Personnel Functional Safety Certification

Why Should You Become CFSE Certified?

GO FOR THE GOLD

THE GOLD STANDARD IN PERSONNEL FUNCTIONAL SAFETY
CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS

CFSE AND CFSP

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 Personnel Functional Safety Certification
Why Should You Become CFSE Certified?

Table of Contents

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………….…….. 3
Why Personnel Functional Safety Certification Programs Are Needed ........................................ 3
The Human Element of Functional Safety (The Challenge)............................................... 4
Competence is a Requirement, Not an Option .................................................................. 4
The Origin of Personnel Safety Certification Programs (Safety Certification to the Rescue) ....... 5
Benefits.......................................................................................................................................... 5
How to Select a Certification Program (The Importance of Doing Your Homework)..................... 6
Certifying the Certifiers....................................................................................................... 6
Certification vs Certificate Program: Is there a Difference? .............................................. 7
Exida FSP Program (certificate) ………………………………………………………………. 8
What’s in a Name? - Beware the Use of the Term “Engineer”........................................... 8
Ten Questions to Ask When Selecting a Certification Program......................................... 9
Summary of Certification Programs .................................................................................11
Exida CSFE Program……………………………………………………………………….…. 11
CFSE vs CFSP……………………………………………………………………………….… 12
Comparing All Certification Programs……………………………………………………...… 12
Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................12
References ...................................................................................................................................13
Appendix A – Safety Competence Requirement from IEC 61511 ...............................................14
Appendix B – Detailed Comparison of Personnel Functional Safety Certification Programs …...15

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 Personnel Functional Safety Certification
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Introduction

As production runs ever closer to equipment and facility operating limits and new plants come on line in
expanding and developing economies, the pressure to design and operate systems more safely and
economically is increasing. A key to meeting this goal is having competent people who are knowledgeable
and experienced in applying the IEC 61508 and IEC 61511 / ISA 84 functional safety standards. To
develop and measure an individual’s safety engineering competence, several personnel functional safety
certification programs have been created.

This paper will discuss why these certification programs are needed and the benefits they, and specifically
the CFSE program, deliver to individuals and companies alike. This paper will also review the
characteristics and differences of the various certification programs on the market, things to watch out for,
and some important questions to ask when selecting a certification program.

Why Personnel Functional Safety Certification Programs Are Needed

The publication of the international functional safety standards IEC 61508 (1999), IEC 61511 / ISA-84
(2004), and IEC 62061 (2005) were significant milestones in the effort to increase equipment and process
1,2,3
safety. Unfortunately, release of safety standards do not make the world a safer place by themselves.
The catastrophic process safety incidents at Bhopal (India), Buncefield (UK), and Texas City (USA) serve
as reminders of what can happen when things go horribly wrong. Those incidents also highlight the
importance of having personnel who are knowledgeable and competent in functional safety.

Analysis of past process safety incidents underscores the role that people can play in preventing these
accidents. A study by the UK’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) showed that most safety incidents
could have been prevented. It concluded that accidents are primarily the result of poor decisions during the
various phases of a plant’s life (design, installation & commissioning, operation, and maintenance), but that
the majority can be traced to errors related to design. It found that the number one cause of accidents was
incorrect and incomplete design specification (44%). Another 15% was from improper design &
implementation. The study also found that a significant percentage of incidents were caused by changes
4
made after commissioning (21%), as well as errors during operation and maintenance (15%). A
subsequent study on accidents in the chemical sector found that three most common causes of failure
5
were errors in operating procedures (37%), in plant design (32%), and in hazard analysis (26%).

4
Figure 1 - Results of HSE Study

Exhaustive analysis of process plant disasters by Trevor Kletz concludes that all accidents are traceable to
human error in some form. His studies pinpoint the major areas for improvement where better knowledge,
6
training, and execution could have prevented safety incidents as follows :

• Process Design (60%)

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 Personnel Functional Safety Certification
Why Should You Become CFSE Certified?
• Hazard and Operability Studies (50%)
• Operating Procedures (33%)
• Training and Human Factors – to eliminate operator errors (20%)
• Inspection (16%)
• Mechanical design (10%)

Personnel Functional Safety Certification programs are designed to address these shortcomings by
improving the safety design knowledge and practices of individuals who are involved with the design and
operation of critical equipment and processes.

