About this course:
For ten years, in the ten (10) weeks leading up to the Principles and Practice of Engineering (PE) exam for Control Systems Engineering (CSE), the ISA Houston Section has offered to help members prepare for the exam by hosting weekly study group sessions at a convenient local venue.
With a participant success rate of ~80%, the study sessions are a valuable tool in the licensing process since the NCEES board does not have any official study material for the CSE PE exam (http://ncees.org/exams/exam-preparation-materials/exam-prep-materials/)
Topics Covered:
- Safety Systems
- Measurement
- Signals and Networking
- Control Systems
- Final Elements
NOTE: All Houston CSE PE study sessions will be virtual only, via Zoom (invitation to be sent upon enrollment).
Eligibility: This Study Group is open only to ISA
Houston Section members. Not a member yet?
We can help you join.
March 2026
Control Systems Engineering (CSE) PE Exam Practice Study Sessions: Session 6 – March 3
March 3, 2026
Location: Zoom
Control Systems Engineering (CSE) PE Exam Practice Study Sessions: Session 7 – March 10
March 10, 2026
Location: Zoom
Control Systems Engineering (CSE) PE Exam Practice Study Sessions: Session 8 – March 17
March 17, 2026
Location: Zoom
Control Systems Engineering (CSE) PE Exam Practice Study Sessions: Session 9 – March 24
March 24, 2026
Location: Zoom
Control Systems Engineering (CSE) PE Exam Practice Study Sessions: Session 10 – March 31
March 31, 2026
Location: Zoom
May 2026
IC32 – Using the ISA/IEC 62443 Standards to Secure Your Control Systems – May 4-5
May 4-5, 2026
Course Overview
Using the ISA/IEC 62443 Standards to Secure Your Control Systems (IC32) provides a detailed look at how the ISA/IEC 62443 standards framework can be used to protect critical control systems. The course explores the procedural and technical differences between traditional IT security and security solutions appropriate for SCADA and plant floor environments.
With the increased use of open standards such as Ethernet, TCP/IP, and web technologies in industrial automation and control systems, cybersecurity risks have expanded. This course addresses how to protect control systems against modern cyber threats.
IC33 – Assessing the Cybersecurity of New or Existing IACS Systems – May 6-8
May 6-8, 2026
Course Overview
Assessing the Cybersecurity of New or Existing IACS Systems (IC33) provides the knowledge and skills needed to assess the cybersecurity of new or existing industrial automation and control systems (IACS).
Participants learn how to identify assets, evaluate vulnerabilities, perform cybersecurity risk assessments, and develop a Cybersecurity Requirements Specification (CRS) aligned with ISA/IEC 62443.
The course focuses on the first phase of the IACS cybersecurity lifecycle and applies to both greenfield and brownfield systems.
IC34 – IACS Cybersecurity Design & Implementation – May 13-15
May 13-15, 2026
Course Overview
Industrial Automation Control System (IACS) Cybersecurity Design & Implementation (IC34) focuses on the design and implementation phase of the ISA/IEC 62443 cybersecurity lifecycle. This course builds on the results of cybersecurity risk assessments and Cybersecurity Requirements Specifications (CRS) to design, implement, and validate cybersecurity countermeasures that achieve target security levels for each zone and conduit.
Participants learn how to translate cybersecurity requirements into practical system designs, select appropriate technologies, and perform acceptance testing to ensure systems meet security objectives.
IC37 – IACS Cybersecurity Operations & Maintenance – May 18-20
May 18-20, 2026
Course Overview
IACS Cybersecurity Operations & Maintenance (IC37) focuses on the ongoing operation, monitoring, and maintenance of cybersecurity controls implemented in industrial automation and control systems (IACS). This course addresses how to sustain the achieved security level throughout the system lifecycle despite evolving threats, system changes, and operational constraints.
Participants learn how to detect, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity incidents while maintaining compliance with ISA/IEC 62443 requirements.
June 2026
AEST – Automation Engineering Survival Training – June 01-05
June 01-05, 2026
Course Overview
Automation Engineering Survival Training (AEST) is an intensive technical boot camp designed to build and strengthen core skills in process automation engineering. The course combines expert-led instruction with applied exercises to cover the full automation lifecycle, from measurement fundamentals to advanced automation concepts.
AEST is ideal for new automation engineers, recent graduates, and experienced engineers seeking to refresh and solidify their understanding of process control, safety, networking, and automation project execution.
TTBC – Technician Training Boot Camp – June 8-12
June 8-12, 2026
Course Overview
Technician Training Boot Camp (TTBC) is an intensive, hands-on technical training program designed for experienced control systems and instrumentation technicians. The course emphasizes practical, plant-floor skills with more than 75% of the time dedicated to hands-on equipment labs.
TTBC refreshes core instrumentation knowledge while introducing modern smart devices, calibration techniques, control valves, and troubleshooting methods essential for today’s industrial facilities.
EC50 – Safety Instrumented Systems: A Lifecycle Approach – June 15-19
June 15-19, 2026
Course Overview
Safety Instrumented Systems: A Lifecycle Approach (EC50) focuses on the engineering requirements for the specification, design, analysis, verification, and justification of Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) used in the process industries.
Participants learn how to determine Safety Integrity Levels (SILs), apply Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA), and evaluate whether proposed or existing systems meet the performance and documentation requirements defined in ISA/IEC 61511 (ISA-84).
EC52 – Advanced Safety Integrity Level (SIL) Selection – June 22-23
June 22-23, 2026
Course Overview
Advanced Safety Integrity Level (SIL) Selection (EC52) builds on the foundation established in Safety Instrumented Systems: A Lifecycle Approach (EC50). The course focuses on advanced SIL selection techniques and the determination of appropriate risk reduction requirements for safety instrumented systems.
