International Municipal Signals Association

IMSA is the oldest known association of its kind in the world.

It dates back to October 1896, when a group of municipal signal men from several east coast cities met in Brooklyn, New York and organized an association called the “International Association of Fire and Police Telegraph Superintendents.”  Records indicate that the group met once a year thereafter and that committees were appointed which developed and submitted technical papers on pertinent subjects at these annual meetings.

The basic purpose of the organization was to keep its members and others in the profession, up-to-date on proper procedures of construction and maintenance of signal systems and informed on new products and equipment developments.

Spring 2025 Online Schools

April 7, 2025

As some of you may know, IMSA is offering a Special Renewal exemption until July 1, 2025. This exemption applies to anyone who has a Certification that expired between January 1, 2020 and January 1, 2024. Normally, once a Certification has been expired more than 12 months, in order to Renew the Certification you have to retake the course and pass the exam. This Special exemption will allow students to Renew these older expired certifications by only getting 16 hours of class time with no need to write the exam. To assist students in getting an older certification renewed the following is planned.

May 13 & 14, 2025 – Online Traffic Signal Field Technician II Renewal only class – this will only be for students who need to renew a Certification, no exams will be provided. Registration cost is $160.00 plus HST. All Registration fees are to be paid by May 9 and class size will be limited. Registration fees do not include Certification Renewal fees, these will need to be paid directly by the student to IMSA. No manuals will be provided with this Renewal session.

June 3 & 4, 2025 – Online Traffic Signal Field Technician II class – this will be a regular online Certification school with manuals provided and an exam but students may also attend for Renewal purposes. Registration cost for the full program with manual and exam is $665.00 plus HST. The Registration fee to attend for a Certification Renewal is 160.00 plus HST. All Registration fees are to be paid by May 23 and class size will be limited. Renewal Registration fees do not include Certification Renewal fees, these will need to be paid directly by the student to IMSA. No manuals will be provided with a Renewal Registration.

June 4 & 5, 2025 – Online Roadway Lighting Technician I class – this will be a regular online Certification school with manuals provided and an exam but students may also attend for Renewal purposes (16 hours in Roadway Lighting Technician I can be used to Renew a Roadway Lighting Technician II Certification). Registration cost for the full program with manual and exam is $665.00 plus HST. The Registration fee to attend for a Certification Renewal is 160.00 plus HST. All Registration fees are to be paid by May 23 and class size will be limited. Renewal Registration fees do not include Certification Renewal fees, these will need to be paid directly by the student to IMSA. No manuals will be provided with a Renewal Registration.

June 17 & 18, 2025 – Online Traffic Signal Technician I class – this will be a regular online Certification school with manuals provided and an exam but students may also attend for Renewal purposes. Registration cost for the full program with manual and exam is $665.00 plus HST. The Registration fee to attend for a Certification Renewal is 160.00 plus HST. All Registration fees are to be paid by June 6 and class size will be limited. Renewal Registration fees do not include Certification Renewal fees, these will need to be paid directly by the student to IMSA. No manuals will be provided with a Renewal Registration.

General School Information

All school programs are two days in length and commence at 8:00 am and run until 4 pm each day. All Certification exams will be completed on-line. Students will need to have access to a laptop or tablet with a working camera in order to complete the exams. Exams will be available for a 12 hour period after the class ends. Students will have 3 hours to complete the on-line exam. All exams are closed book and the student is not to be distracted during the exam or confer with others during the exam.

For Level I programs the prerequisite is a Work Zone program and one year of experience. For Work Zone only the IHSA Traffic Control for Temporary Work Zones or the OTC OTM Book 7 programs are recognized. No other Work Zone programs are currently accepted.

For Level II programs 2 years of experience and a Level I Certification are the prerequisites.

To register send your request to certifications@imsasafetyon.org.