The Human Element of Functional Safety (The Challenge)

The analysis of past safety accidents was conducted primarily in regions and with companies which had an
“experienced” workforce. Today the global economy is undergoing major shifts in manufacturing which are
making the issue of finding, developing, and retaining experienced people more challenging than in the
past. In “Brownfield” (developed) areas, like North America and Europe, it has been estimated that some
30% of the core knowledge staff within the process industries will retire within 5 years, taking a large
amount of engineering and operating experience with them. Additionally a major petrochemical company
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expects 50% of its engineering workforce to retire in the next five years.

There is already a shortage of engineers with relevant expertise. Engineering enrollments have been down
for significant periods over the last 25 years. This is exacerbated by the fact that many engineers don’t
consider process industry or manufacturing jobs to be attractive anymore, especially since many of them
are in inhospitable places.

Couple the shortage of experienced and knowledgeable workers with the way plants are being designed
and run today and we have the potential for the number of accidents to increase rather than decrease.
Existing operating units, many of which are over 40 years old, are being run at maximum capacity with
extended run lengths. In developing areas of the world, economic expansion means more and more new
plants (e.g. power generation) to keep up with the growing economy. With such a high percentage of new
industry, these developing areas often lack the depth of experience present in the traditionally developed
regions of the world. Taking part in a program designed to build functional safety competence in key
resources is one way for companies around the world to overcome these challenges.

Competence is a Requirement, Not an Option

Having people that are competent in functional safety isn’t just a good idea it is required by the
international functional safety standards IEC 61508 and IEC 61511 / ISA-84. These standards both contain
requirements for having competent and trained personnel to carry out the safety life-cycle activities
(design, installation & commissioning, operation, and maintenance) that are documented in them. These
standards are widely recognized as good engineering practice and they have become the benchmarks by
which governments now measure a company’s behavior in the event of an incident.

IEC 61511 – “Persons, departments or organizations involved in safety life-cycle activities shall
be competent to carry out the activities for which they are accountable” – IEC 61511, Part 1,
Paragraph 5.2.2.2

IEC 61508 – “…ensuring that applicable parties involved in any of the overall E/E/PE or software
safety lifecycle activities are competent to carry out activities for which they are accountable” –
IEC 61508, Part 1, Paragraph 6.2.1 (h)

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 Personnel Functional Safety Certification
Why Should You Become CFSE Certified?

The Origin of Personnel Safety Certification Programs (Safety Certification

to the Rescue)

Having trained and competent safety practitioners is in the best interest of a company and is required by
international functional safety standard. So now you might ask… how does a person become competent in
functional safety? How is functional safety competence measured and who does the measuring?

As a result of the competency requirement in the standards, several personnel functional safety
certification programs have been created. The first such program, the Certified Functional Safety Expert
(CFSE), was launched in 2000 and has remained the “Gold Standard” for Personnel Certification. Other
programs have since come out but only as Certificate programs such as the Functional Safety (FS)
program by TÜV Rheinland, ISA 84 Expert program and the Functional Safety Practitioner (FSP). The goal
of a certificate program (discussed later in this paper) is to show competence from a training recently
taken. A Certification is to show knowledge NOT based on only training material but on an experience
level.

Focused programs have been developed to address different personnel skillsets and levels of expertise
(e.g. “practitioner” vs. “expert”), as well as different applications in the area of functional safety.

• Automotive
• Automation CyberSecurity (CACE/CACS)
• Machine Safety
• Process Safety

• Safety Hardware Development

• Safety Software Development

Benefits

Functional safety certification programs deliver benefits to both individuals and companies.

For companies it provides the proof of competence demanded by safety standards and the confidence that
their personnel have truly mastered a proper understanding of functional safety and the safety lifecycle. It
is also a critical step in developing and demonstrating a “safety culture” within an organization. Completing
the certification ensures that an individual has met a minimum level of competence, which is important for
employers as they seek personnel with the necessary skills and training. The act of relying on certified
personnel can boost a company’s reputation as it signifies a commitment to professionalism and expertise.
This may be why one supplier to the process industries has used the achievement of safety certification as
a Key End Result worthy of a financial bonus for their employees. Most importantly, using certified safety
experts can help companies save money by simplifying regulatory compliance, reducing engineering costs,
preventing unplanned downtime, and ensuring that safety systems are neither over-designed nor under-
designed.

