Certification Training Courses
Certifications and Associated Training Programs (Download PDF )
The Certified Training Courses are tailored by SES based on an appropriate combination of one or several real case studies, fundamental concepts and essential analytical skills and knowledge that are required to achieve a specific competence level. The real case studies can be based on an ongoing or future candidate project that has been modified and expanded by SES (if necessary) to meet the required criteria for the certification level that is the target for the course. The advantage of using the candidate’s own project is obvious, in terms of the dual purpose training and work productivity during the course.
Reception Area
SES certifications constitute an effective manner for engineering professionals to validate skills and demonstrate knowledge and proficiency in a highly competitive market. SES certifications also provide a means of common and consistent reference for evaluating that knowledge. The mission of SES’s Grounding & EMI Training Academy is to:
SES presently offers three levels of certification training programs that lead to a certificate granted by SES following successful completion by the candidate of a formal exam during the training period (i.e., onsite). The names of the successful candidates are published on SES’s website to confirm the validity and authenticity of the certificate. The validity of the certification period varies from 5 years to 10 years depending on the certification level as explained below.
Each curriculum consists of a progressive set of classes with three qualification levels: Fundamental, Advanced, and Expert. Each level concludes with an exam to ensure that the training was successful.
SES Certification Levels
Level 1Fundamental
Level 2Advanced
Level 3Expert
Candidates progress from a conceptual understanding and an ability to evaluate the work performed by others, at the Fundamental certification level, to being able to carry out analysis and design studies using the CDEGS software package, in one of two areas of specialty, at the Advanced level. At the Expert level, the candidate is able to analyze all complex aspects of grounding, lightning and EMI issues, with the successful design of economical mitigation measures, where needed, based on sound concepts and judgment.
The Fundamental Certification training is designed for participants with little or no familiarity with grounding, lightning and EMI issues. Level 1 certification means that the individual understands the key concepts related to grounding, lightning and EMI studies and is therefore in a position to evaluate the validity of such studies as a manager, supervisor or client.
Prerequisites: Period of Validity:Ten years. After this period, the candidate must attend a refresher course and pass the associated exam.
Scheduled Training Sessions:Online registration
Location Dates Course Fee Course
DurationOnline (Webinar)
Australia
Nov 7-17, 2023 CAD 3,850 8 Half-Days Western Hemisphere
Nov 6-16, 2023 Information about Level 1 Certification compressed courses: please click here>.
Course Description:During Part I of the course, the three modes of electromagnetic energization are introduced. Earth resistivity measurement and interpretation techniques are discussed, for uniform and multilayered soils. The concept of soil model equivalence and soil layer resolution is explained, based on computer simulations. The analysis and design of simple and complex grounding systems made of arbitrarily oriented three-dimensional conductors buried in multilayered soils are discussed and illustrated with practical examples. The case of grounding systems partially buried in a finite volume (e.g., backfill) of heterogeneous soil is explored. The scientific concept of earth impedance measurements using the Fall of Potential method is clearly explained, based on various realistic soil models. Transmission line, buried cable and buried pipeline parameters (self and mutual impedances) in layered soil are analyzed and fault current distribution computation techniques are described. Electrical safety concepts are introduced and issues involving body currents, body impedances and foot resistances are discussed for power frequency and high frequency electric exposure.
Part II is entirely devoted to a workshop aimed at learning how to use SES’s powerful input and output processors such as SESCAD, ROWCAD and SESShield-3D.
In Part III of the course, conductive and inductive interference effects caused by energized conductors on overhead and buried bare or coated metallic structures and conductors, such as pipelines, fences and communication wires are introduced and investigated in detail. Mitigation methods and equipment are presented and their relative merits are discussed. Interaction between the sources of the interference and the exposed lines or circuits is examined in detail. Finally, electric and magnetic fields generated by energized overhead and buried conductors at low and high frequencies as well as during transient conditions, such as lightning strikes, are described and typical analysis methods and computation results explained.
Candidates that have elected to acquire Level 1 Certification must complete and pass an exam at the training session.
Upon completion of the Level 1 course, candidates will be able to:
The Level 2 training is designed for Level 1 graduates who wish to learn to perform studies themselves and carry out design work in one of two areas of specialization: substation grounding (including lightning shielding) and power line electromagnetic interference. Level 2 graduates are recognized by SES as having the ability to carry out such studies using the CDEGS software package, without supervision, and to evaluate the work of others.
Prerequisites: Period of Validity:Six years. After this period, the certified candidate must attend an updated course and pass the associated exam.
Scheduled Training Sessions:
SES Training Center, Laval, QC, Canada
Date: To be determined Duration: 4.5 days Course fee: CAD 6,770 Important Note: A minimum of 4 attendees is required to schedule an event. Interested users are encouraged to communicate with SES at their earliest convenience.
