprehension of fundamental robotics concepts, and may be used by those currently looking to upskill or reskill into manufacturing careers before pursuing equipment-specific or career pathway-specific training in robotics. The credential can help individuals begin a lifelong career in an industry where there is opportunity for advancement and good-paying jobs.
The industry recognized RMF credential was developed by SME, with two leading organizations in the robotics education area: Robotics Education & Competition Foundation (RECF) and FIRST®.
Pre-Engineering and Robotics
Certifications are divided into a Fundamentals of Engineering section and eight engineering area modules. The Pre-Engineering Certification requires the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam and any two additional modules listed below. The Robotics Certification requires the Fundamentals of Engineering Exam and the Mechanical, Electrical, and Computer Science modules.
- Aerospace Pre-Engineering
- Chemical Pre-Engineering
- Civil Pre-Engineering
- Computer Science/Programming
- Electrical Pre-Engineering
- Engineering Technology
- Manufacturing Technology
- Mechanical Pre-Engineering
Curriculum Suggestions
The RECF does not require or provide proprietary curriculum but instead aligns with the curriculum of many Engineering, Technology, and Robotics courses. Whereas the RECF does not require curriculum, the following resources are available for teachers to consider.
VEX V5 STEM Labs (free) – VEX V5 STEM Labs include Over 65 hours of instruction (13 lessons) on topics including Math, Science, Engineering, and Programming. All the lessons include Objectives, Materials and Standards as well as necessary teacher lesson plans for the classroom.
Project Lead The Way (registration and training costs vary) – PLTW Engineering curriculum is broken into year-long classes with national standards, lesson plans and all digital resources included in the school registration. All the RECF Certification standards are found in the PLTW curriculum resources.
International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (curriculum fees & optional training costs vary) - ITEEA's Engineering byDesign™️(EbD™️) high school curriculum integrates STEM concepts with hands-on, project-based learning that aligns with national standards through collaborative projects and real-world problem-solving.
NASA (free) – Find resources to support your STEM curriculum, professional development opportunities to expand your knowledge base, contests to engage your students and more!
Textbooks
- Engineering Fundamentals: Design, Principles, and Careers, 2nd Edition; By: Ryan A. Brown, Joshua W. Brown, and Michael Berkeihiser
- Engineering Fundamentals: An Introduction to Engineering, 6th Edition; By: Cengage Learning