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ControlSystemsEnginerr(CSE)LicensingISA

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Control Systems Engineer (CSE)

Licensure Preparation

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CAP
CCST

Controlsystemsengineeringisabranchofprofessionalengineering.Itrequiresan
understandingofthescienceofinstrumentationandtheautomaticcontrolofdynamic
processes.Theabilitytoapplythisknowledgetotheplanning,design,development,
operation,andevaluationofcontrolsystemstoensurethesafetyandpracticaloperabilityof
suchprocessesisamust.TheCSEexaminationincludeselementsofelectrical,mechanical,
chemical,andotherbranchesofengineering,centeredonthetechnologiesneededfor
feedbackandfeedforwardcontrolofdynamicsystems.
TheCSEexaminationisavailablethroughtheU.S.stateboardsofengineeringeach
October.IndividualsseekingthePEdesignation,intheirrespectivestates,usually:
Holdfouryearengineeringdegreesfromanapprovedinstitution,
Haveaminimumoffouryearsexperience,and
PassboththeFundamentalsofEngineering(FE)andPrinciplesandPracticeof
Engineering(PE)Examinations
MoststatesintheUnitedStatesoffertheCSEexaminationasoneoftheProfessional
Engineers(PE)licensingexams.ThefollowingstatesdoNOToffertheCSEexamination:
Alaska,Hawaii,andRhodeIsland.Contactyourstateboardforthespecificrequirementsfor
yourstate.

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Benefits of Certification
(individuals)

Introduction to the CSE Exam

PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT

Benefits of Certification
(Companies)
Benefitsof
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IntroductiontotheCSEExam
NewFormatandSpecificationsfortheCSEExam
StatisticsontheCSEExam
StudyMaterials
RequestInformation/ListingofLicensureBoards

TECHNICAL
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Control Systems
Engineers (CSE)

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Specifications for CSE Exam

TheNationalCouncilofExaminersforEngineeringandSurveying(NCEES)providesthe
PrinciplesandPracticeofEngineering(PE)examinationinControlSystemsEngineering
(CSE).TheCSEexaminationisamultiplechoiceexam.
EffectiveBeginningwiththeOctober2011Examinations:
Theexamisan8houropenbookexam.Itcontains40multiplechoicequestionsinthe
4hourmorningsession,and40multiplechoicequestionsinthe4hourafternoon
session.Examineeworksallquestions.
TheexamusesboththeInternationalSystemofunits(SI)andtheUSCustomary
System(USCS).
Theexamisdevelopedwithquestionsthatwillrequireavarietyofapproachesand
methodologies,includingdesign,analysis,andapplication.
Theknowledgeareasspecifiedasexamplesofkindsofknowledgearenotexclusive
orexhaustivecategories.
Theexaminationcoversthefollowingspecificationareas:
ControlSystemsEngineer(CSE)ExaminationSpecification
SpecificationArea

I Measurement
Sensortechnologiesapplicabletothedesiredtypeof
measurement(e.g.,flow,pressure,level,temperature,analytical,
counters,motion,vision)
Sensorcharacteristics(e.g.,rangeability,accuracyandprecision,
temperatureeffects,responsetimes,reliability,repeatability)
Materialcompatibility
Calculationsinvolvedinpressuredrop
Calculationsinvolvedinflowelementsizing
Calculationsinvolvedinlevel,differentialpressure
Calculationsinvolvedinunitconversions
Calculationsinvolvedinvelocity

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Approximate
Percentageof
theExamination
%
20%

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Calculationsinvolvedinlinearization
Installationdetails(e.g.,process,pneumatic,electrical,location)

II Signals,Transmission,andNetworking
15%
Signals5%
Pneumatic,electronic,optical,hydraulic,digital,analog,
buses
Transducers(e.g.,analog/digital[A/D],digital/analog[D/A],
current/pneumatic[I/P]conversion)
Intrinsicallysafe(IS)barriers
Grounding,shielding,segregation,ACcoupling
Basicsignalcircuitdesign(e.g.,twowire,fourwire,isolated
outputs,looppowering,buses)
Circuitcalculations(voltage,current,impedance)
Unitconversioncalculations

Transmission5%
Differentcommunicationssystemsarchitectureandprotocols
(e.g.,fiberoptics,coaxialcable,wireless,pairedconductors,
buses,TransmissionControlProtocol/InternetProtocol
[TCP/IP],OPC)
Distanceconsiderationsversustransmissionmedium(e.g.,
datarates,samplerates)

Networking(e.g.,routers,bridges,switches,firewalls,gateways,
networkloading,errorchecking,bandwidth,crosstalk,parity)5%

III FinalControlElements
20%
Valves8.75%
Types(e.g.,globe,ball,butterfly)
Characteristics(e.g.,linear,lownoise,equalpercentage,
shutoffclass)
Calculation(e.g.,sizing,splitrange,noise,actuator,speed,
pressuredrop,air/gasconsumption)
Selectionofmotivepower(e.g.,hydraulic,pneumatic,electric)
Applicationsoffluiddynamics(e.g.,cavitation,flashing,
chokedflow,JouleThompsoneffects,twophase)
Materialselectionbasedonprocesscharacteristics(e.g.,
erosion,corrosion,plug,extremepressure,temperature)
Accessories(e.g.,limitswitches,solenoidvalves,positioners,
transducers,airregulators,servoamp)
Environmentalconstraints(e.g.,fugitiveemissions,packing,
specialsealing)
Installationpractices(e.g.,vertical,horizontal,bypasses,
location,troubleshooting)

