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

For four consecutive weeks this fall, ISA industrial automation experts will be in Houston, Tex. to lead the world-class technician skills, automation engineering and safety courses. ISA Technical Training Camp is your opportunity to take multiple ISA training courses at one location, and at a discounted rate. The program, which includes pre-arranged local plant tours to demonstrate real-world applications, offers the ability to earn continuing education credits and professional development hours for each course. Also in September, ISA is partnering with Hannover Fairs International to offer its popular two-day, instructor-led technical training course at the Industrial Automation North America conference event, held in conjunction with the International Manufacturing Technology Show 2014, from September 8-13.

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.

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 September 15 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Technical Skills Training − Instrumentation Maintenance

Instrument Calibration and Documentation for FDA-Regulated Industries (TI24)
Do you want an untrained technician working on equipment that directly affects the quality and integrity of the product being manufactured at your facility? This course offers a combination of practical information and hands-on experience, covering fundamental principles of electronic process control instrumentation used in pharmaceutical and other life science industries. Proper calibration will be covered in hands-on lab exercises using common electronic instrumentation including analyzers. You will examine characteristics of electronic control systems and procedures for configuring transmitters, transducers, and controllers. A good portion of time is spent working hands-on with typical industry equipment. The 4.5-day class starts September 8 in Westwood, Mass.

Advanced Operation of Digital (Smart) Transmitters and Digital Valve Controllers (TS16)
This lab-intensive course focuses on the configuration fundamentals, the calibration process, the measurements of multiple variables, and the utilization of computer-based configuration tools for both digital transmitters and digital valve controllers. This course offers hands-on, working knowledge of smart field devices with an emphasis on measurement accuracy, advanced information gathering, decreased maintenance time, ease-of-configuration and calibration, and diagnostic capabilities. The 4.5-day starts September 15 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Automation and Control Training – Building Automation

Introduction to Building Automation Systems (EA15)
This real world-based course will give you a broad introduction to the specific issues involved with building automation systems (BAS). You will explore the processes that occur at every level in the air conditioning industry, including digital controls. Learn about sensing and measurement, actuation, analog output devices, and relays. Computer interfaces are discussed including web interfaces. Your survey of the world of BAS includes: future of bas, digital direct control (DDC) basics, field devices, the human machine interface (HMI), bas design and specification, energy conservation control strategies, and system maintenance. The three-day class starts September 8 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Automation and Control Training – Control Systems

Designing and Applying Model Based Control Strategies (EC60)
This course will cover designing and applying Model Based Control (MBC) strategies, including the basic structure of all MBCs, the basic technology of Model Predictive Control (MPC), and how to successfully build and monitor controllers. The three-day class starts September 8 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Batch Control Using the ANSI/ISA88 Standards (IC40)
This course presents an approach to developing functional requirements/specifications using the models and terminology defined in the ANSI/ISA88 batch control standards. A review of the characteristics of batch manufacturing systems is included. Participants will explore the ANSI/ISA88 concept that separates the recipe from the equipment. This course includes a methodology that defines an object approach based on ANSI/ISA88 that promotes the reuse of these objects from one project to the next. The three-day class starts September 9 in King of Prussia, Penn.

Automation and Control Training – Safety

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 September 15 in Columbia, Ill.

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 September 15 in Columbia, Ill.

Fire and Gas System Engineering – Performance-Based Methods for Process Facilities (EC56P)
Fire and gas detection and suppression system design techniques that are currently in use are often considered to be unsatisfactory due to their nature of being rule of thumb and experience-oriented without any real ability to quantify risk. This has resulted in systems that are either over-designed or under-designed. Only after the ISA TR 84.00.07 was a comprehensive framework for performance-based fire and gas design established. This three-day course describes the techniques recommended in the technical report, along with hands-on use of the techniques and associated software tools. It will be held in Columbus, Ohio starting on September 16.

Boiler Control Systems Engineering (ES15)
This three-day course covers boiler components and their purpose. Additionally, the course explains the ISA symbols used in boiler control, how to identify the engineering and control of boilers using these symbols, and a method of presenting the engineering. This course covers topics including defining the control and ratio control fundamentals, feed forward control, feed forward plus feedback control, cascade control, ratio control, and how they are implemented in boiler control. Flame detection methods, including the advantages of each method, are also covered. The class will start on September 22 in Burbank, Calif.

Burner Management Systems Engineering Using NFPA Code 85 and ANSI/ISA77 Standards (ES16)
This two-day course covers the safe startup, monitoring and shutdown of multiple burner boiler furnaces. It also discusses causes of furnace explosions and the relationship between burner management systems and boiler control systems. Prior attendance at ISA ES15: Boiler Control Systems Engineering course or an understanding of boilers and boiler control is assumed. The class starts September 25 in Burbank, Calif.

Certification and Licensure Preparation

Texas-based courses are part of ISA Technical Training Boot Camp, Houston 2014.

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 will be held in two locations, starting September 9 in Houston, Tex.

Certified Control System Technician® (CCST®) Level III Exam Review Course (TS03)
This course reviews the knowledge and skills areas included on the Certified Control Systems Technician® (CCST®) Level III 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 CCST certification exam. The four-day course will be held in two locations, starting September 22 in Houston, Tex.

