A traffic operations practitioner specialist (TOPS) is a certification sponsored by the Transportation Professional Certification Board, Inc., and promulgated by the Institute of Transportation Engineers. A Professional Traffic Operations Engineer (PTOE) is a separate certification also offered by the Transportation Professional Certification Board, Inc. Prior to taking the now defunct TOPS exam, an individual must have at least five years of related working experience, though academic experience may be substituted for this requirement. Additionally, as the certification is not intended for professionals, licensed professional engineers are not permitted to be a certified TOPS.