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

Make plans now to attend one or more of the four consecutive weeks of ISA’s most popular, world-class technician, automation engineering and safety courses in Cerritos, Calif. ISA’s Los Angeles Section is sponsoring this technical training event that includes ISA’s world-renowned subject-matter experts. Enhance the value of attending this year's 2014 Process Control & Safety Symposium (PCS) by attending one of four ISA security and safety courses. Courses held in conjunction with PCS include Introduction to the Management of Alarm Systems (IC39C); Introduction to Industrial Automation Security and the ANSI/ISA99 (IEC 62443) Standards (IC32C); Introduction to Safety Instrumented Systems (EC50C); and Industrial Wireless Systems (IC85C).

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.

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 October 13 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Industrial Electronics (TI20)
This course introduces the theory and practical application of industrial electronic components. The emphasis is on safety, electrostatic discharge damage, and prevention. An understanding of basic electrical systems is assumed. The two-day class starts October 16 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

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 October 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 October 27 in Burbank, Calif.

Automation and Control Training – Industrial Communications

Advanced Industrial Cybersecurity (TS13)
This advanced course will expand your practical knowledge of cybersecurity technologies as applied to an industrial setting. The course will familiarize you with the latest developments in cybersecurity, including practical guides to design, implementation and testing industrial networks and applications to ensure their security and reliability in an industrial production environment. The course will discuss the functions and purposes of the elements used to create and protect an industrial network. The 4.5-day course starts October 13 in Houston, Tex.

IT Survival Basics for I&C Personnel (TS14)
This course will provide I&C personnel with a basic understanding of IT concepts and technology including Ethernet networking, switches, routers, servers, PCs and firewalls, as well as wireless Ethernet networks and TCP/IP communications. The student will learn how to configure them and how cybersecurity is applied to protect them. Upon completion of this course, individuals will have a familiarity with basic IT concepts and technology which will enable them to effectively collaborate and communicate with IT personnel and perform basic IT functions essential in a modern plant and with modern control systems technology. The five-day class starts October 20 in King of Prussia, Penn.

Automation and Control 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 October 6 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

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 October 9 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Automation and Control Training – Communications

Advanced System Programming Languages (IEC 6-1131-3) Utilized By PLC/PAC Systems (TC36P)
Today’s PLC/PAC systems are powerful computers that can be programmed in five different languages, and these various languages can co-exist on the same operating platform. All five languages conform to the IEC 6-1131-3 specification. This course was developed for those responsible for selecting the proper language or languages for an application. The five-day course starts on October 27 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 October 1 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 October 1 in Newark, Del., with a second class offering starting on October 14 in Morristown, N.J..

Sizing, Selecting, and Applying Process Control Valves (EI30)
You will gain a practical understanding of control valves, actuators, and positioner designs and their applications. This course also provides methods that can be used to identify specific valve problems and to arrive at acceptable solutions within engineering tolerance. The three-day class starts October 30 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Automation and Control Training – Safety

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 October 6 in Columbia, Ill.

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 October 1 in Houston, Tex. with a second offering starting October 8 Columbia, Ill.

Certification and Licensure Preparation

Certified Control Systems Technician® (CCST®) Level I Review Course (TS00)
This is a fast-paced review of the knowledge and practical skills necessary to install and maintain standard measurement and control instrumentation. It is intended for practicing technicians preparing for the CCST Level I exam. An explanation of the examination process and practice certification-type exams are provided. The four-day course starts October 20 in Burbank, Calif.

 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 October 13 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Special Training Events

ISA Automation Engineering Survival Training (AEST)
Sharpen your process automation know-how with this intensive week of expert-led lecture and hands-on exercises covering practical, real-world automation survival skills. Automation Engineering Survival Training is a unique process automation engineering experience designed to hone your process automation knowledge and skills. This intensive technical training boot camp for automation engineers combines lecture and hands-on labs with bonus features, including a plant tour, technical library, and networking events, to maximize your learning experience. The five-day class starts October 6 in Cerritos, Calif.

