This education & training roundup was compiled by Joel Don, ISA's social media community manager.

April training and education programs from ISA feature several special events such as the popular Automation Engineering Survival Training course (in Columbia, Ill.) and the Process Automation Boot Camp (in Research Triangle Park, N.C.). ISA’s Automation Engineering Survival Training course is designed for system integrators and focuses on concepts important to automation engineers and others involved in a project design and commissioning role. Process Automation Boot Camp focuses on the physical measurement technologies, the communication signals and the various applications of instrument equipment to achieve common process measurements and control. April also features a wide range of classroom training opportunities, plus exam preparation courses and online webinars. Plus check out Section-sponsored training by the ISA Connecticut Valley Section and the ISA Birmingham Section

Onsite Training

In addition to taking ISA classroom training at ISA headquarters, regional locations and industry events, you can also receive customized ISA training at your facility through ISA Onsite Training.  This option can bring any ISA course or combination of courses – along with ISA’s world-class instructors, training materials and portable laboratories – directly to you.  Simply pick the time and place.  Contact ISA at +1 919-549-8411 or info@isa.org.

Note: If a class date is not showing in the course offerings page or registration appears closed, contact ISA at info@isa.org or call customer service at +1 919-549-8411 to get a registration update or waiting list status.

April Features

Automation Engineering Survival Training – Integrator Version (AESTIV)
Do you work for a system integrator? Do you support client projects? Do you need to expand your skills in working in a project design or commissioning environment? ISA’s new Automation Engineering Survival Training: Integrator Version (AESTIV), designed specifically for system integrators, focuses on concepts important to automation engineers and others involved in a project design and commissioning role. This unique process automation engineering experience is designed to hone your process automation knowledge and skills. ISA’s seasoned “Survival Expert” will guide you through a fast-paced and rigorous course of topics from process measurement through advanced automation. Whether you are new to the system integration industry or are a seasoned professional, this course will challenge you and enhance your knowledge in key concepts beneficial to system integrators and allow you to perform at a higher level and will help you deliver superior value to your clients. The five-day course starts April 13 in Columbia, Ill.

Process Automation Boot Camp For Non-Maintenance Personnel (PABC)
This course was specifically developed for non-maintenance personnel with little or no background in the field of process measurements and control. The class focuses on the physical measurement technologies, the communication signals and the various applications of instrument equipment to achieve common process measurements and control. The course is strategically designed around lab demonstrations and in depth class discussions. The course offers a fundamental knowledge for operations, technicians and engineers working in the process control industry. The five-day course starts April 13 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Fundamental Skills Training

Introduction to Industrial Automation and Control (FG07)
This course combines lecture and hands-on labs to provide an overview of industrial measurement and control. Technicians, engineers, and managers are provided with a foundation for communication with other control system professionals. The class serves as a solid fundamental course for introduction to other ISA courses. The 4.5-day class starts April 27 in King of Prussia, Penn.

Technical Skills Training – Instrumentation Maintenance

Electrical Systems and Principles (TI15)
This course covers electrical principles and components used in industrial instrumentation, emphasizing safety. The material covered includes using schematic symbols, the National Electrical Code (NEC), and basic test equipment. This course serves as an excellent overview for those who have never had electrical training and as a refresher/update for those who have had electrical training (though not too advanced) sometime ago. An understanding of basic algebra is expected. The three-day course starts April 20 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Installing, Calibrating, and Maintaining Electronic Instruments (TI25)
This popular course offers a combination of practical information and hands-on experience, covering proper installation, calibration, and maintenance of electronic instruments. You will examine characteristics of electronic control systems; techniques for installing electronic instruments; and procedures for configuring and calibrating transmitters, transducers, and controllers. Approximately 40 percent of your time in this course is spent working with equipment. The 4.5-day class starts April 20 at ISA headquarters in King of Prussia, Penn.