Course Description:There are two Advanced Certification (Level 2) specializations:
Regardless of the specialization chosen for Certification Level 2, the next certification level (i.e., Level 3: Expert) focuses on topics that are not covered in the Level 2 specialization chosen by the candidate. The Expert Level certification therefore attests to expertise in both subject areas.
Candidates must complete and pass an exam at the training session to verify their mastery of the material taught at the course and submit proof of the required industry experience (this can include attendance at SES Users Group Conferences, technical reports, publications, etc.).
1. Upon completion of the Advanced Certification course specializing in Grounding Performance of High Voltage Substations, candidates will be able to:
2. Upon completion of the Advanced Certification course specializing in Interference from High Voltage Lines (EMI), candidates will be able to:
The Expert Certification training provides Level 2 graduates with the complementary Level 2 specialization (i.e., substation grounding or power line EMI), the ability to carry out transient studies involving power system effects on low voltage circuits and design corrective measures, and generally, mastery of the use of the CDEGS software package to solve complex engineering problems. Level 3 graduates are recognized by SES as expert consultants in the areas of power system grounding, EMI, lightning and other transients and as power users of the CDEGS software package.
Prerequisites: Period of Validity:Five years. After this period, the candidate must attend an updated course and pass the associated exam.
Scheduled Training Sessions: SES Training Center, Laval, QC, Canada
Date: To be determined Duration: 4.5 days Course fee: CAD 6,770 Important Note: A minimum of 4 attendees is required to schedule an event. Interested users are encouraged to communicate with SES at their earliest convenience.
Course Description:This course consists of the complement to the Level 2 specialization previously chosen by the candidate, as described in the Level 2 curriculum above, as well as the following subjects:
Upon successful completion of the Expert Certification course, candidates will therefore have a well-rounded education and expertise in the areas of high voltage substation grounding, AC interference from high voltage lines and large magnitude transient interference with low voltage circuits. The participant will be able to perform complex technical tasks independently and advise others on the performance of these tasks, as well as be able to evaluate, synthesize and communicate abstract concepts and make judgments about information and the validity of ideas.
Candidates for the Expert certification level must complete and pass an exam at the training session to verify their mastery of the material taught at the course. They must also be able to demonstrate their experience and proficiency in their Level 2 area of specialization (e.g., attendance at SES Users Group Conferences, technical reports, publications, etc.).
How to Obtain Certification
Step 1 - Selection of the Certification LevelSelect the appropriate certification level and ensure that you meet all requirements listed above for the target certification level.
Step 2 - Selection of the Venue and Participation in TrainingSelect the venue, and register and attend the entire training session. There are four possible options depending on the venue location and the registration type that are selected:
Step 3 - Testing
- Registration on a per Candidate basis at SES Training Center. Individual candidates can register for the target certification levels at the published dates that can be found on SES web site.
- Registration on a per Candidate basis at Predefined Locations Worldwide. Individual candidates can register for the target certification levels at the applicable locations and dates that can be found on SES’s web site.
- Group Registration at SES’s Training Center. A group of candidates requests the target certification level at a mutually agreed date.
- Group Registration at Customer Locations. Organizations request that a group of their employees be certified for the target certification level at a mutually agreed date at their selected location.
Candidates must complete all tests for the selected level. The test must be completed during the certification level training period. Students who pass the minimum achievement levels for the test exam are granted the target certification level. If the candidate fails in achieving the required passing grade on the first attempt, the candidate can ask for a second test under the supervision of SES or elect to attend the entire or an appropriate portion of the course and carry out the test during that course.
Step 4 - CertificationOnce all the requirements for certification have been met, SES issues a signed and stamped certificate, which is mailed to the candidate. The name of the successful candidate and the candidate’s affiliation are listed on SES’s website (Certified Users List) throughout the validity period of the certification, thus enabling any interested person to verify the candidate’s accreditation.
Maintenance of CertificationEvery four to ten years, depending upon the certification level as described in each related section above, a refresher course and associated exam must be taken to maintain the SES accreditation.
Additional Details
SES Instructors
The SES Grounding & EMI Training Academy Team is a group of instructors that are predominantly SES’s leading experts, with over 10 years of theoretical and practical experience. They use the latest teaching methods to facilitate acquisition of the required knowledge and to maximize retention.
Balance between Theory and Practice
Indispensable theoretical concepts are supplemented by practical exercises, based on real case studies, in order to achieve maximum proficiency in the topic that is the focus of each course segment.
SES Course Materials
SES’s course materials are based on high-quality, comprehensive, documents and computer files, to ensure that once the training is complete, the student has all the gathered information and knowledge readily available, on appropriate computer storage media.
SES Training Center
The SES training center is a modern facility equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment and first class onsite accommodations, to maximize focus on the training activities. Participants are thus spared the commute from a hotel to the center, avoiding delays, and getting the most out of their stay.
Information about Certified Training Courses at other locations can be found on our Venues page.