ISA CCST

WHAT, WHY, WHO, AND HOW

Standards

Speaker:
DANIEL MACHADO

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2014 ISA Water / Wastewater and Automatic Controls Symposium

August 5-7, 2014 Orlando, Florida, USA

Presenter
Daniel Machado

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

Presentation Outline

What:
Why:
Who:
How:
2014 ISA WWAC Symposium
Aug 5-7, 2014 Orlando, Florida, USA

WHAT
ISAs 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

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

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

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

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

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 companys credibility. CCSTs expand your companys
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

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?

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

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

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

19

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

20

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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