ISA CCST
WHAT, WHY, WHO, AND HOW
Standards
Speaker:
DANIEL MACHADO
Certification
Education & Training
Publishing
Conferences & Exhibits
2014 ISA Water / Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium
August 5-7, 2014 – Orlando, Florida, USA
Presenter
• Daniel Machado
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CCWS Technology Support Group Manger
Senior Member ISA, CCST III
CCST Steering Committee Vice-Chair
30 Years Experience in Water/Wastewater
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2014 ISA WWAC Symposium
Aug 5-7, 2014 – Orlando, Florida, USA
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Presentation Outline
• What:
• Why:
• Who:
• How:
2014 ISA WWAC Symposium
Aug 5-7, 2014 – Orlando, Florida, USA
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WHAT
• ISA’s Certified Control Systems Technician®
(CCST®) program:
– Recognizes and documents knowledge,
experience, and education in automation and
control
– Promotes professional development of control
systems technicians
– Provides a measurable qualification for hiring
and promotions
2014 ISA WWAC Symposium
Aug 5-7, 2014 – Orlando, Florida, USA
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WHAT
• CCST Certification was introduced by ISA in 1995
• Steps ISA made to development of a valid certification:
• Decide on clear and concise definition of tasks
– What do Instrumentation Technicians do?
– How much time in an average day/week/month do they do it?
• Determine knowledge, and skills needed for competent
job performance
– What should they know?
• ISA worked with control systems technicians and
supervisors via interviews, surveys, observation, and
group discussions to delineate critical job components
2014 ISA WWAC Symposium
Aug 5-7, 2014 – Orlando, Florida, USA
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WHAT
What are Instrumentation Techs
responsible for:
– Calibration
– Loop checking
– Troubleshooting
– Start-up
– Maintenance/repair
– Project organization
– Administration
2014 ISA WWAC Symposium
Aug 5-7, 2014 – Orlando, Florida, USA
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WHAT
CCST Domains by Level (as of 1 July 2013)
TASK
Average % of Exam Questions
Level I
Level II
Level III
Domain 1: Calibration, Maintenance, Repair,
Troubleshooting
77%
61%
19%
Domain 2: Project Start-up, Commissioning,
Loop-check, Project Organization, Planning
16%
23%
14%
Domain 3: Documentation
7%
10%
10%
Domain 4: Administration, Supervision,
Management
NA
6%
57%
2014 ISA WWAC Symposium
Aug 5-7, 2014 – Orlando, Florida, USA
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WHY
• Demonstrates your commitment to the automation
profession and to your career in automation.
• Establishes your professional credentials
– Provides 3rd party documentation and recognition of knowledge,
experience and education
• Enhances knowledge and skills as you prepare for the
examination
• Encourages life long learning and professional
development
• Improves your career opportunities and increase your
chances for greater earnings
– Opportunities for promotion, pay increases, job portability.
2014 ISA WWAC Symposium
Aug 5-7, 2014 – Orlando, Florida, USA
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WHY
• More Benefits :
– Manager/Decision Makers
– CCST Certification Ensures a high level of skill and competency in
workforce
– Encourages employees to continually expand knowledge and
competence through CEUs and PDHs
– Qualification tool for new hires and contractors
– Third-party certified technicians demonstrate that contractors are
committed to meeting federal guidelines and fulfilling ISO9000
requirements.
– Business Owners
– Increase you company’s credibility. CCSTs expand your company’s
bidding and service values
– More Bid documents are requiring Certified Technicians for start-up
and commissioning
2014 ISA WWAC Symposium
Aug 5-7, 2014 – Orlando, Florida, USA
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WHO
• CCSTs are knowledgeable and skilled
in:
– Pneumatic ,mechanical, and electronic
instrumentation
– Process control loops
– Process control systems
– Computer based systems
– Documentation
2014 ISA WWAC Symposium
Aug 5-7, 2014 – Orlando, Florida, USA
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WHO
• Over 9,000 technicians have applied
–70% apply at Level I
–12% apply at Level II
–18% apply at Level III
• Nearly 4,000 currently certified as ISA
CCSTs
2014 ISA WWAC Symposium
Aug 5-7, 2014 – Orlando, Florida, USA
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HOW
• Evaluate your years of experience, education,
and training to determine the CCST level that
you are qualified to apply for.
• Eligibility requirements:
– Level I - 5 years education / experience
– Level II - 7 years education / experience
– Level III - 13 years education / experience
2014 ISA WWAC Symposium
Aug 5-7, 2014 – Orlando, Florida, USA
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HOW
• How to Prepare for CCST Exam?
