– Who should pursue the Vibration Analyst certification and why

The Vibration Institute’s Certification Program is a focal point for acknowledging the capability and motivation of individuals in the vibration field.  Certification provides professional recognition by employers, clients, and colleagues and acknowledgment of proven capability in vibration analysis at the certification category.

– What is required to achieve the certification?

It is important that candidates have a combination of education, training, and experience to understand the principles and procedures of machinery vibration monitoring and diagnostics.
There is no formal academic education requirement for sitting for any certification exam per ISO 18436-2.  However, candidates are expected to be able to manipulate simple algebraic equations, use a basic scientific calculator, and be computer literate. It is recommended that candidates for Category I and Category II have a minimum high school education, and candidates for Category III and Category IV have a minimum 2-year degree in mechanical engineering technology, however, having a 4-year mechanical or electrical engineering degree is extremely helpful at achieving Category IV certification.  Although our certification exams do not require formal academic education, certain amounts of technical training and experience are required for each category.  To be eligible to sit for a certification examination, applicants must provide documented evidence of the successful completion of formal training (provided by a training body that conforms to the requirements of ISO 18436-3), which has been based on the Body of Knowledge for each category.  Training should be in the form of formal lectures, demonstrations, trainer-specified practical exercises, online, or self-study.  The Vibration Institute offers formal training that meets the requirement of our certification exams, though our training is a fully isolated function from certification to satisfy the associated ANAB requirements.  ISO 18432-2 recommends but does not require additional training on machine knowledge. It recommends machinery and component training, or equivalent on the job training, of at least half of the
required training. This is important training that should be considered seriously by the candidate.  In addition to training, candidates must also provide evidence of machinery vibration condition monitoring and diagnostics field experience. The required training hours and months of experience can be found in our certification handbook online at: https://www.vi-institute.org/wp-content/uploads/Cert-Handbook.pdf

Depending on previous training and years of experience, we also have the option for candidates to skip CAT I or CAT II and test directly to CAT II or CAT III.  The Vibration Institute refers to this as direct (or mature) entry.  Information regarding these options can also be found in our certification handbook.

– A few industries and/or blue-chip companies where demand for this certification is common or growing in popularity

Electric Power Generation

Oil and Gas

Pulp and Paper

Mining

Chemical processing

Hospitals

I also reached out to long time member, and CAT IV Analyst George D’Entremont who has over 40 years of experience in the nuclear power industry, with 26 of those years as a machine vibration analyst, to provide additional information.  His employer hires engineering positions where individuals are not yet certified.  The engineers are to collect and evaluate vibration information as part of their role.  Once hired, the employees are then trained and certified through the Vibration Institute. This has been their standard practice since the early 1990s.  Typically, the individuals qualify for mature entry to CAT II based on their previous training, experience, or university education.  Staff are typically allowed to attend one conference per year as an opportunity for continuing education.  This allows CAT II analysts to proceed on to CAT III and beyond as continuing education and time of experience accumulates. While there has been limited turnover from these engineering positions, instances have occurred in which individuals have cited their certifications to obtain positions outside the company.  In several instances certified individuals have also received invitations to participate in industry user groups or advisory committees both domestically and internationally.

In an increasingly competitive marketplace, employers, and clients seek the most qualified and knowledgeable professionals.  Certification validates employees’ skills and knowledge that ultimately results in better service, support, and customer satisfaction grounded in safe and effective practices.

The Vibration Institute Certification Program for Vibration Analyst is an ANAB-Accredited Personnel Certification Program – Accreditation #0845. ANAB is the American National Standards Institute’s (ANSI) National Accreditation Board.  ANAB is the premier organization that coordinates the implementation of national and international standards. Accreditation by ANAB assures that the Institute’s certification program is valid, reliable, impartial, and provides fair and equal access to the certification policies and procedures that assess the qualifications of vibration analyst candidates on a standardized basis.  When a certificate is issued, the Vibration Institute attests to the minimum qualification of the recipient vibration analyst as defined in ISO 18436-2.  The employer or self-employed individual is responsible for the authorization to perform machinery condition monitoring and diagnostics and, as a result, is responsible for the quality and validity of their work.  The Vibration Institute vibration analyst certification program is the benchmark and recognized for meeting the highest standards of industry knowledge and competence among professionals in the field. The Vibration Institute’s vibration analyst certification program has been accredited for 12 years and is the only vibration analyst certification program accredited by ANAB.

I had the pleasure of recently contributing to Noria’s Reliable Plant Digital Magazine. Learn more about certification through the Vibration Institute as well as other related certifications you can obtain in the industry by clicking HERE

I encourage you to browse our Certification Handbook to learn more about becoming certified with the Vibration Institute. For questions, feel free to email us at vicertification@vi-institute.org