The Certified Process Specialist certification prepares and documents an individual’s skill proficiency in competencies related to process control systems found in modern industrial facilities. Completion of this credential indicates satisfactory skill verification required to install, maintain, troubleshoot, and repair process control systems and associated integrated components.

The CPS Certificate is achieved by completing the underlying technician credentials and demonstrating mastery via written and hands-on skills assessments. The following list indicates the technician level credentials along with a description of each.

Certified Process Technician Level I
Introduces individuals to the fundamentals of process control systems and their role in industrial operations. A study of process theory, along with symbols, diagrams and control fundamentals is followed by safety procedures and considerations.
   • Process Fundamentals
   • Process Safety
   • Process Documentation
   • Process Measurement
   • Process Signals

Certified Process Technician Level II
Expands on the topics of level I to discuss digital and analog measurement devices and signals along with control methods and fundamentals. This is followed by an introduction of automatic control using PID along with loop tuning activities for flow, level, pressure, and temperature applications.
   • Final Control Elements
   • Manual Control
   • Automatic Control
   • PID Fundamentals
   • PID Control Loops

Certified Process Technician Level III
Continues the skills development of previous topics from Level I and II by introducing loop checking/tuning principals along with advanced control methods including cascade, ratio, and feedforward control systems.
   • Loop Checking
   • Loop Tuning
   • Feedforward Control
   • Cascade Control
   • Ratio Control

Certified Process Technician Level IV
Further expands on the study of process control to include advanced communication protocols used with common process instruments. Additionally, this includes a study of instrument calibration and the procedures for verifying instrument signals, along with an introduction of process technicians.
   • Instrument Calibration
   • Process Troubleshooting
   • HART Protocol
   • Foundation Fieldbus
   • Process Technicians

The Control Systems Technician, CST, Associate Certificate is based on key domains from the Certified Control Systems Technician® (CCST®) Body of Knowledge. To earn the certificate, one must pass CST Associate Exam from International Society of Automation, ISA.

CST Associate Exam Eligibility:
   • A 4-year technical degree; or
   • A 2-year technical degree and one (1) year of work experience in the automation field; or
   • Five years of work experience in the automation.

Participants who complete this full Certified Process path and meet the other requirement for eligibility, will be able to apply for the CCST certification.