Electrical Noise Effects on Instrumentation Control Equipment (TI21)
This course provides an understanding of electrical grounding from an electrical and instrumentation loop relationship. It also covers grounding for personnel/equipment protection as well as for electrical noise. Signal wiring and noise reduction methods are also presented. The material assumes the student has a basic understanding of electrical principles and signal wiring. The National Electrical Code (NEC) is referenced throughout the course. The two-day class starts April 23 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Electrical Controls for the Controls System Technician (TI23)
This course will focus on electrical controls that are frequently overlooked in a formal training program. The content will begin with Ohm's Law and cover content all the way through technical troubleshooting aspects.  The course is geared toward any level technician who wants a thorough review of electrical process concepts to reinforce their knowledge of basic electricity and develop skills required to install and maintain electrical control devices. The 4.5-day class starts April 27 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Technical Skills Training – Industrial Data Communications

Control Valve Mechanics and Operations from Analog to Digital (TS18)
This course offers the student a comprehensive study of the control valve's mechanical composition, actuation and positioning accessories including a detail study of digital valve controllers (DVCs). The class is hands-on, lab intensive leading the student to a real-world working knowledge of valve mechanical configurations, valve operations and positioner calibrations. In addition the student will gain a working knowledge of DVC operations including configuration, calibration, tuning and diagnostics utilizing the latest communication tools (HART communicators, AMS software, etc). The 4.5-day class starts March 30 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Technical Skills Training – Control Systems

Tuning Control Loops (TC05)
This course is directed to anyone who would like to gain a better understanding of how to tune control loops − whether they have tuned loops but would like to become more proficient or they have never tuned a loop before. Registrants are expected to have a basic understanding of instrumentation and controls (either by working experience or taking fundamental courses such as ISA’s FG07: Introduction to Industrial Automation and Control) as this course does not cover that material. The three-day course starts April 13 in Houston, Tex.

Troubleshooting Instrumentation and Control Systems (TC10)
This course presents a systematic approach to troubleshooting and start-up of single- and multi-loop control loops. You'll see how pressure, level, flow, and temperature loops operate to maintain good process control systems. Knowledge of instrumentation and control is assumed. The two-day class starts April 16 in Houston, Tex.

Automation and Control Training – Control Systems

Designing & Tuning Feedback and Advanced Regulatory Control Strategies (EC05)
The required field of knowledge of a process control engineer has expanded significantly in recent years. What once was limited to measurement technology, signal transmission and feedback control has now expanded to include alarm management, safety instrumented systems, integration of automation and business systems, plus a host of other technologies. Good process control techniques are still as important as ever. This course will provide the foundation which will allow a process control engineering to make appropriate use of all technologies available. The three-day class starts March 30 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Automation and Control Training – Cybersecurity

Using the ANSI/ISA99 (IEC 62443) Standards to Secure Your Industrial Control System (IC32)
The move to using open standards such as Ethernet, TCP/IP, and Web technologies in supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and process control networks has begun to expose these systems to the same cyberattacks that have wreaked so much havoc on corporate information systems. This course provides a detailed look at how the ANSI/ISA99 standards can be used to protect critical control systems. It also explores the procedural and technical differences between the security for traditional IT environments and those solutions appropriate for SCADA or plant floor environments. The two-day course starts April 1 in Cerritos, Calif.

Automation and Control Training – Safety

Applying Instrumentation in Hazardous (Classified) Locations (ES10)
This course provides a detailed, systematic approach to specifying and implementing instrumentation in hazardous locations. The two-day class will be held starting April 1 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Advanced Safety Integrity Level Selection (EC52)
This course focuses on further hands-on examples of safety integrity level (SIL) selection using a variety of different techniques. Students will be better able to save their companies time and money through the optimization of system performance requirements. This course is a follow-on to EC50 (Safety Instrumented Systems − Design, Analysis, and Justification). The course is required for the ISA84 Safety Instrumented Systems Certificate Program 2. You can register for the course only or for the certificate program which includes course and exam. The two-day course starts on April 13 King of Prussia, Penn.

Advanced Design and SIL Verification (EC54)
This two-day course focuses on more detailed design issues and further hands-on examples of system analysis/modeling. Students will be better able to perform system design and analysis thus saving their companies time and money in optimizing system designs. This course will enable you to analyze any system technology and configuration to see if it will meet the required SIL (safety integrity level) and determine if existing systems are safe enough, if they need to be upgraded, and whether proposed systems will meet the performance requirements. The class will start April 15 King of Prussia, Penn.

