IFPS Certification Self Assement Tool
 

Courtesy of Dan Helgerson, CFPAI

The purpose of this tool is to assess your job responsibilities to determine the most applicable fluid power certification. There are two ways to approach the tool.

  1. By answering the questions based on your present work, you will determine which certification best suits your skill level.

If a question does not apply to your daily job responsibilities, assign it a value of 'Never." Analysis of Results will appear after question 20.

1. I am present for the start-up of new machines and systems that I built or helped to build.
2. I use hand or power tools at least two hours per day.
3. My job involves choosing components to use on new systems.
4. I assemble components.
5. I specify line sizes (either hydraulic or pneumatic).
6. My reference library includes a book that has tables giving the properties of steel.
7. I use a calculator in my work.
8. I call on customers at their plant or office.
9. I troubleshoot hydraulic or pneumatic systems that are not working properly.
10. I make hose and tube assemblies or run air piping.
11. I find and fix hydraulic and/or airline leaks.
12. Vendors call on me to sell components to me.
13. I design closed loop control circuits.
14. I troubleshoot electrical circuits using electrical schematics.
15. I am involved in performing maintenance on hydraulic or pneumatic equipment.
16. My job involves the installation of seals or packing into components.
17. I get involved in training customer's employees either formally or informally.
18. I regularly drive more than two hours per day in my work.
19. If I visit a customer's facility, the purpose is to make a repair or do troubleshooting.
20. I perform data collection/instrumentation to evaluate products or troubleshoot systems.
Mechanic

Analysis of Results

The survey provides only a general guide to the relationship between your work activities and the various certification tests available through the Fluid Power Certification Board. Even though some generalizations are made, this survey is generally effective and accurate.

Technician
Specialist
Engineer

Interpretation of Results

The section with the highest score indicates the certification level most applicable to your work. Similar scores in multiple sections indicate that you are working in more than one level. Normally, candidates will choose to pursue the more challenging level for certification when this occurs.

A high score in the Mechanic section suggests that your job requires "Hands On" or skills type work. A high score here suggests that you seriously consider Mechanic certification, even if you also consider certification at other levels, such as Technician.

Most Specialist level positions are easily identified by their requirement to design systems and specify components for a given application.

Engineers tend to fall into well-defined roles, largely due to the fact that formal engineering training is available and generally expected of individuals in engineering level positions. These cases are generally obvious.

For more information on available IFPS Certification, click here.