Discover the

Benefits of ISA’s
Certified Control
®
Systems Technician
®
(CCST ) Program
A B O U T I S A ’ S C C S T P R O G R A M

ISA’s Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST) program promotes the

professional development of control systems technicians by recognizing
and documenting knowledge, experience, and education in automation +
control and providing a measurable hiring qualification.

The CCST program has been popular with technicians and managers
looking for an objective way to measure the skill level of control
systems technicians. More than 8,000 technicians have applied for
certification and almost 4,000 are now certified.

ISA offers the CCST exam throughout the US and sets up international
and private test sites as needed. ISA also provides technical skills
training courses, a CCST review course, and several study guides and
reference books. For more information on the CCST program, visit
ww.isa.org/CCST.

BENEFITS of the CCST program:

■ Documents a technician’s skills
■ Increases company credibility
■ Creates a safer work environment and quality products with
skilled employees “The [ISA CCST] program gives
technicians control and empower-
■ Provides an unbiased endorsement
ment in their career, and gives
■ Demonstrates professional commitment and credentials them a competitive advantage
■ Improves career opportunities and salary potential in regards to jobs. [It also] gives
management a tool to validate
■ Enhances skills, knowledge, and self-esteem employees’ skills.”
■ Provides added competency necessary for promotion —Bill Phipps,
Permian Basin Training
Center of Chevron
International

“I feel that the [CCST] certification had a pos-

itive impact on my latest promotion.”
—Roger Garman, ISA CCST II
WhyCYourE RTechnicians?
TIFY
As a manager, you understand workplace challenges: intensifying competition, the
need to increase efficiency, and pressure to recruit and maintain experienced
employees. To maintain your competitive edge, your company needs highly skilled
and trained employees—ISA CCSTs.

Document your technicians’ skills.

As you seek ISO 9000 certification, or work with federal agencies like the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) or the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA),
certified technicians demonstrate your company meets training guidelines.

Increase your company’s credibility.

CCSTs expand your company’s bidding and service values, which ultimately increase your
company’s bottom line. With CCSTs, you have the most talented professionals in the
industry maintaining, repairing, calibrating, and troubleshooting your equipment.

Employ the most talented technicians.

When hiring new employees you have established criteria selecting the most experienced
industry professionals. As technology changes, it’s important that technicians stay
abreast of current industry trends. The CCST program gives your technicians incentive
for staying current.

Maintain a safe workplace.

Technicians have direct control over operations that affect product quality. And with CCSTs,
you save time and money because jobs are done right the first time.

Gain a third-party endorsement.

The CCST program shows career commitment by your technicians and gives them a
third-party endorsement of their professional accomplishments.
C C S T B E N E F I T S T E C H N I C I A N S

TopTenR E A S O N S
1 Demonstrates your commitment to the profession.
Since certification is voluntary, it’s a clear indicator of your
willingness to invest in your own professional development.

2
Establishes your professional credentials.
The program serves as an impartial, third-party endorsement
of your knowledge, skills, and experience.

3 Reflects personal achievement.

Achieving CCST status demonstrates your competence by
confirming proficiency, career involvement, and knowledge.

4
Improves your career opportunities.
CCST certification gives you an edge when being considered for
promotions and other career opportunities.

5
Enhances skills and knowledge.
CCSTs have displayed excellence automation + control by fulfilling
requirements set by ISA.

“I thank ISA for their CCST program [and for giving]

me the opportunity to achieve my goal of furthering
my career to its full potential.’’
—Jonathan B. Gentry,
ISA CCST I
to Become an ISA CCST

6 Enhances the profession’s image.

The program seeks to grow, promote, and develop technicians who can
stand out as examples of excellence in the field.

7
Builds self-esteem.
Certification sets a standard you’ll begin to define yourself by. You’ll see
yourself as a certified professional in control of your own professional
destiny and find a deep sense of personal satisfaction.

8 Prepares you for additional job responsibilities.

More and more employers are in the process of requiring CCST certification
for employment and promotion.

9 Provides opportunities for greater earnings.

As a CCST, you can expect many benefits, but in today’s working world,
salary increases speak for themselves.

10 Gives professional recognition from peers.

Hear that applause? It’s all for you! As a CCST, you can expect increased
recognition for taking that extra step in your professional development.