ISA Technician Training Boot Camp (TTBC)
ISA Technician Training Boot Camp (not just for technicians) combines a unique technical training course − minimum lecture and maximum hands-on experience − with bonus features, including a plant tour, technical library, and social events, to enhance the learning experience and to maximize knowledge gained. More than 75 percent of your time will be spent on equipment labs. This week of intensive training will cover a broad range of technical topics needed to get the job done right. Starting with basic instrumentation fundamentals and ending with the advanced and ultimate in smart technology, this comprehensive program will serve as a vital building block to your professional development and skills enhancement efforts. This course also serves as a solid introduction to other ISA courses that will help you advance your automation and control career. ISA Technician Training Boot Camp starts October 13 in Cerritos, Calif.

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 October 20 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

ISA Training at Industry Events

Introduction to the Management of Alarm Systems (IC39C)
This course focuses on the key activities of the alarm management lifecycle provided in the ANSI/ISA18.00.02 standard, Management of Alarm Systems for the Process Industries. The activities include the alarm philosophy development, alarm rationalization, basic alarm design, advanced alarm techniques, Human Machine Interface (HMI) design for alarms, monitoring, assessment, management of change, and audit. The one-day class will be held October 6 in Houston, Tex.

Introduction to Industrial Automation Security and the ANSI/ISA99 (IEC 62443) Standards (IC32C)
Understanding how to secure factory automation, process control and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) networks is critical if you want to protect them from viruses, hackers, spies and saboteurs. This seminar teaches you the basics of the ANSI/ISA99 Security for Industrial Automation and Control Systems standards and how these can be applied in the typical factory or plant. In this seminar, you will be introduced to the terminology, concepts and models of ANSI/ISA99 cybersecurity. In addition, the elements of creating a cybersecurity management system will be explained along with how these should be applied to industrial automation and control systems. The one-day course will be held October 6 in Houston, Tex.

Introduction to Safety Instrumented Systems (EC50C)
This is a one-day course that focuses on the engineering requirements for the specification, design, analysis, and justification of safety instrumented systems for the process industries. Students will learn how to determine safety integrity levels and evaluate whether proposed or existing systems meet the performance and documentation requirements defined in the ISA 84 (IEC61511) standard. The one-day course will be held October 6 in Houston, Tex.

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 course will be held October 6 in Houston, Tex.

Process Safety Fundamentals (EC50CT)
This one-day course is a quick reference for technicians and operators to understanding the principles governing the use of safety instrumented systems (SIS). Students will learn basic definitions and concepts, the different types of standards, and the role of personnel in the safety life cycle of such systems. It also serves as an introductory preparation for the more comprehensive ISA EC50 multi-day course covering design, analysis and justification of SIS and its related certificate programs. The one-day class will be held October 20 in Cerritos, Calif.

Safety Instrumented Systems − Design, Analysis and Justification (EC50)
This course focuses on the engineering requirements for the specification, design, analysis, and justification of safety instrumented systems for the process industries. Students will learn how to determine safety integrity levels and evaluate whether proposed or existing systems meet the performance and documentation requirements defined in the ISA 84 (IEC61511) standard. The four-day class starts October 21 in Houston, Tex.

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 October 27 in Cerritos, Calif.

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 October 29 in Cerritos, Calif.

Live Webinar Series – Automation Project Management Series

Effective Project Team Building (MT05W1)
Discover the benefits realized by effective project teams. This Web seminar will show you the characteristics of successful teams and the techniques used to build them. Learn how to set clear team goals, identify the skills required for effective team members, and remove team inhibitors. The webinar will be held October 8.

Team Member Motivation (MT05W2)
This web seminar will give you the skills and techniques used to motivate team members in the project setting. You will learn the characteristics of project team motivation and how to identify different types of motivation. You will also be able to determine a team members’ level of needs and list the types of workers on your project team. The webinar will be held October 15.

