# American Society of Plumbing Engineers

The American Society of Plumbing Engineers (ASPE) is the international organization for professionals skilled in the design, specification and inspection of plumbing systems. The Society disseminates technical data and information, sponsors activities that facilitate interaction with fellow professionals, and, through research and education, expands the base of knowledge of the plumbing engineering industry. ASPE members are leaders in innovative plumbing design, effective materials and energy use, and the application of advanced techniques throughout the world.

## Membership

ASPE currently has 6,500 members. Internationally, ASPE members are located in the United States, Canada, Asia, Mexico, South and Central America, the South Pacific, Australia, Europe, Africa, Caribbean and the Middle East.
All members belong to ASPE worldwide and have the opportunity to belong to and participate in state, provincial, or local chapters throughout the U.S. and Canada. ASPE chapters provide the major communication links and the first line of services and programs for the individual member.

## Publications

The Society maintains a publishing program, spearheaded by the profession's basic reference text, the Plumbing Engineering Design Handbook. The Plumbing Engineering Design Handbook, published in four volumes, encompasses 50 chapters providing comprehensive details of the accepted practices and design criteria used in the field of plumbing engineering. ASPE's published library of professional technical manuals and handbooks includes the Domestic Water Heating Design Manual, Engineering Plumbing Design, and The Plumbing Engineering and Design Handbook of Tables, the only plumbing reference tool of its kind.

## Professional Certification

ASPE sponsors a national certification program for engineers and designers of plumbing systems, which carries the designation "Certified in Plumbing Design" or CPD. The certification program claims to provides the profession, the plumbing industry, and the general public with a single, comprehensive qualification of professional competence for engineers and designers of plumbing systems. The CPD tests hundreds of engineers and designers at centers throughout the United States annually. Created to provide a single, uniform, national credential in the field of engineered plumbing systems, the CPD program is not in any way connected to any state-regulated Professional Engineer (PE) registration.
ASPE will lead candidates to believe that purchasing their products will adequately prepare them for the CPD exam. In reality, the test covers topics far beyond the scope of their practice tests or study guides, forcing candidates to buy many additional resources if they are to have any real chance of passing this test. This is by design to promote a confusing atmosphere around preparation materials and ensure nobody is clear on the metrics of success. This tactic maximizes ASPE's profits by relying on the aspirations of motivated individuals who believe with more effort or a different approach, success is achievable. But the real metric of success is understanding that one will need to purchase the complete package of products recommended by ASPE if they are going to have any real chance at passing this test. The actual content for which one will be tested on is circumstantial, non-code based, completely random, and designed to be confusing. ASPE will select various systems, then ask very specific questions that are not based on code criteria nor clearly described in their own materials. ASPE hopes that an individual is able to quickly navigate through all available resources in order to find the random and circumstantial piece of information. An individual is not allowed to have any sort of tabs, or any way to delineate sections of these materials. ASPE does not want designers to develop efficient skills that may allow them to quickly utilize/navigate paperback resources. Although design criteria developed by ASPE is generally not an acceptable alternative to standard codes, ASPE believes that designers should have an encyclopedic and eidetic knowledge of their products. As long as one understands the CPD does not actually test any practical skills that one would need to be successful as a plumbing designer, and one is ready to embrace a 4-hour endeavor to test your ability to read a glossary and skim paragraphs, then you too can be a successful CPD.
*** Be aware that purchasing materials, doing the recorded webinars online, and attending any live in person review classes, will not guarantee a passing score on the exam. All results are reviewed by the Credentialling Committee, and questions are cut in order to modify the results to ensure only a certain number of people pass the test. This allows ASPE to appear as credible as other certifications with similar rates of success, other certifications whose difficulty rests on challenging practical skills. Additionally, even if your test proctor indicates you have successfully met all testing criteria, ASPE staff will review your personal video recorded by your test proctor in order to qualify you as an individual. If ASPE can find a way to force you to take this test again, they will.
In order to be a successful CPD you will need to purchase the following materials as recommended by ASPE:
* CPD Study Guide: (Price: $85.00 / Member's Price: $50.00)
* Advanced Plumbing Technology 2: (Price: $99.00 / Member's Price: $79.95)
* Domestic Water Heating Design Manual: (Price: $209.95 / Member's Price: $99.95)
* Pharmaceutical Facilities Plumbing Systems: (Price: $129.95 / Member's Price: $50.00)
* Plumbing Engineering Design Handbook Vol 4: (Price: $259.95 / Member's Price: $145.95)
* Plumbing Engineering Design Handbook Vol 3: (Price: $259.95 / Member's Price: $129.95)
* Plumbing Engineering Design Handbook Vol 2: (Price: $259.95 / Member's Price: $109.95)
* Plumbing Engineering Design Handbook Vol 1: (Price: $299.95 / Member's Price: $145.95)
* ASPE/ANSI 45-2018: Siphonic Roof Drainage: (Price: $79.95 / Member's Price: $30.00)
* Webinar: (Price: $500.00 / Member's Price: $250.00)
* Seminar: (Price: $500.00 / Member's Price: $300.00)
* CPD EXAM: (Price: $675.00 / Member's Price: $450.00)
Standard Price: $3359
Member Price: $1942 (this does not include the membership dues, nor the cost to upkeep your certification).
ASPE also developed the Certified in Plumbing Design Technician (CPDT) program to provide professional recognition of qualified individuals who design plumbing systems. The CPDT certification was developed as a precursor to the Certified in Plumbing Design certification. Passing the CPDT is not required to take the CPD, and passing the CPDT does not ensure one is adequately prepared for the CPD.