Become an ISA Certified Automation Professional® (CAP®)

ISA CAP certification is a mark of career excellence that affirms your commitment to quality and demonstrates your expertise and knowledge of automation and controls. ISA CAP certification provides you with a non-biased, third-party, objective assessment and confirmation of your skills and expertise as an automation professional.

Benefits of ISA CAP Certification

As automation professionals who work in process automation and manufacturing automation industries around the globe, CAPs are recognized as being responsible for direction, definition, design, development/application, deployment, documentation and support of software and equipment systems used in control systems, manufacturing information systems, systems integration and operational consulting.

When you become an ISA CAP, you have proven that you possess extensive knowledge of automation and controls and that you have the expertise and qualifications to excel in your field. Becoming a CAP improves your career opportunities with increased potential for promotion, pay increase and job portability. 

How to Earn CAP Certification

Earning your CAP certification is straightforward. Simply complete the following steps:

1. Confirm Eligibility

To become an ISA CAP®, you must apply, meet the education and work experience requirements and pass an exam. Review the requirements to make sure your education and work experience align with the CAP certification requirements.

2. Pay the Exam Fee

There is no application form for CAP certification. Simply pay the exam fee to move forward. By paying the exam fee, you are confirming that you are aware of, have met and can document that you meet the requirements for the certification.

CAP Exam Fee

  • ISA Member: 373 USD
  • Non-member: 467 USD

3. Prepare for the Exam

ISA offers a variety of resources to help you prepare for the CAP exam, including a CAP exam review course, a study guide and other related training and publications. Visit the Prepare for the CAP Exam page for a full list of resources.

4. Take the Exam

Choose your exam date and complete the CAP exam online or at a test center. The exam is 175 multiple-choice questions and is four hours long. After the exam, watch for an email summarizing your results. If you pass the exam, you will also receive your digital badge and be listed in the ISA Credential Directory.

Prepare for the CAP Exam

ISA offers exam prep resources for every stage of your CAP journey, from structured review courses to self-study guides and technical references. Whether you prefer live instruction, online learning or independent study, you can choose the resources that best match your schedule and preparation style.

CAP Exam Review Course

We highly recommend taking the Certified Automation Professional Exam Review Course (EC00), available in live, virtual, instructor-guided online and self-paced formats to match your learning style and schedule.

CAP Study Guide

Use the CAP Study Guide for focused self-study, including the exam domains and tasks, 75 review questions with answers and references for deeper study.

Guide to the Automation Body of Knowledge

Build a stronger foundation with A Guide to the Automation Body of Knowledge, a technical reference that provides a complete overview of all technical topics addressed on the CAP exam.

Additional Exam Prep Resources

For a complete list of CAP exam prep resources and free sample questions, view our Prepare for the CAP Exam page and explore the CAP Body of Knowledge details below.

CAP Body of Knowledge

The CAP Body of Knowledge (BOK) defines the knowledge, skills and abilities that support competent job performance and form the foundation of the CAP certification exam. It helps candidates understand what the certification covers and the breadth of expertise expected of automation professionals.

Organized into six performance domains based on the real-world practice of automation professionals, the exam reflects the applied responsibilities of the role. Together, these domains show how the certification is structured and the range of knowledge areas it is designed to assess.

When to Recertify

The CAP program requires that you recertify every three years to maintain your certification. The purpose of recertifying is to ensure that as a CAP-certified professional, you maintain the same level of knowledge originally demonstrated when you passed the written exam.

Reference to Standards and Codes

The aspects of automation covered on the CAP exam reflect the tasks performed in a range of practice settings throughout the US. Familiarity with the following standards and codes is recommended. Download the Reference to Standards and Codes (PDF).

  • ISA standards
  • IEEE standards
  • National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes and standards
  • National Electrical Code (NEC)
  • National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) standards
  • International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards
  • National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) standards
  • Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) codes and federal regulations
  • Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) standards
  • US Food and Drug Administration regulations
  • American Petroleum Institute (API) standards
  • For international applicants, note that the validation study for the exams was done in the US, so there may be questions on the exam that reference US standards and codes.

Certification FAQs

Have Questions? For assistance with certification or certificate programs, contact us at [email protected] or view the FAQs below.

1. How do I apply for an ISA certification?

There is no application form to fill out for CAP or CCST certification. Complete the following steps:

  1. Meet the education and work experience requirements for the specific certification for which you are applying.
  2. Abide by the ISA Conduct and Anti-Harassment Policy.
  3. Acknowledge that you are subject to a random application verification audit.
  4. Agree to provide the supporting documents proving your qualifications if you are audited.
  5. Pay the exam fee.

Upon paying the exam fee, the application process is complete, and you have acknowledged that you meet the application requirements.