For individuals, following the recommended training curriculum will increase their functional safety skills
and knowledge and making them more valuable to their employers / potential employers. This helps
individuals differentiate themselves from other workers on the market resulting in greater promotional
opportunities and salary increases. Demonstrating competency through quality certification programs
opens doors to employment, advancement, leadership, contracts and compensation. Increasingly
companies are requiring certified personnel to oversee safety projects, particularly those where new
infrastructure is being created (e.g. in the Middle East and Asia Pacific regions).

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 Personnel Functional Safety Certification
Why Should You Become CFSE Certified?

How to Select a Certification Program (The Importance of Doing Your

Homework)

Understanding the nature of the certifying body and the quality of the certification process is important to
ensure that the expected benefit is received. An individual who bears a designation but appears unable to
perform competently is often referred to as a “paper tiger” because their resume suggests that they are
more effective than they really are. To protect the public from under-qualified or unqualified workers, the
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) announced its intent to launch an accreditation program for
organizations that certify personnel. "The quality of certificate programs in the United States varies widely,"
explained Lane Hallenbeck, ANSI vice president of accreditation services. "It is becoming increasingly
difficult for consumers, employers, government agencies and others who rely upon a skilled workforce to
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identify which certificates are legitimate."

Another reason for evaluating the quality and structure of a certifying body is to learn how certification from
their program will be accepted and looked upon by companies and government entities in different regions
of the world.

Certifying the Certifiers

Certifying personnel, particularly in the area of functional safety, is a business that requires a significant
level of commitment and expertise from the certifying party in order to create an effective program. Not just
any company or organization can become a functional safety certifying body, which is good, because
proper certification can mean the difference between life and death if the safety standards are not followed
correctly.

ISO 17024, released in 2003, is an international standard which sets out criteria and provides a framework
for an organization's certification of individuals. It is designed to harmonize the personnel certification
process worldwide. According to ISO 17024, competence can be defined as the demonstrated ability to
apply knowledge and skills in addition to demonstrating personal attributes.

The standard is particularly applicable to functional safety certification. It contains several key
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requirements which can be used to assess the quality of a functional safety certification program.

• The examination must be independent. – “The certification body shall not offer or provide training,
unless it demonstrates how training is independent of the evaluation and certification of persons”
[Ref IEC]. This means that examiners should not be involved with the pre-exam activities (such as
training).
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• “Examinations shall be fair, valid and reliable”. One can infer that this means that examinations
from a certifying body should be consistent between regions of the world no matter who is
administering the exam. (I.e. Exams should have the same number, type and difficulty of
questions, the same format, same passing grade…)

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 Personnel Functional Safety Certification
Why Should You Become CFSE Certified?

Certification vs Certificate Program: Is there a Difference?

Understanding the difference between a certification program and a certificate program is critical to
assessing the quality of a given program. In a certification program the applicant must pass an
examination based on broad industry knowledge that is independent of training courses or course
providers. Certification generally refers to an earned credential that demonstrates the holder's specialized
knowledge, skills, and experience. It is designed to measure an individual's "knowledge-in- use", which
can be defined as the application of knowledge and skills by those with real-life experience in this role.
Certification differs from a certificate program, which is usually an educational course offering that confers
a document at the program's conclusion. In a certificate program, the applicant must attend a particular
course and pass a test based on the material from the course. Table 1 highlights the differences between
each type of program.

