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ISA’s CAP Program Validated by Study

09/16/2004

The Instrumentation, Systems and Automation Society (ISA) has published a job-analysis study for its new Certified Automation Professional (CAP) program. Running 77 pages, the report is free to ISA members and costs $150 for non-members. It is available at www.isa.org/capanalysis.

CAPs are responsible for the direction, design and deployment of systems and equipment for manufacturing and control systems. ISA certification as a CAP will provide a third-party, objective assessment and confirmation of an automation-professional’s skills. 

The goal of the ISA study is to make sure that aspects of automation covered on the exam reflect tasks performed in practice settings throughout the United States and Canada.  The report also evaluates the importance, criticality and frequency of these tasks.

Jim Henderson, vice president of Castle Worldwide, the psychometric firm that performed the study, says, “The study is a delineation of the tasks involved in performing a job. Generally, the tasks can be grouped together in very general areas of responsibility called domains."  Henderson says there are knowledge and skill lists associated with each job task.  To competently perform his or her job, an automation professional is expected to know and be able to do the tasks delineated in the study.

ISA is accepting applications for the CAP exam scheduled for Oct. 7 at ISA EXPO 2004 in Houston.  Additional exams will be given Oct. 9 and Dec. 11 at select locations. Oct. 29 is the application deadline for the Dec. 11 exam offerings.

For more information about the CAP program, including eligibility requirements, exam locations, key knowledge and skills, a detailed program handbook, and a study guide available for purchase, visit www.isa.org/cap.