ISA Membership

Topwater · Feb 4, 2016

As an independent contractor, is it worthwhile to join ISA and are there significant benefits?

Very general question I know, just wondering what people think. Thanks.

danw · Feb 4, 2016

If you're looking for an opportunity to socialize with your colleagues or customers and they're ISA people, then the monthly meeting is usually held in restaurant with a bar so you can have a drink or two with them and eat at the table with them. The monthly meeting is typically a vendor doing a lightly modified power point so that it isn't an outright sales presentation.

But, I really doubt whether your customers make their buying decisions based on who shows up for an ISA meeting.

Members get a 10% or 15% discount for an ISA book. Is that an incentive?

Members get a minor discount on standards. How many standards do you buy in a year?

There's the monthly magazine . . .

Zes · Feb 5, 2016

danw said:
If you're looking for an opportunity to socialize with your colleagues or customers and they're ISA people, then the monthly meeting is usually held in restaurant with a bar so you can have a drink or two with them and eat at the table with them. The monthly meeting is typically a vendor doing a lightly modified power point so that it isn't an outright sales presentation.

But, I really doubt whether your customers make their buying decisions based on who shows up for an ISA meeting.

Members get a 10% or 15% discount for an ISA book. Is that an incentive?

Members get a minor discount on standards. How many standards do you buy in a year?

There's the monthly magazine . . .

And what about their certification programs?

danw · Feb 5, 2016

I can't comment on the cert programs, I'm not certified, don't need to be for what I do.

If membership is required to take an ISA sponsored test, then I guess that's part of the cost of sitting for it.

Topwater · Feb 5, 2016

Good insight. I was interested in the cert programs, it's not that I need them or they are required of me, but I was wondering about if it's worth getting one.
Thanks.

Paullys50 · Feb 5, 2016

I am 'sort-of' studying for the CAP certification. Debating on taking it, if my employer pays for it then I would probably take it. But probably not on my own. I've never been asked about ISA or certifications so I doubt it's of much value-add. Maybe CAP will help me negotiate a few more dollars, but that's probably about it.

I think the book "A Guide to the Automation Body of Knowledge" which is a major resource of study material for the CAP cert is worth it's (Non-member) price tag.

harryting · Feb 5, 2016

For some areas they have local meetup, vendor sponsored trainings, and plant tours. Another major benefit is the ability to read ISA specification online.

For USA, I would think CSE would be worth more than CAP? Because CSE is a PE that's recognized beyond the automation community. Oh, ya, you get a small discount on study material for CSE and CAP, I am quite sure.

Paullys50 · Feb 5, 2016

harryting said:
For some areas they have local meetup, vendor sponsored trainings, and plant tours. Another major benefit is the ability to read ISA specification online.

For USA, I would think CSE would be worth more than CAP? Because CSE is a PE that's recognized beyond the automation community. Oh, ya, you get a small discount on study material for CSE and CAP, I am quite sure.

Have a look at this presentation from ISA, they provide a bit of a better explanation of the differences. The presentation reports about 1% of Automation Professionals have passed the CSE exam in 14 years, and less than 1% of ISA members have it. So it seems quite unpopular.

harryting · Feb 5, 2016

This probably deserves its own thread. I wonder what certifications are helpful to automation folks. I know a few CSE but not one CAP. From here:

http://ncees.org/exams/pe-exam/

In 2015, 268 took the PE-Control system tests.

Speaking only on my experience, having a PE really helps with large engineering firms and public utilities. MSCE also seems to be popular with automation folks. Some recent problem with networks made me realize that I need more rigorous network knowledge even though I have Network+ so I'm studying up on CCNA right now, just as something that would making me better at my job.

ISA Membership

Topwater

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danw

Lifetime Supporting Member

Zes

Member

danw

Lifetime Supporting Member

Topwater

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Paullys50

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harryting

Lifetime Supporting Member

Paullys50

Lifetime Supporting Member

harryting

Lifetime Supporting Member

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