Certification Certificate
Results from an assessment process that
recognizes an individual's knowledge, skills and Results from an educational process
competency in a particular specialty
Typically requires professional experience For newcomers and experienced professionals
Awarded by a third-party, standard-setting Awarded by educational programs or institutions
organization, typically not for profit often for-profit (commercial)
Indicates mastery/competency as measured Indicates completion of a course or series of
against a defensible set of standards, usually by courses with a specific focus (different than a
application or exam degree granting program)
Standards set through a defensible, industry-wide
Course content determined by the specific
process (job analysis/role delineation) that results provider or institution, not standardized
in an outline of required knowledge and skills
Typically results in credentials to be listed after Usually listed on a resume detailing education
one's name
Has on-going requirements in order to maintain;
Demonstrates knowledge of course content at the
holder must demonstrate he/she continues to end of a set period in time
meet requirements
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Table 1 – Differences between Certification and Certificate Program

You might ask why it is important to understand the distinctions between certification programs vs.
certificate programs. The differences show up in the rules and privileges for how one may use the term
“certified” in describing their credentials. These can differ on a region by region basis. The ANSI/NOCA
Standard 1100, published in March 2009, stipulates that holders of training certificates may NOT use
letters or acronyms behind their names, nor may they use the word “certified” in describing their
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credentials. The use of letters, acronyms and the word “certified” are reserved for holders of professional
certifications as defined in the standard. Therefore it is possible that someone who passes a certificate
program may not be able to display a designation on their business card or in email signature. This could
be very disappointing to someone who completes a certificate program thinking that it is a certification
program and expecting the associated benefits. It could be even worse for a certificate holder who

The following questions can be used to quickly determine whether a specific program is a
certificate or certification program. If the answer is “Yes” to either question, then it is a
certificate program.
1. Does the certification body or its paid agents develop or deliver its own certification
prep courses?
2. Does the certification body require its own or its own paid agents’ prep course as a
prerequisite for certification, or imply that such a course is the only way to certification?
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 Personnel Functional Safety Certification
Why Should You Become CFSE Certified?
chooses to ignore these requirements and fraudulently uses certification type designations.
None of this information is designed to spin either type of program in a negative way. The type of program
you should enroll in should be solely influenced by the level of competency that you are looking for.

exida FSP Program

The exida Functional Safety Practitioner (FSP) is a certificate program that addresses a growing need to
provide confirmation that an attendee showed competency by retaining the knowledge presented in the
course. This program was created so that people who are not yet ready or are preparing to take a much
more arduous certification program (such as CFSE) can now do an entry level certificate program much
like the other four already available. Figure 2 shows the relationship between the FSP program and the
other exida programs already available.

A unique benefit of the FSP program is that it will provide

an analysis of where the candidate’s strengths and
weaknesses lie. This program will also help a participant
judge their competency level if interested in obtaining a
certification like the CFSP or CFSE. You can earn an FSP
Certificate by attending an exida Academy training course
and then passing the subsequent examination. Certificates
signifying competence in the associated field are then
awarded to those who pass the exam. There are currently
FSP programs to show competence in 16 different fields. Figure 2 - Exida Program Pyramid

What’s in a name? Beware the Use of the Term “Engineer”

The use of the term “engineer” in a professional certification or title can be problematic. In many regions of
the world there are restrictions and regulations on exactly how this term may be used. The laws in some
regions require that a person has received an engineering degree to be able to be certified as an engineer.
Other regions’ laws mandate that to be called a certified engineer, the applicant must have passed a
specific professional qualification exam (usually administered by a government entity). Therefore it is
important to understand what title or credentials are being granted by a program and how these may be
applied in a region of interest.

Several licensing bodies for professional engineering contend that only licensed professional engineers
are legally allowed to use the title "Engineer". In Continental Europe, Latin America, South America, and
Turkey, the title “engineer” is limited by law to people with an engineering degree, and the use of the title
by others (even persons with equivalent work experience) is illegal. Thus programs that permit granting of
engineer credentials to persons without an engineering degree may be in conflict with the law in certain
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regions of the world. In Italy the title is limited to people who, besides holding an engineering degree,
have passed a professional qualification examination (Esame di Stato). In Chile, the Ingeniero (engineer)
title is also regulated by law. In Brazil the title of Engenheiro (engineer) and in Argentina the title of
Ingeniero can only be legally used by someone with a five-year engineering degree.

Restrictions and regulations on usage also exist in North America. In Canada, the usage of the term
"engineer" to describe holders of professional certification is not legally permitted. It is protected by the
Engineers act of the province, which requires registration with the provincial engineering professional
organization (e.g Ordre des Ingénieurs in Quebec, or Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) in Ontario).