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List of Resources on www.isa.org/ccst/prepare
CCST Level I, II, and III Study Guides
CCST Level I Review Course
Technician Guide Series of books
2014 ISA WWAC Symposium
Aug 5-7, 2014 – Orlando, Florida, USA
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HOW
• How Do I Apply?
• Apply online or download an application from
www.isa.org/ccst
• Document your experience and employment history
• Complete and return the application to ISA
• You will be notified of your eligibility to take the exam and
provided an eligibility number
• Visit www.prometric/ISA to select a testing center and
date to take the exam
• Take the exam and receive your score immediately upon
completion at the testing center
2014 ISA WWAC Symposium
Aug 5-7, 2014 – Orlando, Florida, USA
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HOW
• For More Information:
• Email: ccst@isa.org
• Online: www.isa.org/ccst
• Details on Testing Center Locations:
www.isa.org/examschedule
• Phone: 919-549-8411
2014 ISA WWAC Symposium
Aug 5-7, 2014 – Orlando, Florida, USA
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Sampling of Employers Who Support CCST
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Alyeska Pipeline Service
Ashland Chemical
BASF
Bay-Tec Engineering
Bechtel Construction Company
Boehringer-Ingleheim – Roxanne
Laboratories
BP Oil
Cargill
Central Maine Power Co.
City of Detroit
Cleveland Electric & Power
Colorado Springs Utilities
Coors Brewing Co.
District of Columbia Sewer & Water
Authority
Dupont
Eli Lilly
Emerson Process Management
2014 ISA WWAC Symposium
Aug 5-7, 2014 – Orlando, Florida, USA
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GE Plastics
Honeywell Inc.
Jacobs Engineering
Kellogg, Brown & Root
Maverick Technologies
Meade Electric Company
Merck
Michigan Consolidated Gas
Motorola
Noramco
Oklahoma Gas & Electric
Pfizer
Rohm & Haas
Southern Company
Total Petrochemical
Tropicana Products Inc.
Valero
Xcel Energy
ISA CST Associate Recognition Program
• What:
• The ISA CST Associate examination is designed to
measure a fundamental understanding of knowledge in
instrumentation and control
– Recognition Program – not a Certification
2014 ISA WWAC Symposium
Aug 5-7, 2014 – Orlando, Florida, USA
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ISA CST Associate Recognition Program
• Why:
• Recognition that demonstrates your commitment to a
career in automation and control
• Recognition of your achievements is helpful when you
seek employment.
2014 ISA WWAC Symposium
Aug 5-7, 2014 – Orlando, Florida, USA
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ISA CST Associate Recognition Program
• Who:
• An ISA CST Associate will have specialized work
experience and/or an educational background in
instrumentation and control or a related field.
• The ISA CST Associate examination is designed to
measure a fundamental understanding of knowledge in
instrumentation and control.
2014 ISA WWAC Symposium
Aug 5-7, 2014 – Orlando, Florida, USA
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ISA CST Associate Recognition Program
• How:
• Successfully completed 16 semester course hours or 24
quarter hours from an educational institution within the
related technology areas
• Basic Math, Science , Communications etc. do not qualify
• Completed two year academic degree in related
technology area
• Electronics, Electrical, Mechanical, Instrumentation
• Two years of work experience in related technology area
2014 ISA WWAC Symposium
Aug 5-7, 2014 – Orlando, Florida, USA
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ISA CST Associate Recognition Program
• How:
• Successfully complete an ISA examination.
Domain
% of Test
# of questions
I. Calibration
31%
23
II. Loop Checking
21%
16
III. Troubleshooting
32%
24
IV. Start-up
16%
12
Total
100%
75
2014 ISA WWAC Symposium
Aug 5-7, 2014 – Orlando, Florida, USA
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ISA CST Associate Recognition Program
• How:
• The application fee is $85 for ISA Members and $95 for
non-members.
• Provide signed documentation that verifies all work
experience and official transcripts that document your
educational experience.
2014 ISA WWAC Symposium
Aug 5-7, 2014 – Orlando, Florida, USA
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ISA CCST: WHAT, WHY, WHO, & HOW
THANKS
Dan Machado
Technology Support Group Mgr.
Cobb County Water System
680 S. Cobb Dr. SE
Marietta, GA. 30060
(Office:770.419.6463
(Mobile:678.789.0071
*daniel.machado@cobbcounty.org
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/daniel-machado/24/206/b90
2014 ISA WWAC Symposium
Aug 5-7, 2014 – Orlando, Florida, USA
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