PressureRelievingDevices3.75%
Pressurerelievingvalvetypes(e.g.,conventionalspring,
balancedbellows,pilotoperated)
Pressurerelievingvalvecharacteristics(e.g.,modulating,pop
action)
Pressurerelievingvalvecalculations(e.g.,sizingconsidering
inletpressuredrop,backpressure,multiplevalves)
Pressurerelievingdevicematerialselectionsbasedon
processcharacteristics
Pressurerelievingvalveinstallationpractices(e.g.,linking
valves,sparingthevalves,accessibilityfortesting,carsealing
inletvalves,pipinginstallation)
Rupturediscs(e.g.,types,characteristics,application,
calculations)

MotorControls5%
Types(e.g.,motorstarters,variablespeeddrives)
Applications(e.g.,speedcontrol,softstarters,valveactuators)
Calculations(e.g.,sizing,tuning,location)
Accessories(e.g.,encoders,positioners,relays,limit
switches)
Troubleshooting(e.g.,rootcausefailureanalysisand
correction)

OtherFinalControlElements2.5%
Solenoidvalves(e.g.,types,sizing)
Onoffdevices/relays(e.g.,types,applications)
Selfregulatingdevices(e.g.,types,sizing,pressure,
temperature,level,andflowregulators)

IVControlSystems
22%
Drawings(e.g.,processflowdiagrams,P&IDs,loopdiagrams,
ladderdiagrams,logicdrawings,causeandeffectsdrawings,
electricaldrawings)5%
Theory7%
Basicprocesses(e.g.,compression,combustion,evaporation,
distillation,hydraulics,reaction,dehydration,heat

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exchangers,crystallization,filtration)
Processdynamics(e.g.,loopresponse,pressurevolume
temperaturerelationships,simulations)
Basiccontrol(e.g.,regulatorycontrol,feedback,feedforward,
cascade,ratio,PID,splitrange)
Discretecontrol(e.g.,relaylogic,Booleanalgebra)
Sequentialcontrol(e.g.,batch,assembly,conveying,CNC)

Implementation10%
HMI(e.g.,graphics,alarmmanagement,trending,historical
data)
Configurationandprogramming(e.g.,PLC,DCS,hybrid
systems,SQL,ladderlogic,sequentialfunctionchart,
structuredtext,functionblockprogramming,database
management,specializedcontrollers)
Systemcomparisonsandcompatibilities(e.g.,advantages
anddisadvantagesofsystemarchitecture,distributed
architecture,remoteI/O,buses)
Installationrequirements(e.g.,shielding,constructability,
input/outputtermination,environmental,heatload
calculations,powerloadrequirements,purging,lighting)
Networksecurity(e.g.,firewalls,routers,switches,protocols)
Systemtesting(e.g.,factoryacceptancetest,integrated
systemtest,siteacceptancetest)
Commissioning(e.g.,performancetuning,loopcheckout)
Troubleshooting(e.g.,rootcausefailureanalysisand
correction)

V SafetySystems
15%
Basicdocumentation(e.g.,safetyrequirementsspecification,logic
diagrams,testprocedures,SILselectionreport)2.5%
Theory5%
Reliability(e.g.,bathtubcurve,failurerates)
SILselection(e.g.,riskmatrix,riskgraph,LOPA)

Implementation7.5%
Safetysystemdesign(e.g.,I/Oassignments,redundancy,
segregation,softwaredesign)
Safetyintegritylevel(SIL)verificationcalculations
Testing(e.g.,methods,procedures,documentation)
Managementofchange(e.g.,scopeofchange,impactof
change)

VICodes,Standards,andRegulations
8%
AmericanNationalStandardsInstitute(ANSI)
AmericanPetroleumInstitute(API)
AmericanSocietyofMechanicalEngineers(ASME)
InternationalElectrotechnicalCommission(IEC)
InstituteofElectrical&ElectronicsEngineers(IEEE)
InternationalSocietyofAutomation(ISA)
NationalElectricalCode(NEC)
NationalElectricalManufacturersAssociation(NEMA)
NationalFireProtectionAssociation(NFPA)
OccupationalSafety&HealthAdministration(OSHA)

Total100%
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Statistics on the CSE Exam

CONTROL SYSTEMS ENGINEER (CSE) EXAM RESULTS

Year

Numberof
Candidates

Number
Passing

Percent
Passing

1992* 145

45

31

1993

216

75

35

1994

269

110

41

1995

236

130

55

1996

205

99

48

1997

178

116

65

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1998

157

131

83

1999

157

136

87

2000

145

125

86

2001

139

133

96

2002

158

130

82

2003

167

112

67

2004

145

100

69

2005

143

94

66

2006

159

113

71

2007

167

114

68

2008

185

115

62

2009

202

154

76

*FirstnationalCSEexamination
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Study Materials
ISAoffersstudymaterialsandcoursesforthosepreparingfortheCSEexam.TheCSEStudy
Guidereflectingthemultiplechoiceformatoftheexamination,andtheControlSystems
EngineeringExamReferenceManual:APracticalStudyGuide,arebothavailablefororder
throughISAPublishing.ISATrainingalsooffersathreedayexamreviewcourse,aswellas
othercoursesthatmayhelpyouprepare.Alistofpotentiallyusefulreferencetextsisalso
availablefordownload.
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Request Information/Listing of Licensure

Boards
ProfessionalEngineeringregistrationintheUnitedStatesisadministeredbyeachState
LicensingBoard.Therequirementsforlicensurevaryfromstatetostate.Toreceive
informationfromyourstateontherequirementsfortheCSEexamination,theNational
CouncilofExaminersforEngineeringandSurveying(NCEES)hasalistingofLicensure
Boardsbystate.FormoreinformationontheCSEexamination,visitNCEESorcontactthem
at:1(800)2503196.

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