Participants apply multiple SIL selection methodologies to avoid over- or under-designing safety systems, optimizing both safety performance and lifecycle costs.
EC54 – Advanced Design and SIL Verification – June 24-25
June 24-25, 2026
Course Overview
Advanced Design and SIL Verification (EC54) focuses on detailed design issues and hands-on system modeling to verify whether Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) meet required Safety Integrity Levels (SIL). The course teaches participants how to analyze system technologies and configurations, evaluate existing systems, and determine whether upgrades are required to meet performance targets.
EC54 also emphasizes optimizing manual test intervals, helping organizations reduce costs while maintaining compliance with ISA/IEC 61511.
September 2026
IC32 – Using the ISA/IEC 62443 Standards to Secure Your Control Systems – September 14-15
September 14-15, 2026
Course Overview
Using the ISA/IEC 62443 Standards to Secure Your Control Systems (IC32) provides a detailed look at how the ISA/IEC 62443 standards framework can be used to protect critical control systems. The course explores the procedural and technical differences between traditional IT security and security solutions appropriate for SCADA and plant floor environments.
With the increased use of open standards such as Ethernet, TCP/IP, and web technologies in industrial automation and control systems, cybersecurity risks have expanded. This course addresses how to protect control systems against modern cyber threats.
IC33 – Assessing the Cybersecurity of New or Existing IACS Systems – September 16-18
September 16-18, 2026
Course Overview
Assessing the Cybersecurity of New or Existing IACS Systems (IC33) provides the knowledge and skills needed to assess the cybersecurity of new or existing industrial automation and control systems (IACS).
Participants learn how to identify assets, evaluate vulnerabilities, perform cybersecurity risk assessments, and develop a Cybersecurity Requirements Specification (CRS) aligned with ISA/IEC 62443.
The course focuses on the first phase of the IACS cybersecurity lifecycle and applies to both greenfield and brownfield systems.
IC34 – IACS Cybersecurity Design & Implementation – September 23-25
September 23-25, 2026
Course Overview
Industrial Automation Control System (IACS) Cybersecurity Design & Implementation (IC34) focuses on the design and implementation phase of the ISA/IEC 62443 cybersecurity lifecycle. This course builds on the results of cybersecurity risk assessments and Cybersecurity Requirements Specifications (CRS) to design, implement, and validate cybersecurity countermeasures that achieve target security levels for each zone and conduit.
Participants learn how to translate cybersecurity requirements into practical system designs, select appropriate technologies, and perform acceptance testing to ensure systems meet security objectives.
IC37 – IACS Cybersecurity Operations & Maintenance – September 28-30
September 28-30, 2026
Course Overview
IACS Cybersecurity Operations & Maintenance (IC37) focuses on the ongoing operation, monitoring, and maintenance of cybersecurity controls implemented in industrial automation and control systems (IACS). This course addresses how to sustain the achieved security level throughout the system lifecycle despite evolving threats, system changes, and operational constraints.
Participants learn how to detect, respond to, and recover from cybersecurity incidents while maintaining compliance with ISA/IEC 62443 requirements.
October 2026
TTBC – Technician Training Boot Camp – October 5-9
October 5-9, 2026
Course Overview
Technician Training Boot Camp (TTBC) is an intensive, hands-on technical training program designed for experienced control systems and instrumentation technicians. The course emphasizes practical, plant-floor skills with more than 75% of the time dedicated to hands-on equipment labs.
TTBC refreshes core instrumentation knowledge while introducing modern smart devices, calibration techniques, control valves, and troubleshooting methods essential for today’s industrial facilities.
AEST – Automation Engineering Survival Training – October 12-16
October 12-16, 2026
Course Overview
Automation Engineering Survival Training (AEST) is an intensive technical boot camp designed to build and strengthen core skills in process automation engineering. The course combines expert-led instruction with applied exercises to cover the full automation lifecycle, from measurement fundamentals to advanced automation concepts.
AEST is ideal for new automation engineers, recent graduates, and experienced engineers seeking to refresh and solidify their understanding of process control, safety, networking, and automation project execution.
EC50 – Safety Instrumented Systems: A Lifecycle Approach – October 19-23
October 19-23, 2026
Course Overview
Safety Instrumented Systems: A Lifecycle Approach (EC50) focuses on the engineering requirements for the specification, design, analysis, verification, and justification of Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) used in the process industries.
Participants learn how to determine Safety Integrity Levels (SILs), apply Layer of Protection Analysis (LOPA), and evaluate whether proposed or existing systems meet the performance and documentation requirements defined in ISA/IEC 61511 (ISA-84).
EC52 – Advanced Safety Integrity Level (SIL) Selection – October 26-27
October 26-27, 2026
Course Overview
Advanced Safety Integrity Level (SIL) Selection (EC52) builds on the foundation established in Safety Instrumented Systems: A Lifecycle Approach (EC50). The course focuses on advanced SIL selection techniques and the determination of appropriate risk reduction requirements for safety instrumented systems.
Participants apply multiple SIL selection methodologies to avoid over- or under-designing safety systems, optimizing both safety performance and lifecycle costs.
EC54 – Advanced Design and SIL Verification – October 28-29
October 28-29, 2026
Course Overview
Advanced Design and SIL Verification (EC54) focuses on detailed design issues and hands-on system modeling to verify whether Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) meet required Safety Integrity Levels (SIL). The course teaches participants how to analyze system technologies and configurations, evaluate existing systems, and determine whether upgrades are required to meet performance targets.
EC54 also emphasizes optimizing manual test intervals, helping organizations reduce costs while maintaining compliance with ISA/IEC 61511.