Control.com - Nerds in Control

Is CAP (Certified Automation Professional) Certification by ISA is worth doing?

> Is CAP (Certified Automation Professional) Certification by ISA is worth doing?

I'm not sure it is. I recently finished the $1,300.00 online training program and... well there it is. I learned a few things, but I was definitely disappointed. I've done so much online training/re-training over the years that I can spot an overpriced program a mile away, but then again it is ISA. Remember my friend, you don't always get what you pay for, but the text books are ok. They're dated to be sure, but they're ok. Example - I haven't heard CIP referred to as the "Control and Information Protocol" in many years and yet there it was sticking out like a sore thumb in module five, chapter 23, page 37, paragraph one. There are other examples, but that's the one that bothered me the most since I work with industrial networks everyday. Remember to do your research. ISA isn't the only game in town.

I have the CAP, I have the CCST level 3, the NICET Instrumentation cert 4, an MCSE from Microsoft, an Electrical license, a Boiler license, and 25 years of training.

I refer to these as insurance policies, I have always gotten interviews and job offers when after them so cannot say but think they helped wedge foot in door.

But bottom line is what I knew and what I have done get the job offers, these certs are great ways to "measure" your competence compared with others and they help impress HR bozos, but your track record is where the rubber meets the road.

Again good insurance and they show a willingness to measure yourself, but I like to say when I interview people "What have you actually DONE"

Dave Ferguson
Control Systems Engineer

> Is CAP (Certified Automation Professional) Certification by ISA is worth doing?

Yes it is worth doing