Date: 201302
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: ZZZ.Airport, US
Aircraft: EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Flight phase: Cruise
Airspace: Class E ZZZ
ATC / advisory: TRACON ZZZ
Reporter organization: Government
Reporter function: Approach; Departure
Reporter qualification: Air Traffic Control Fully Certified
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Airborne Conflict; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance
Contributing factors: Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Procedure

Narrative: At the beginning of my shift today; I informed the FLM that I did not want to train today. Later in the shift; a certification check ride was being conducted on the Satellite (R) position on a CPC-IT by a Supervisor who is NOT certified on the position. Because the Supervisor is not certified on the position; I was asked to monitor the position so that a certified CPC would be plugged in to be legal. An E145 was in level flight at 4;000 direct to ZZZ. A Saberliner was opposite direction of the E145 and direct ZZZ1 and level at 5;000. The CPC-IT was on the land line with a Tower calling in an IFR inbound. The land-line conversation between the CPC-IT and the Controller at the Tower was very 'chatty.' At the conclusion of the land line call; I made a comment to the CPC-IT about being so chatty and saying so much unnecessary stuff on the land line. As I am telling the CPC-IT this; he instructed the Saberliner to descend to 3;000 and turn right heading 150. Because I was counseling the CPC-IT on the unnecessary conversation on the land line at the time; I did not hear the transmission to the Saberliner. The certifying Supervisor did not hear it either. I then observed the Saberliner at 4;800 and instructed him to 'Turn right heading 180 immediately; traffic twelve o'clock 4 1/2 miles level at 4;000 an E145' to which he complied and said he was looking for the traffic. I then instructed the E145 to 'Turn right heading 360 immediately; traffic twelve o'clock 3 1/2 miles; 4;500 descending a Saberliner.' The E145 complied with the turn and said he too was looking for the traffic. The Saberliner then reported the E145 traffic in sight. I instructed the Saberliner to maintain visual separation with the E145; which he complied. Separation at this point had already been lost and was 2.43 miles and 100 FT. First; require all supervisors to be certified on positions they will be conducting certifications on. This would alleviate the need for an extra body being used for monitoring purposes. There is no reason why supervision should not be required to be certified on positions that they are supervising. Second; ensure that no transmissions are made while corrections are being given to a CPC-IT. In the event that they are; I will verify the instruction prior to moving forward. Had I heard the descent instruction been given; I can assure you I would not have allowed it. The CPC-IT should have been more patient and allowed the two aircraft to pass before descending the Saberliner to 3;000. At the rapid closure rate they had; it would have only been about thirty seconds.




Synopsis: TRACON Controller described a loss of separation event during a certification check ride; recommending that supervisors be certified on the position being monitored for certification.