Successful SCRUM Applications (MT05W3)
This web seminar will present the logic, techniques, and applications of SCRUM Project Management. You will learn the reasons for SCRUM over traditional project management, the theory and techniques that form the basis for SCRUM, and the various applications to automation for SCRUM. You will also learn the steps for SCRUM and how to use SCRUM in completing project activities. The webinar will be held October 22.

Live Webinar Series – September & October – Fiber Optics, RFID and Sensor Technology Series

Wireless Networking of Sensors and Instrumentation: Applications and Techniques (SP25W)
Wireless sensor networks allow stable system operation in facilities where the ambient RF and environmental conditions change. The fundamental underpinnings of a wireless sensor module are augmented by a discussion of networking techniques resulting in descriptions of various types of wireless sensor network topologies. An extensive review of 802.15.4-based wireless sensor networks culminates in specific examples of ZigBee, ISA100.11a and Wireless HART wireless sensor networks. This webinar will be held September 17.

Overview of Fiber Optic Sensing (SP26W)
Over the past two decades, development of fiber optic sensors has led to devices and systems which are able to measure over 60 different parameters. Perhaps even more noteworthy is the fact that commercially available fiber optic sensors are increasing in frequency and in actual deployment. It is a vibrant field with clear advantages over electron-based sensors in certain applications, particularly those where electromagnetic interference wreaks havoc. This seminar will introduce you to the operation, implementation limits, and practical benefits associated with fiber optic sensors. The web seminar will be held September 24.

Web Seminar: Radio Frequency Identification (RFID): Overview & Applications (SP27W)
The goals of this seminar are to introduce the conceptual, logistical, and application-specific concepts, along with the fundamental engineering underpinnings of RFID technology. With this information, you will then be able to make a more constructive decision as to how this technology may be integrated into your industrial or comparable setting. The seminar covers the fundamental aspects associated with the burgeoning usage of RFID technology. Using several specific examples of deployments in various settings − ranging from industrial to commercial to military − this seminar discusses the logistics associated with fixed or mobile reader systems to interrogate the RFID tags. Integration and co-existence issues associated with simultaneous operation of RFID systems and other wireless networks are also described. This web seminar will be held October 1.

Live Webinar Series – October to December – Introduction to Measurement & Control Series

Introduction to Process Control (FG05W1)
In this webinar, the importance of and an introduction to the methodology of measurement in control will be discussed and process control will be defined. The definition and technology of a loop and of the control loop will be covered. This seminar will also discuss control strategies and provide an introduction to controller tuning. ISA standard piping and instrument diagram (P&ID) symbols are introduced and used throughout the seminar materials. The webinar will be held October 29.

Introduction to Temperature Measurement (FG05W2)
This webinar provides an introduction to and overview of temperature measurement as current practice in measurement and control systems. Terminology, technology and applications are covered in this concise presentation. The webinar will be held November 5.

Introduction to Level Measurement (FG05W3)
This webinar provides an introduction and overview of level measurement as current practice in measurement and control systems. Terminology, technology, and applications are covered in this concise presentation. The webinar will be held November 12.

Introduction to Flow Measurement (FG05W4)
This webinar provides an introduction and overview of flow measurement as current practice in measurement and control systems. Terminology, technology, and applications are covered in this concise presentation. The webinar will be held November 19.

Introduction to Pressure Measurement (FG05W5)
This is an introduction and overview of pressure measurement as current practice in measurement and control systems. Terminology, technology and applications are covered in this concise presentation. The webinar will be held December 3.

ISA Training Partner: IDC Technologies

ISA has teamed up with IDC Technologies to bring an array of technical-related training courses to various U.S. locations, with special discounts for ISA members.

When you become an ISA member, you’ll join thousands of automation and control professionals who collaborate to share ideas and insights, and solve technical challenges. And, you’ll receive up to 20 percent off on ISA products, including training courses. To review the complete array of ISA member benefits, click the link below or contact ISA customer service at +1 919-549-8411 or info@isa.org.

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