“The CCST program keeps [you] up to date with the technology

in the field of instrumentation and controls. An excellent program
to develop your skills in the I&C field.’’
—Robert J. Currie,
ISA CCST I
TA K E T H E N E X T S T E P

Three
L E V E L S of Certification
The ISA CCST Program offers three levels of certification
Level I requires a minimum
based on a technician’s education and experience. of five years education, training
Before passing the written examination, CCSTs must complete an application and/or experience
and supply documentation that demonstrates they meet the education and Level II requires seven
experience levels required to be certified. Technicians can begin testing years education, training and/or
directly at the level for which their experience matches. CCSTs maintain their experience, with at least two
years in instrumentation/
credentials by renewing every three years.
measurement and control
Level III requires thirteen
years education, training and/or
experience, with at least five
years in instrumentation/
measurement and control

CCST Examination
Domains
The CCST exams are based on a national job analysis study of control systems
technicians that identified seven performance domains as critical knowledge and
Domains skill areas for control systems technicians.
1 Calibration
2 Loop Checking
Preparation
3 Troubleshooting
ISA provides study guides, books, and training courses to help CCST applicants
4 Start-Up
prepare for the exam. For more information on available resources, go to
5 Maintenance/Repair
www.isa.org/CCST or contact ISA at CCST@isa.org or (919) 549-8411.
6 Project Organization
7 Administration
Locations
ISA offers the CCST exam in more than 50 locations across North America. Or, the
exam can be offered FREE at your location as a Private Exam site when you have
four or more technicians testing, saving you time and money.
How
T O A P P LY
121. Read ISA’s CCST Program Information Guide. The guide is available at
www.isa.org/CCST or by calling (919) 572-6880.

342. Review your years of education and/or experience to determine the CCST level that you
are qualified to apply for.

3. Secure the necessary papers to document your work and education experience.

5
4. Complete and return the application by the deadline for the exam date you select.

5. Review ISA or other study materials and take the exam.

“We’ve told some of the engineers we

work with about it [the CCST Program]
and now they’re considering writing it
into contracts.”
“I believe this program is an excellent way —Rich Franklin, Franklin Services
to set the bar for achievement, quality, and
integrity in such a complex field.”
—Richard “Jake” Boyd, ISA CCST I

“It [the ISA CCST certification] is a third

party evaluation, not some foreman’s
recommendation or a flattering review.’’
—Leo Staples,
Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co.
This is a sampling of companies that support ISA’s CCST Program, which strives to
enhance the image of the control systems technician.
Accutech Instrument Service Field Technologies North American Technologies, Inc.
Adolph Coors Brewing Co. Flemington Instrument Co., Inc. Oklahoma Gas & Electric
Air Products & Chemicals Inc. FMC Corp. OMI Instrumentation Services
Allied Signal Franklin Service PCI Detroit
Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. Garney Morris, Inc. Peak Technical Services
Amoco Genencore Pentagon Utilities Plant
Applied Power & Control, Inc. GE Co. Pfizer, Inc.
Aristech Chemical Holtrachem Manufacturing Prime Support Services
Arizona Chemical Honeywell Inc, IAC Raytheon
Ashland Chemical ICI Acrylics RE Erickson Co
ATC Systems, Inc. ICS Industrial Control Services Reilly Industries
BASF Corp INCAL River City Controls, Inc.
Battaglia Electric, Inc. Indecon Rohm & Haas
BP Oil Refinery Industrial Instrumentation, Inc. Sachs Electric Co., Inc.
Bechtel Construction Company Industrial Thermal Systems, Inc. Sargent Electric Co., Inc.
Bogan, Inc. Insertech Caribbean Co. Ltd. Scheck Technical Services
Brown Electric, Inc. Instrumentation & Controls Inc. Sea Land
Brown & Root Imclone Systems, Inc. Siegmund Environmental Services, Inc.
Calibration & Testing Corporation Imperial Technical Services Siemens-Westinghouse
California Spectra Instrumentation Instrument Science & Technologies, Inc. Smith Instrument Co., Inc.
Cenex Refinery Instrumentation and Controls, Inc. Solutia, Inc.
Central Maine Power Co. Island Instrumentation Systems & Control, Steam Plant Systems, Inc.
Citgo Products Inc. Sunoco
Cleveland Electric Kinetic Systems, Inc. Testspec Inc.
Coates Electrical & Instmtn KOCH Petroleum Group Texaco
Collier, Inc. Larkin Enterprises, Inc. Turco Engineering, Inc.
Colorado Springs Utilities Las Vegas Valley Water District United Technical Services
Coors Brewing, Co. Lyons Electric, Inc. Universal Controls
DCI, Inc Luzenac America, Inc. Wagner-Smith Company
Desert Fox Technical Services, Inc. Meade Electric Co., Inc. Washington Group International J
Dist. of Columbia Water & Sewer Merck & Co White Oak Semiconductor
Dynatec Process Michigan Consolidated Gas Co. Xanth Control Systems
Eastern Shore Technical MMR Technical Services, Inc. Xcel Energy-Prairie Island Nuclear Generating
Endicom Electric Motorola Plant
Epic Process Controls National Process Controls Group
ESCO Newtron, Inc.

ISA’s Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST) Program

ISA—The Instrumentation, Systems, and Automation Society Phone: (919) 549-8411
67 Alexander Drive Fax: (919) 549-8288
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709 ISANetwork: www.isa.org/CCST
E-mail: CCST@isa.org
08-8527-123