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Automation Engineers

Certification, Licensing, and Special Requirements

Certification or Licensing

Several professional associations provide certification programs for automation engineers. Becoming certified shows employers that you’ve met high standards established by your industry, and certified engineers often earn higher salaries and have better employment prospects than those who are not certified. The International Society of Automation (ISA) offers the certified automation professional credential to automation professionals who work in process automation and manufacturing automation. Applicants must meet education and work experience requirements, pass an examination, and commit to the ISA Code of Ethics. Visit https://www.isa.org/certification/cap for more information. Other certification credentials are offered by the American Software Testing Qualifications Board (ITSQB test automation engineer), International Institute for Software Testing (certified software test automation specialist, certified software test automation architect), Society of Manufacturing Engineers (certified manufacturing engineer, certified additive manufacturing-fundamentals, robotics in manufacturing fundamentals, and Lean certification), and the Association for Advancing Automation (certified robot integrator, certified vision professional, certified vision system integrator, certified motion control professional).

Any engineer whose work may affect the life, health, or safety of the public must be licensed. Licensed engineers are known as professional engineers (PE). To qualify for a license, one must have a bachelor’s degree from a school accredited by ABET, the accrediting board for engineering and technology; four years' relevant work experience; and pass a state examination. New engineers may qualify for licensing in two stages. First, they may take the Fundamentals in Engineering examination after graduating from college. They are then considered engineers in training (EIT) or engineer interns (EI). Once they achieve the work experience requirement, an EIT or EI then takes the Principles and Practice of Engineering exam. There are more than 25 specialty exams, including those in control systems, industrial and systems, and mechanical. The exams are offered by the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (https://ncees.org/engineering).

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