Your next steps are outlined as follows:

  • Watch out for an email from [email protected] regarding an audit if you are randomly selected.
  • Watch out for an email coming from our testing provider, Meazure Learning ([email protected]), 15 days before your assigned exam window.
  • Schedule and take your exam.

Further details can be found at the links below:

  • How to Apply – CAP Certification
  • How to Apply – CCST Certification

2. What are the fees for certification?

ISA Certification Exam Fees

Certified Automation Professional® (CAP®)

  • Member: 373 USD
  • Non-member: 467 USD

Certified Control System Technician® (CCST®) Level 1

  • Member: 331 USD 
  • Non-member: 415 USD

Certified Control System Technician (CCST) Specialist—Level 2

  • Member: 315 USD
  • Non-member:397 USD

Certified Control System Technician (CCST) Master—Level 3

  • Member: 331 USD
  • Non-member: 415 USD

If you have paid for or your company has arranged for you to take a CCST review course, the application fee is included in the course price. View list of available CCST review courses here.

ISA accepts payment via check, certified check, money order, PayPal payment, wire transfer in US Dollars or credit card. Purchase orders are not accepted. All application fees are non-refundable.

3. How long is the exam, and how many questions are there?

All ISA certification exams are closed book and have multiple-choice questions.  The CCST Specialist – Level 2 certification exam is three hours long, and all other certification exams are four hours long. Please see the information below for the number of questions in each exam.

  • Certified Automation Professional (CAP) — 175
  • Certified Control System Technician (CCST) Level 1 — 150
  • Certified Control System Technician (CCST) Specialist - Level 2 — 125
  • Certified Control System Technician (CCST) Master - Level 3 — 150 

4. Where is my certification exam invitation?

You will receive your exam invitation (Notice to Schedule Exam) email 15 days before your assigned exam window begins. During your 12-month exam window you can test and, if necessary, retest for a fee as many times as needed to pass your certification exam. View the application deadlines below.

Exam Window Application Submission Deadline
2026 Window 3: 
1 November 2026 – 31 October 2027		 15 September 2026
2027 Window 1:
1 March 2027 – 29 February 2028		 15 January 2027
2027 Window 2:
1 July 2027 – 30 June 2028		 15 May 2027
2027 Window 3:
1 November 2027– 31 October 2028		 15 September 2027


If you have attended any CCST review course, you will not be placed into an exam window. You will receive your exam invitation near the end of your review course.

If you have not received your exam invitation within the allotted time frame, please check your spam or junk folder for an email from [email protected]. If you still need help locating your exam invitation, please email [email protected] for assistance. In certain instances, you may need to provide an alternate email address, as some server firewalls may block the receipt of the exam invitation email.

5. What do I do if the name on the exam invitation does not match my ID?

If you have a suffix or more than one first and/or last name on the valid government-issued photo ID that you plan to present for testing, all names must match those on the confirmation notice. A valid, government-issued photo ID can be a driver's license, passport, state-issued ID card, etc.

If this is your situation, please email [email protected] to request a name correction. After the request is received, it can take up to three business days for the change to occur in Meazure Learning’s system.

6. How do I schedule my certification exam?

You will use the information in the exam invitation from [email protected] to schedule and take your exam with Meazure Learning at a testing center or online.
 
You have a 12-month exam window in which you can test and, if necessary, retest for a fee as many times as needed to pass your certification exam. Your start date is based on your assigned exam window or the date you complete your review course. See FAQ #4 “Where is my certification exam invitation?” for exam window information.
 
Please contact Meazure Learning’s customer support for all exam assistance (e.g., scheduling, missing confirmation, taking the exam, missing results, etc.) by emailing [email protected] or calling +1 919-572-6880.
 
Further related details can be found on the exam procedures page:

  • Verifying Computer Set-Up for Online Exams (see #1)
  • Items to Bring for In-Person Exams (see #2)
  • Exam Scheduling (see #3)

7. How do I reschedule or cancel my certification exam?

NOTE: You may incur fees if you change the time and method of testing. Please be certain when selecting the time and method (online or test center) of taking your exam.
 
You may cancel and/or reschedule an exam through the Meazure Learning online exam scheduling system. You must have access to your Meazure Learning confirmation email (sent after you originally scheduled your exam) to access their system.
 
Further related details can be found on the exam procedures page:

  • Rescheduling an Exam (see #4)
  • Canceling an Exam (see #5)

8. What happens after I take a certification exam?

At the completion of the exam, the screen will display whether you passed or failed. ISA does not provide a score; you are only notified whether you passed the exam or not. You will also be notified of your exam results immediately via email from Meazure Learning ([email protected]).
 
If you fail an exam, you will receive a result report that lists the domains and indicates the percentage of questions answered correctly within each domain. Note that the percentages are not used to calculate the final exam score.
 
If you have not received your exam results within 24 hours, please contact Meazure Learning by emailing [email protected] or calling +1 919-572-6880.
 