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 September 29 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

Special Training Events

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 September 8 in Houston, Tex. The course is part of ISA Technical Training Boot Camp, Houston 2014.  A second course offering start September 22 at ISA headquarters in Research Triangle Park, N.C.

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 September 15 in Houston, Tex. The course is part of ISA Technical Training Boot Camp, Houston 2014.

ISA Training at Industry Events

The following classes will be held in conjunction with ISA Technical Training Camp, Houston 2014.

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 September 4 in Houston, Tex.  An additional course offering starts September 10 in Columbia, Ill.

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 September 22 in Houston, Tex.

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 September 23 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 September 29 in Houston, Tex.

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.

ISA Section Sponsored Training

Project Management for Automation Engineers (MT10C2)
This course teaches project management as specifically applied to automation projects. Because automation projects require specialized approaches, it is critical for lead automation project engineers to take responsibility for implementing those techniques and approaches. It is also critical for their employers and their clients to ensure that this person has both the skills and the motivation to do those tasks, meshing the project leadership/management role with technical work. Since many projects employ levels of project managers, this course will also help you to work effectively with senior project managers who are responsible for high-level planning and other management tasks. The one-day class will be held September 18 in Shoreview, Minn.

Online, Instructor-Assisted Courses

ISA’s CyberU online instructor-led training courses offer the benefits of high-quality ISA training courses with the added advantage of studying at your own pace in the office, at home or while traveling.  Courses use online training modules, additional text materials, online evaluations, and email discussions. Students have access via email to an instructor and have an opportunity to participate in live Q&A sessions with the instructor and other class participants.

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 28.

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 7.

Safety Instrumented Systems − Design, Analysis and Justification (EC50E)
ISA’s CyberU online instructor-led training course offers the benefit of a high-quality ISA training course with the added advantage of studying at your own pace in the office, at home or while traveling. This course utilizes online training modules, additional text materials, online evaluations, and email discussions. Students will have access via email to an instructor and have an opportunity to participate in live Q&A sessions with the instructor and other class participants. The 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 requirements. The eight-week course starts March 31.

Note: This course is required for the ISA84 SIS Fundamentals Specialist Certificate Program. Click this link for details.

Sistemas Instrumentados de Seguridad − Diseño, análisis y justificación (EC50ESP)
Los cursos de entrenamiento en línea o cursos cibernéticos (“ISA’s CyberU online instructor-led”) ofrecen todos los beneficios de alta calidad de cualquier curso de entrenamiento ISA con la ventaja de que Ud. puede tomarlos a su propio ritmo y a su conveniencia, bien en el trabajo como en la oficina o incluso mientras está viajando. Este sistema utiliza módulos de entrenamiento en línea, libros de texto adicionales, evaluaciones en línea y discusiones por correo electrónico. Los estudiantes tendrán acceso al instructor vía correo electrónico, además de la oportunidad de participar en sesiones de preguntas y respuestas en vivo, tanto con el instructor como con otros compañeros de clase. El curso se enfoca en las especificaciones de diseño, el análisis y la justificación de sistemas instrumentados de seguridad para aplicaciones en la industria de procesos continuos. Los estudiantes aprenderán como determinar los niveles integrales de seguridad funcional (O SIL por sus siglas en Ingles) y determinar si dichos niveles de rendimiento son alcanzados, tanto en sistemas existentes como en sistemas propuestos. La clase de ocho semanas comienza 22 de Septiembre.

Este curso es requerido para obtener el certificado como “Especialista en Fundamentos ISA84” (ISA84 SIS Fundamentals Specialist Certificate Program)

Applying Instrumentation in Hazardous Locations (ES10E)
This self-paced, online course provides a systematic approach to specifying and implementing instrumentation in hazardous locations. Related standards from National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), American Petroleum Institute (API), and ISA are discussed. The eight-week course starts September 29.

Fundamentals of Industrial Process Measurement & Control (FG05E)
This self-paced, online course provide an overview of industrial measurement and control for technician, engineers, and managers providing a basic understanding and foundation for communication with other control systems professionals. The 12-week course starts September 29.

Live Webinar Series – August – Boiler/Burner Management Series

Is A Burner Management System (BMS) A Safety Instrumented System (SIS)? (ES16PW1)
This seminar presents and discusses the direction in which the industry is heading with respect to the classification of a BMS as a SIS. The course will provide an overview of the current codes/standards related to burner management systems and how they relate to SIS standards. This class also presents arguments as to why a BMS could be considered a SIS. The online webinar will be held August 27.

Is a Fire & Gas System a Safety Instrumented System? (ES16PW2)
This webinar will explore the current trends in the market place and industry in general with respect to fire and gas detection systems and their relationship to safety instrumented systems (SISs). It will be held September 3.

Introduction to the 61-511 Changes (ES16PW3)
Safety instrumented systems for the process industry sector is currently undergoing a revision cycle. This webinar will provide an overview of proposed modifications to IEC 61511 with an emphasis on those modifications that could have an impact on the specification, design and/or operation of safety instrumented systems. The webinar will be held September 10.

Live Webinar Series – September – 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.

ISA Training Partner: IDC Technologies

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