ISA CAP
ISA Certified Automation Professional (CAP)
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ExploreAbout this exam
The ISA Certified Automation Professional (CAP) is a professional credential administered by the International Society of Automation for practitioners who specify, design, integrate, and maintain industrial automation and control systems. Qualification is based on a combination of technical education and documented automation work experience. Candidates holding a four-year technical degree need a minimum of five years - 7,500 documented hours - of automation work within the five years before applying; candidates with a two-year degree or no degree need ten years, or 15,000 hours, within the ten-year window. An associate degree in automation or a related technology counts as two years of experience, and passing the CAP Associate Recognition Program exam counts as one year. Applicants also submit two work-related references attesting to at least two years in a position of responsible charge. The exam is delivered by Prometric at a testing center or online via ProProctor, with pass/fail results issued immediately after testing. Because the exam's validation study was conducted in the United States, items may reference US standards and codes; ISA publishes a CAP Reference to Standards and Codes list and a Prepare for the CAP Exam page. This page is independent study material and is not affiliated with or endorsed by ISA.
What you'll study
About ISA CAP preparation
How is the CAP exam delivered?
It is computer-based and taken either at a Prometric electronic testing center near you or online through ProProctor, a Prometric service that monitors you remotely in real time via the internet. You report with a photo ID and the confirmation email Prometric sends you.
How much does it cost to apply?
The published online application fee is $347 for ISA members and $467 for Affiliate Members, Community Members, and those on the list price. The fee is paid online as part of the application, before you receive a testing eligibility code.
How soon can I schedule after applying?
ISA emails a testing eligibility code within 5 to 10 business days. You then go to www.prometric.com/ISA, enter the code, and choose either a local Prometric testing center or a remotely proctored ProProctor session. Prometric confirms your date and location by email.
When do I get my result?
Pass/fail results are issued immediately after testing at a Prometric testing center, or by email if you test remotely via ProProctor. No numeric score is described on ISA's published application and scheduling pages.
Do I qualify with a four-year technical degree?
Yes, if the degree is from an accredited institution in a technical or technology field such as engineering, chemistry, physics, or math, and you have at least five years (7,500 hours) of documented automation work experience within the five years before your application date.
What if I have a two-year degree or no degree?
You need a minimum of ten years (15,000 documented hours) of automation work within the ten-year period before applying. An associate degree in automation or a related technology from an accredited institution counts as two years of that experience.
What do the two references have to prove?
They must show at least two years in a position of responsible charge - personally making or approving critical automation project decisions, or judging other specialists' technical work before it is used. Each is signed by a former supervisor or someone able to attest; at least one must be a current or former supervisor.
What happens if I am audited?
ISA randomly selects applicants for audit and may ask you to verify employment history, education, and responsible charge. If audited, you must complete the audit form and return it to ISA within 60 days of notification; failing to do so results in revocation of your application and certification.
Where should I focus study time?
ISA publishes a CAP Reference to Standards and Codes that lists standards and codes exam items may reference, plus a Prepare for the CAP Exam page. Start there, then work outward from the automation tasks you perform least often, since weak areas are where candidates typically lose points.
Is the exam available outside the United States or in other languages?
Yes. ISA notes the exam's validation study was conducted in the United States, so some questions may reference US standards and codes, and a Spanish-language version (Examen CAP en Espanol) is also offered. ISA does not state a retake policy on these pages, so confirm retakes directly with ISA before you test.