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 Personnel Functional Safety Certification
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The Canadian Council of Professional Engineers mounted a successful campaign to have Microsoft
renounce the use of the word "engineer" in their MSCE designation.

The title "Engineer" is legally protected in many US states, meaning that it is unlawful to use it unless
permission is specifically granted by that state, through a Professional Engineering license. In Texas for
example, a person may not use the term “engineer” in their identification, name, or title unless they have
been issued a license under Texas Occupations Code, Title 6, Chapter 1001 .

Questions to ask when selecting a Certification Program

This section provides a list of questions that can be used to evaluate the structure and quality of a
certification program in order to select the best program for an individual or company.

1) Are there different certification levels available? What are the specific qualifications and
application requirements for each?

Most programs provide multiple certification levels in different areas of functional safety. The levels
are targeted at people with different responsibilities (practitioner vs. expert vs. developer) and will
have different educational and experience requirements. The process and level of effort for
completing an application typically differs based on the certification level. The “expert” certifications
typically require the applicant to provide references and case studies as part of the application
process. Lower level certifications require much less (e.g. education and employment history).
Choose the one that best lines up with your roles and responsibilities, as well as your skill set.

2) Is taking a specific training class required as part of the certification process or can I just sit
for the exam?

Certificate programs require the applicant to take a specific class and then pass a test based on the
material covered in the class. In a certificate program it is not possible to take the exam without first
completing the training class. The cost for a “required” training classes can often be expensive.
Beware of “certificate for sale” programs. A certification program on the other hand measures the
individual’s “knowledge in use”; therefore it is possible to sit for the examination without completing
any specific training class.

3) Is this a certification program or a certificate program?

In some countries certificate holders are not granted the same rights as certified personnel when it
comes to display and use of their title. It is important to check with your local region to understand the
rules of usage. To many employers, personnel certification is held in higher regard than certificate
programs. Currently only the CFSE program follows IEC 17024.

4) Is the examination identical for all regions (other than translation into the local language)?

A certification where the written examination is developed and delivered locally in each country could
be inconsistent from region to region, particularly if it contains a different numbers of questions and/or
the format varies (# of multiple choice questions vs # of working problems). There could also be
significant differences if the exams are not independent of vendor equipment (e.g. a specific brand of
SIS). These scenarios would violate the IEC 17024 standard, which states that examination
procedures should ensure a uniform application and be free from bias. It would also mean that
certifications received in different countries may not be comparable – one version of the exam may
require demonstration of a lower level of competence than another.

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5) Is the organization made up of an independent board? What companies are on the board?

An organization that has an independent board made up of suppliers, end-users, integrators, and
consultants is most likely to continuously improve the certification program and make sure that it
meets the needs of its constituents.

6) Who makes up the examination questions?

Test questions should be formulated by a team consisting of members of the board and industry
representing end users, integrators, consultants, and suppliers. Questions should be created after
performing a job / practice analysis which establishes the important and critical tasks performed by
competent people working in the profession. This effectively defines the knowledge base to be tested.
Some certificate programs allow the trainers to make their own test questions meaning if you take a
certain certificate program in one country it will be completely different someplace else. This is a red
flag for that organization.

7) Who teaches the preparation class? Who grades the examinations? Do the same people teach
the prep class as grade the test?

According to the IEC 17024 standard for personnel certification, it is important that the people who
teach the preparation class are independent from those that grade the exam. Requiring that course
instructors do not grade exams of their students ensures that independence and impartiality are not
compromised. Maintaining confidentiality is also an important requirement of IEC 17024, particularly
when it comes to the grading of examinations. Some programs use an independent double-blind two
step grading process where two graders are randomly selected from a pool of qualified graders. The
applicant’s identity is then also hidden from the graders.

8) Are the members of the training organization you may use experts in the field? Have they
written books or published technical papers on the subject? Do they provide safety lifecycle
engineering services to end users? Do they perform safety certifications of automation
equipment?

Functional safety is a broad and diverse subject. Working with a training organization made up of
experts in all facets of functional safety can have its benefits both in terms of improving your chances
at earning the certification and in terms of mastering the material. Look for training organizations that
have broad and deep experience to ensure that you are getting the best “education” as part of the
certification process.

