December 1, 2004 Meeting: Certified Automation Professional? .. What’s That? Presentation: Certified Automation Professional? .. What's That? (1.84 MB) (Clicking the link will open the file in a new window.  Clicking the mouse in the new PowerPoint Window will advance the presentation.) Audio: Click here to open Media Player and play the streaming audio file (43 min 38 sec). Speaker:  Kim Miller Dunn is currently the Vice President of Professional Development Department for ISA. PDD is the volunteer arm of the Society that overseas licensing, certification, education and training of IS&A professionals. Kim has over 15 years of experience in the IS&A field. During college Kim started down the industrial path working for Chevron as a summer-hire roustabout and a Chemistry lab technician for the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts. Following her graduation from California State University Long Beach in 1986 with a degree in Chemical Engineering Kim went to work with Teledyne Analytical as an Inside Sales Engineer. She has also worked for Yokogawa, Ralph M. Parsons E&C, 3D Instruments, Enron Energy Services and currently works as a Senior Sales Representative for Emerson Process Management, Rosemount Analytical Division. In addition to her role as Vice President of PDD, Kim serves on numerous committees for ISA including the Council of Student Affairs, Finance, Strategic Planning and Conference and Exhibit. She will be taking a position on the ISA Executive Committee in January of ’05. Topic: Forget the “certified”…How many of you recognize this situation…Your with a group of people, perhaps at a party and someone asks what you do for a living.  If you’re like me, you almost dread the question.    In a split second you have to decide how to answer…should you be truthful and say “I’m an Automation Engineer” (or instrument engineer, or technician…any of the common titles in our industry).  Or, should you just say something really generic like “I’m an Engineer…I’m in Sales…I’m a technician…”.  If you choose the latter route, invariably the follow-up question asks for more detail.  Then you’re back where you started, trying to decide how to explain what you do.  Because one thing is for sure…Unless the person asking the question is in the instrument, systems or automation industry, their eyes will glaze over and they will get that look ofI have no idea what you are talking about.  This always amazes me since Automation professionals and technicians literally make the world go ‘round.  Okay, so maybe that is overstating the case a little, but think about it – From the food we eat, the water we drink, the toilets we flush, the clothes we wear, the cars we drive, the fuel we use etc. etc.  Automation professionals are key in getting all this stuff into a form for public consumption.   Now to the point – the Automation Profession needs some definition – there is no degree in IS&A here in the US.  Most of us land in the profession by accident.  (come-on…admit it, you didn’t grow up saying I want to be in automation and controls). There are only two certifications or licenses offered – the Certified Control System Technician and the Control System Engineer Professional Engineer license.  ISA identified the hole and is filling it with the CAP – Certified Automation Professional.  A diligent group of individuals defined the body of knowledge needed, the requirements that should be met, and developed a test which will be offered for the first time in October at ISA’s annual conference and exhibit.   If you consider yourself an Automation Professional – You should come hear about ISA’s certification and Licensing programs for the Instrument, Systems and Automation professional.

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