Further related details can be found on the exam procedures page:

  • Not Passing an Exam (see #7)
  • Exam Design and Results (see #9)

If you pass the exam, you will receive a digital badge from [email protected] within one business day after passing the exam. If you have not received your digital badge within this time frame, please check your spam or junk folder for an email from [email protected]. If you still need help locating your digital badge, please email [email protected] for assistance. In certain instances, you may need to provide an alternate email address, as some server firewalls may block the receipt of the digital badge email.

9. How do I request a retest for a certification exam?

If you did not pass your exam, missed your scheduled exam, or arrived more than 15 minutes late, you may request a retest as many times as needed within your 12-month exam window. Know that each time you retest, you must pay a fee to ISA. Please email all retest requests to [email protected].
 
The retest fee for any CCST or CAP certification program is 164 USD for ISA members and 205 USD for non-members.
 
Further related details can be found on the exam procedures page:

  • Scheduling a Retest or Missed Exam (see #6)
  • No-Shows and Late Arrivals (see #8)

10. If my exam window expires, can I get more time to take my exam?

If you are eligible for an extension, you can get more time to take your exam. To request an extension, email [email protected]. If you are eligible, you will be emailed a payment link so you can pay an extension fee. The exam extension fee is 80 USD for ISA members and 100 USD for non-members and will extend your exam deadline for three (3) months from the day your exam window ends or when your payment is processed.

During your exam window extension, you can retest for a fee as many times as needed. Be aware that there is a maximum of two (2) exam extensions per exam. Also know that if you are unable to pass the exam by the last extension, you will need to reapply for the certification to sit for the exam again.

If you are eligible and need or wish to retest outside of your exam window, you must pay both the retest fee and the extension fee.

11. How do I renew my certification?

ISA’s recertification process requires no forms or supporting documents. By paying your recertification fee, you self-certify that you:

  • Have accumulated the minimum number of Development Points (PDPs) over the last three (3) years, as related to your certification
  • Acknowledge that you are subject to a random verification audit
  • Agree to provide the supporting documentation that proves that you have met the required number of PDPs.

Please log into your ISA account, then access the “My Credentials” tab to view your credential status and/or pay your recertification fee. If you have issues logging into your ISA account or completing your payment process, please contact one of our customer service representatives at [email protected] or +1 919-549-8411 for assistance. For additional information, visit the Recertification page.

Recertification Fees   Member Price Non-Member Price
Certified Automation Professional (CAP) By PDPs (no exam) 270 USD 340 USD
By Exam 336 USD 420 USD
Certified Control System Technician (CCST) (all levels) By PDPs (no exam) 210 USD 265 USD
By Exam 300 USD 375 USD

 

12. Why is my information not in “My Credentials” or the “Credential Directory”?

Be advised that we update our databases and systems with the previous month’s exam data in the first part of the following month. Your information will be updated within the first ten business days of the following month. You may view your credential status on the “My Credentials” tab in your ISA account or by accessing ISA's Credential Directory, if you have set the appropriate permissions.

To set the appropriate permissions, you must take two steps:

  • Step #1: Log into your ISA account. Go to the “My Info” tab, scroll down to the Communication Preferences, and update the “Include me in Credential Directory” option. 
  • Step #2: Log into your ISA Connect account.  In the upper right-hand corner, click the picture icon.  A drop-down menu will appear; there, you select “Profile.”  To the right, click “My Account.”  A drop-down menu will appear; there, you will select “Privacy Settings” and set the preference “I would like to be included in directories and community rosters” to “Yes.” 

Please allow up to 48 hours for the changes to appear in ISA Connect or the ISA Credential Directory. If your information still does not appear within this time frame, please email [email protected] for assistance. If you have issues logging into your account, please contact one of our customer service representatives at [email protected] or +1 919-549-8411 for assistance. 

13. I’ve passed my exam, so where is my digital badge?

You will receive your digital badge via email after passing an exam or renewing a certification or certificate. If you did not receive it, please look in your spam and junk folders for an email from [email protected]. If you still need help locating your digital badge, please email [email protected] for assistance.

To access, manage, and/or share your secure digital badge, use your email address and password to enter your BadgeCert portfolio.

If it is your first time accessing your portfolio or you have forgotten your password, click “Request new password?” on their login page to create your password. More information about using your digital badge can be found here.

Please email [email protected] for assistance if you have not received your digital badge within:

  • One business day after passing your exam
  • Five business days after paying your renewal fee

14. Additional Questions

If you cannot find an answer to your questions on this page, please reach out to the certification team by emailing [email protected]. Our business hours are Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. ET. Please allow one business day for us to respond to inquiries. Note, response times may be slightly delayed during periods of high-volume inquiries. In case of ISA-observed holidays, please be assured that a team member will reach out to assist you within one business day after normal business operations resume.

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E-Mail: [email protected]

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