Certification and Licensure Preparation

EXAM PREP - Certified Maintenance and Reliability Technician (CMRT) Exam Review Course (TM00)
This course is designed as a fast-paced review for the experienced maintenance mechanic. It provides a thorough overview of the knowledge and mechanical skills required in today’s industrial maintenance environment. It is designed specifically for industrial maintenance mechanics preparing for the CMRT exam. An explanation of the examination process and practice taking a certification-type exam is provided. The three-day class starts April 13 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Certified Control System Technician (CCST) Level II Exam Review Course (TS02)
This is a fast-paced review of the knowledge and skills necessary for technicians with 7+ years of practical experience who are preparing to sit for the CCST Level II exam. An explanation of the requirements, examination process and practice certification-type exams are provided. The four-day course starts April 27 in Houston, Tex.

Control Systems Engineering (CSE) PE Exam Review Course (EN00)
This course reviews the knowledge and skills areas that are included on the Control Systems Engineer (CSE) Professional Engineer (PE) examination produced by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) and administered by U.S. state professional license boards each October. The intent of the class is to prepare an engineer with four or more years of experience to take the exam by providing instruction in the broad range of technical areas that will be tested. . The content is based on the CSE Exam Specification that went into effect in October 2011. The three-day course starts April 28 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Special Training Offerings

Automation Engineering Survival Training – Integrator Version (AESTIV)
Do you work for a system integrator? Do you support client projects? Do you need to expand your skills in working in a project design or commissioning environment? ISA’s new Automation Engineering Survival Training: Integrator Version (AESTIV), designed specifically for system integrators, focuses on concepts important to automation engineers and others involved in a project design and commissioning role. This unique process automation engineering experience is designed to hone your process automation knowledge and skills. ISA’s seasoned “Survival Expert” will guide you through a fast-paced and rigorous course of topics from process measurement through advanced automation. Whether you are new to the system integration industry or are a seasoned professional, this course will challenge you and enhance your knowledge in key concepts beneficial to system integrators and allow you to perform at a higher level and will help you deliver superior value to your clients. The five-day course starts April 13 in Columbia, Ill.

Process Automation Boot Camp For Non-Maintenance Personnel (PABC)
This course was specifically developed for non-maintenance personnel with little or no background in the field of process measurements and control. The class focuses on the physical measurement technologies, the communication signals and the various applications of instrument equipment to achieve common process measurements and control. The course is strategically designed around lab demonstrations and in depth class discussions. The course offers a fundamental knowledge for operations, technicians and engineers working in the process control industry. The five-day course starts April 13 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Tactics for Advanced Troubleshooting Boot Camp (TATC)
This intensive boot camp course details the techniques required to troubleshoot today's instrument loops and equipment. From understanding loop fundamentals to employing built-in equipment diagnostics, this class will give the student an advantage in problem identification via the latest in test equipment and communicators used in the process control industry. The class is hands-on intensive with student exercises and instructor demonstration designed to simulate loop and equipment malfunctions, thus requiring the student to follow established troubleshooting techniques. The various equipment built-in diagnostics will be discussed and employed to aid in equipment troubleshooting. The five-day course starts April 27 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Section Training

Industrial Wireless Systems (IC85C)
This course will cover the most relevant details associated with industrial wireless systems with an emphasis towards how the various technological choices coexist, interoperate, and interact with each other. Numerous examples of real-world deployments are covered for facilities such as supervisory control and acquisition (SCADA) systems, petrochemical plants, electrical power generation, and transmission systems. The one-day class will be held April 20 in New Haven, Conn. (Sponsored by ISA and the ISA Connecticut Valley Section)

Using the ANSI/ISA99 (IEC 62443) Standards to Secure Your Industrial Control System (IC32)
The move to using open standards such as Ethernet, TCP/IP, and Web technologies in supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and process control networks has begun to expose these systems to the same cyberattacks that have wreaked so much havoc on corporate information systems. This course provides a detailed look at how the ANSI/ISA99 standards can be used to protect critical control systems. It also explores the procedural and technical differences between the security for traditional IT environments and those solutions appropriate for SCADA or plant floor environments. The two-day course starts April 30 in Birmingham, Ala. (Sponsored by ISA and the ISA Birmingham Section)

Online, Instructor-Assisted Courses

Cybersecurity for Automation, Control, and SCADA Systems (IC32E)
The move to using open standards such as Ethernet, TCP/IP and web technologies in supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and process control networks has begun to expose these systems to the same cyberattacks that have wreaked havoc on corporate information systems. This course provides a detailed look at how the ANSI/ISA99 standards can be used to protect your critical control systems. It also explores the procedural and technical differences between the security for traditional IT environments and those solutions appropriate for SCADA or plant floor environments. The course starts April 6.