• Delivering safety lifecycle services to end users

• Certification of supplier design and engineering processes
• Safety certification of devices per IEC 61508
• Involvement in safety standards development
• Creation and application of engineering tools to support the safety lifecycle

9) How are applicants screened? Can a person without enough experience pass the exam?

Some programs do not require applicants to complete their applications prior to sitting for the exam.
This could result in situations where persons who do not meet the minimum education and
experience levels pass the exam…What does this say about the quality of the exam and the
program?

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Summary of Certification Programs

Selecting a certification program can be a challenging task. The information in Table 2 and Appendix B has
been compiled to help you compare and contrast the various programs available and determine which one
is best for you. Each program offers both an expert level certification or certificate and a practitioner level
certification or certificate. The practitioner level is targeted at individuals who deal with functional safety on
a project-by-project basis. The expert level is aimed at personnel who are responsible for leading,
coordinating, and reviewing the activities of the safety lifecycle and who deal with functional safety on a
daily basis.

CFSE ISA TÜV Rheinland TÜV SUD Exida FSP

Functional Safety
Certified Functional SIS Certificate/ Functional Safety Functional Safety
Program Name Certification Program
Safety Expert Expert Program Practitioner
(FSCP)
Expert Level Certified Functional Functional Safety Expert Functional Safety
ISA 84 Expert n/a
Certification Safety Expert (CFSE) (FSExp) Expert (FSE)
Certified Functional
Practitioner Level SIS Fundamentals Functional Safety Functional Safety Functional Safety
Safety Professional
Certification Specialists (SFS) Engineer (FSEng) Professional (FSP) Practitioner (FSP)
(CFSP)
Organization Status For-Profit Non-Profit For-Profit For-Profit For-Profit
Origination Date 2000 2008 2004 2008 2015
Training / Prep Course Recommended Required Required Required Required
Local Partners - Premier
Local Partners -
exida offers training (US), ACM (CA) , C&C (UK)
Risknowlogy, TUV SUD, CFSP/CFSE Exida
Training Provider but no specific course ISA and TÜV Rheinland
FS Engineering VP, personnel
is required (Machine Safety & HW,
Safety Users Group
S/W Development)
Submit Credentials Before Exam Before Exam After Exam n/a Before exam
Exam is identical for
Yes Yes No TBD Yes
all regions
Developed by Local
Developed by CFSE Developed by Local Developed by
Exam Questions Developed by ISA Partners - Premier (US),
Board Partners exida
ACM (CA), C&C (UK), etc.
Independently graded Local Partners - Premier Graded on the
Exam Graders by CFSE Board ISA Local Partners spot by the
(US), ACM (CA), C&C (UK)
members Course Instructor
Interest Group consists of
HIMA, PCS, Honeywell,
Emerson, exida, PILZ, ACM, ICS Triplex, Course providers and Exida advisory
Governance Board TBD
TUV Nord Siemens, Rockwell, end users board
Yokogawa, DOW, Innotec,
ABB
Program Type Certification Certificate Certificate Certificate Certificate
www.exida.com/
Org Website Address www.cfse.org www.isa.org www.tuvasi.com www.tuev-sued.de
training/FSP
14,15,16,17
Table 2 – Comparison of Functional Safety Programs

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exida CFSE Program

The exida CFSE program was introduced in 2000, making it the first personnel functional safety
certification program in the industry. CFSE remains the longest running program to this day. Since then,
other certification programs have been introduced, but CFSE remains the “gold standard” of all programs
because of its unmatched consistency, integrity, and skill development. The focus of the program is on
developing usable knowledge and skills, rather than just passing a test.

CFSE is the only program that is standardized globally, which means that the same certification criteria
and exams are used in every country, regardless of the user being tested. Other certification programs
have different questions and grading being done by local partners in each area (Table 2). This hurts the
quality of the program because the competency level shown may not be consistent across the board due
to varying difficulty of questions depending on region.

Another element unique to CFSE is that training and grading of exams are done completely independently,
which ensures that there is no conflict of interest in the certification audit process, which is required per
IEC 17024. The CFSE board creates and grades the questions so that all exams are assessed and graded
consistently no matter where they are taken.

