Students can come to automation from a variety of backgrounds and academic programs. It is sometimes difficult for you to find programs that concentrate on automation as a career or specialty. This potential variety can create challenges for students like you that are not seen in many areas of studies.
The essence of automation is that it is a multidisciplinary art, not a single discipline. Automation students and faculty on a campus could come from any number of engineering areas. That means that published findings could appear in a number of journals and presented at a myriad of scientific conventions. This diversification makes it extremely difficult for students to stay current on the newest findings. It also means that you need to have a very open outlook on what will make you a good automation professional.
ISA helps students stay current on research without attending numerous expensive conventions or wading through non-automation related literature for the useful gems. Also, students can find the conferences they should attend to both gain information and networking possibilities, which can lead to job possibilities.
ISA offers the Automation Body of Knowledge, from the very basics of sensors and controls to the most detailed industrial networking, enterprise integration, cyber security and safety information. When you have digested that body of knowledge, you will be ready to be a Certified Automation Professional, and you can find the tutorials and test materials here to help you.
Degree Programs
Many educational institutions around the world offer programs related to automation and control. Some of the institutions may offer extensive programs; others only one or two courses; and some offer only continuing education programs. Some are engineering technology programs with an instrumentation option, concentration, or specialization. Others offer automation, control, instrumentation, or similarly titled technology programs. And others offer control systems engineering programs.
Click here for a list of Engineering schools and degree programs.
Always verify information about the programs listed; ISA does endorse any particular institution or verify that the information is current.
Accredited Schools
ISA supports the Accreditation Board of Engineering and Technology (ABET) initiatives to accredit institutions of higher learning. ISA has responsibility for establishing the criteria for accrediting programs in Instrumentation Engineering Technology.
In Canada, there is a similar accreditation process overseen by the Canadian Engineering Accreditation Board (CEAB).
ABET also offers accreditation to engineering programs globally. Click here to locate ABET non-US institutions and choose a country.
You are encouraged to verify the current status or accreditation at any institution.