Introduction to Industrial Pressure, Level, and Density Measurement Technologies (EI05E)
This course presents an overview of the principles and applications of modern pressure, level, and density measurement systems, emphasizing underlying instrument technologies; device performance and design; and specification, selection, installation, and maintenance requirements for instruments and transmitters. This six-week CyberU course starts April 6.

Certified Automation Professional® (CAP®) Online Exam Review Course (EC00E)
This self-paced, online course reviews the knowledge and skill areas included on the Certified Automation Professional® (CAP®) certification program examination. The intent is to prepare an automation professional who meets the exam criteria to take the exam. The content is based on the job analysis domains, tasks, knowledge areas, and skill areas developed as the basis for the CAP certification exam. This course is the recommended replacement for the discontinued CAP Learning System preparation tool, as it incorporates content similarly included in that tool. The online course starts April 27.

Live Webinar Series – Control Systems Security & ANSI/ISA-99 Series

Using Firewalls and Security Zones on the Plant Floor (IC32CW2)
The network firewall is one of the most important tools in any cyber security designer’s tool box. This seminar introduces the industrial controls engineer to the world of firewall system design, focusing on how these devices can be effectively deployed on the typical plant floor to help meet the ANSI/ISA99 security standards. The webinar will be held March 25.

A Tour of the ANSI/ISA99 Security Standards (IC32CW3)
This webinar introduces you to the ANSI/ISA99 Security for Industrial Automation and Control Systems standards and how these are organized. You will be given a brief introduction to the terminology, concepts, and models of ANSI/ISA99 cybersecurity and elements of creating a cybersecurity management system. The webinar will be held April 1.

Live Webinar Series – Enterprise Control Integration & ANSI/ISA95 Series (4 webinars)

Applying Manufacturing Execution Systems (IC60CW1)
Every enterprise that manufactures anything has some sort of manufacturing execution system (MES) − some means of tracking what needs to be done and how it gets done. Whether it's effective or not depends on its ability to provide structure and control, visibility and accountability, and support for the kind of flexibility and responsiveness demanded by today's make-it-now, make-it-my-way economy. This webinar offers an introduction to and advantages of MES, explained using the ISA95 models. The webinar will be held April 8.

Applying ISA95 for Specification of MES User Requirements (IC60CW2)
The seminar will provide participants instruction on how to use the ISA95 models as a basis for a structured method for collecting and writing the User Requirements Specifications for a manufacturing execution system (MES). The webinar will be held April 15.

The ISA95 Object Models for Enterprise Control System Integration, Part 1: Introduction (IC55CW1)
This seminar presents the ANSI/ISA95 standard defining integration of business logistics systems − enterprise resource planning (ERP), production lifecycle management (PLM), and supply chain management (SCM) − to manufacturing control systems and manufacturing execution systems (MES). This seminar explains the ISA95 object models that are the basis for exchange of information between enterprise and control systems. The webinar will be held April 22.

The ISA95 Object Models for Enterprise-Control System Integration, Part 2: Application Example (IC55CW2)
Using a complete case study, this webinar will explain the complex relationships between the objects in the ISA95 object models. These models explain which information is exchanged between enterprise and control systems, and are the basis for developing interfaces between those systems. The seminar will also pay attention to steps in integration projects, typical aspects of integration architectures (like XML and Middleware) and points of concern, and best practices. The webinar will be held April 29.

ISA Training Partners

ISA has teamed up with IDC Technologies & EIT to bring an array of technical-related training courses to various US locations as well as online courses, with special discounts for ISA members.

Upcoming topics:
Practical Project Management - four hour live, practical online course
Date/Time: 14 April 2015, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CDT (13:00–17:00 UTC/GMT)

People Management Skills for Technical Professionals - four hour live, practical online course
Date/Time: 21 April 2015, 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CDT (13:00–17:00 UTC/GMT)

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