CFSE is also governed by a board of directors from several independent companies ensuring that the
program is evolving along with the needs of its members.

CFSE vs CFSP

Certification through Exida is provided in two levels; CFSE and CFSP. The CFSE is the higher level
certification and is aimed at professionals who actively lead, coordinate and review the more complex and
demanding activities in the Safety Lifecycle in leadership positions including SIL selection and SIL
verification.

The CFSP is targeted at professionals who need a thorough understanding of the Safety Lifecycle
activities at the execution level without necessarily leading, coordinating or reviewing the more complex
and demanding activities.

Table 3 highlights some of the differences in the requirements between the CFSE and the CSFP.

CFSE Requirements CFSP Requirements

10 years of equivalent experience (adjusted for 2 years of equivalent experience (adjusted for
Experience education level) with a significant safety education level) with a significant safety
component component

Submit a case study that demonstrates the

Case Study No case study required
applicant’s knowledge and safety experience.

Score > 80% on a two part exam containing Score > 80% on a single part exam containing
Score multiple choice, short answer, and case study multiple choice and short answer questions
problems
Table 3 - Differences between CFSE and CFSP

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Comparing All Certification Programs

The purpose of all functional safety certification and certificate programs is to build and measure
competence. Each program accomplishes this to a different degree as shown in Figure 3. Programs differ
greatly in their requirements for years of experience and in the level of competency demonstrated. The
competency demonstrated has been assessed based on the relative degree of difficulty in passing the
examination (is the test easy or challenging) as reported by individuals who have participated in multiple
programs. Some programs require a higher level of competency to be demonstrated in order to receive the
certification.

As you can clearly see, the CFSE program remains on top of all certification programs not only in terms of
competence demonstrated but also experience required. This truly does make it the “Gold Standard”
among all other certification programs.

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Figure 3 – Comparison of Competency Demonstrated vs. Required Experience
Conclusion

Improving the safety of operating plants and new installations is becoming increasingly important to
companies and governments alike. Personnel Functional Safety Engineering certification programs provide
a means for acquiring knowledge and skills, and for demonstrating the proof of competence that is
demanded by the IEC 61508 and 61511 standards. These programs can reinforce lessons learned from
past accidents and can help address the shortage of qualified personnel due to changes in workforce
demographics.

Not all certification programs are created equal. Performing a thorough evaluation is highly recommended
when selecting a program. For example some programs are more accurately characterized as certificate
programs, which may have a different level of acceptance by companies and governments. Programs
differ widely in the level of competence that must be demonstrated to become certified. This paper has
provided a series of questions that can be used to help select the best certification program for different
individual requirements.

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References:

1. ANSI/ISA-84.00.01-2004 (IEC 61511 Mod) Part 1 Functional Safety: Safety Instrumented Systems
for the Process Industry Sector – Part 1: Framework, Definitions, System, Hardware and Software
Requirements [S84]
2. IEC 61508 Ed.1.0 b 2005, “Functional Safety of Electrical/Electronic/Programmable Electronic
Safety-Related Systems”
3. IEC/ISO 62061 Ed. 1.0 b:2005 , “Safety of machinery - Functional safety of safety-related
electrical, electronic and programmable electronic control systems"
4. “Out of Control: Why Control Systems Go Wrong and How to Prevent Failure”, U.K. Health &
Safety Executive, 1995
5. “Findings From Voluntary Reporting of Loss of Containment Incidents 2004/05”, U.K. Health &
Safety Executive, 2005.
6. Kletz, Trevor A., “What Went Wrong: Case Histories of Process Plant Disasters Fourth Edition,
Gulf Publishing Co., 1999.
7. “Have You Seen This Engineer?”, Control, www.controlglobal.com/articles/2004/36.html
8. “Retirement: Lose Know-How, No Way”, Chemical Processing,
www.chemicalprocessing.com/articles/2009/114.html
9. “New ANSI Accreditation Program to Improve Quality of U.S. Workforce”
10. http://news.thomasnet.com/companystory/522760
11. ISO/IEC 17024:2003, “Conformity assessment – General requirements for bodies operating
certification of persons”
12. “Certification vs Certificate”, www.aalnc.org/edupro/certificate.cfm
13. ANSI/ICE 1100: 2009,“Standard for Assessment-Based Certificate Programs”
14. “Controversies over the term Engineer”,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controversies_over_the_term_Engineer
15. www.cfse.org
16. www.isa.org
17. www.tuvasi.com
18. www.tuev-sued.de/rail_en/functional_safety_professional_program
19. “Survey of Functional Safety Certification Programs”, CFSE Governing Board, 2009.

