NCEES and the 35S Message #2 Posted by Norris on 22 Aug 2007, 12:47 p.m., in response to message #1 by Howard Boardman
NCEES updates its calculator policy annually, on November 15. The updated list applies to the coming calender year. So the "approved calculator list" for 2008 should be posted on November 15, 2007.
The current "approved" list was posted on November 15, 2006 for 2007; it includes the 33S, but not the 35S (since nobody knew about the 35S in 2006). So it appears that the 33S will remain the only approved HP for the October 2007 exams. There are still people buying the 33S, even though the 35S is obviously the better option, for this reason.
It seems likely that the 33S will be discontinued in the near future, and that NCEES will add the 35S to the approved list for 2008. The question is whether NCEES will keep the discontinued 33S on the 2008 approved list. It wouldn't surprise me if they did drop the 33S; NCEES wants to keep the approved list as short as possible, to facilitate enforcement.
The licensing process typically requires multiple exams over a period of a few years. If the 33S is dropped from the list, there will be a loud chorus of protest from exam candidates who invested $50 for a 33S in 2006 or 2007, but who now will have to pay another $60 to replace it with a 35S for 2008.
So the NCEES announcement on November 15 could significantly affect 35S sales:
- If NCEES adds the 35S and drops the 33S, then 35S sales will probably jump immediately. In this case, literally thousands of existing, 33S-owning exam candidates will be forced to buy the 35S as a replacement. And many new exam candidates will want the 35S as well. There could be a 35S shortage.
- If NCEES adds the 35S but keeps the 33S, then 35S sales will still go up, but not as dramatically. New candidates will buy the 35S for the 2008 exams, but those who already own the 33S won't be obliged to replace it.
Edited: 22 Aug 2007, 12:59 p.m.
|