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 Personnel Functional Safety Certification
Why Should You Become CFSE Certified?

5.2.2.2 Persons, departments or organizations involved in safety life-cycle activities shall be competent to
carry out the activities for which they are accountable.

NOTE As a minimum, the following items should be addressed when considering the competence of persons,
departments, organizations or other units involved in safety life-cycle activities:

a) Engineering knowledge, training and experience appropriate to the process application;

b) Engineering knowledge, training and experience appropriate to the applicable technology used (for
example, electrical, electronic or programmable electronic);
c) Engineering knowledge, training and experience appropriate to the sensors and final elements;
d) Safety engineering knowledge (for example, process safety analysis);
e) Knowledge of the legal and safety regulatory requirements;
f) Adequate management and leadership skills appropriate to their role in safety life-cycle activities;
g) Understanding of the potential consequence of an event;
h) The safety integrity level of the safety instrumented functions;
i) The novelty and complexity of the application and the technology.

Appendix A – Safety Competence Requirement from IEC 61511

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 Personnel Functional Safety Certification
Why Should You Become CFSE Certified?

Appendix B – Detailed Comparison of Personnel Functional Safety Certification Programs

CFSE ISA TÜV Rheinland TÜV SUD

Certified Functional Safety ISA 84 Expert Functional Safety Expert Functional Safety
Expert (CSFE) • 5 years industry experience (FSExp) Professional (FSP)
• 10 years of experience • 2 years PHA / SIL experience • 10 years of experience • 10 years of experience
• 4 references • 2 years SIL verification • 2 case studies • 2 case studies
• Case study (and/or other related) • 2 external references • Resume & experience
• Resume & experience experience • Resume & experience (technical degree,
Expert Level

(technical degree, • Take all three ISA SIS (technical degree, publications, etc.)
publications, etc.) courses (totaling 7 days) on publications, etc.) • Must fulfill FSE
• 4-day optional fundamentals, SIL selection • Certificate Program requirements (below)
preparatory course and SIL verification • Certificate Program
available • Take all three ISA exams
• Exam required (1-day) (each exam has 75
• Certification Program questions)
• Certificate Program

Certified Functional Safety SIS Fundamentals Specialist Functional Safety Engineer Functional Safety Expert
Professional (CFSP) (SFS) (FSEng) (FSE)
• 2 years of experience • No experience requirement • 3 years of experience • 6 years of experience
• 4 references • No references required • 4 references • 2 references
Practitioner Level

• Resume & experience • 3-day preparatory course • Resume (technical • Resume (technical
(technical degree, required degree, etc.) degree, etc.)
publications, etc.) • Exam required (2-hours, 75 • 3 - 4 day preparatory • 2 – 3 day preparatory
• 4-day optional questions) course required course required
preparatory course • Course and exam • Exam required (1/2- • Exam required (1/2-
available ($2195) approximately $1,700 for day) day)
• Exam required (1/2- each of three courses • Course & exam • Course & exam
day) • Certificate Program approximately $2,950 approximately $2,850
• Certification Program • Certificate Program • Certificate Program

A preparatory course is not Taking the ISA courses are Taking an FSEng course is Taking an FSE course is
required to take either required before taking the required before taking the required before taking the
Expert Level
Prep / Training Course

exam. exams. Students have up to 3 exam (the next day). If exam (the next day).
months after a course (to study) someone fails the exam,
before taking the online exam. they may only retake it after
retaking the course.
Courses are available from ISA courses are standardized. Experts develop and teach
Practitioner

several providers. Each has the courses independently.

been reviewed and Courses will differ, but may
approved for use by the be reviewed by TÜV.
CFSE Board.

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