CTCB- Cleanroom Testing Course and Examinations (v1.12)
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CTCB- Cleanroom Testing Course and Examinations (v1.12) |
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When a cleanroom has just been built, and during its lifetime, it is necessary to test it to ensure that it is working correctly. The amount and quality of air supplied, the air movement between and within cleanrooms, and the particle and microbiological counts in the cleanroom should be shown to be correct.
The testing of a cleanroom requires skill, and the following certified courses are provided to help acquire this. Teaching and certification is carried out by the CTCB, a board set up by the Scottish Society for Contamination Control (S2C2) as an education and training initiative to help fulfil the objectives of the Society. The CTCB Cleanroom Testing Advisory Board is composed of experts in cleanroom testing who oversee the content of the course, the teaching, and the examinations. An overview of the certification is as follows:
Registration
Candidates can register for either of two levels of certification. These are:
Professional certification: For people whose profession is cleanroom testing, and who routinely test all aspects of cleanroom testing. These people are examined at the end of the course to see if they have a satisfactory knowledge of cleanroom testing. At the time of their final exam, they will have a minimum of 2 years’ experience. If you apply, and have suitable qualifications, you will be required to:
Associate certification: For people who are familiar with aspects of cleanroom testing and wish to gain a fuller knowledge of the subject, or, have been working less than two years as a cleanroom tester, and wish to use the certification course as a basis of training to work towards professional status.
If you apply for the associate course, and have suitable qualifications, you will be required to:
The written exams are identical in both qualifications, the difference between the two certificates is that professional candidates will have 2 years experience and are examined on their practical competence. In the associate qualification, the practical aspects will be taught, but not examined. Students who obtained the associate qualification may convert to a professional certificate once they have a minimum of two years experience, but they must pass the practical exam.
On registration, the candidate will receive self-study course notes, a questions and answers handbook, an example of a written exam paper, and notification of the date of the next examination. Prior to attending the course and exams the professional candidates will be sent information on how the practical exam is run and the CTCB expectations. On satisfactory completion of the course, candidates receive a CTCB certificate, and are entered onto the CTCB 'List of successful candidates'. This registration applies to the person who passes the exam, and not their firm. A professionally-certified person will remain on the list for 5 years, at which time they must be re-certified.
The Course Notes and Syllabus
The candidate will receive over 100 pages of course notes. Also issued is a handbook containing a set of questions (and answers) for each topic in the notes, so that the candidate can assess their knowledge. The syllabus of the course is as follows:
Revision Lectures, Practical Training and Examination
Candidates for the professional certification will attend for three days and receive practical training, a lecture revision course and sit practical and written examinations. The Associate candidates will attend for two days and receive practical training, a lecture revision course and sit a written exam. These days will be structured as follows:
First day: Practical training
Second morning: Revision lecture course
Second afternoon: Theory written exam
Third day: Practical exams (only for professional candidates)
The days will be organised as follows:
First Day Practical Training: This course will cover:
Second Day Revision Lecture Course: A morning is spent at a lecture course revising the course notes.
Second Day Theory Exam: This will examine the candidate’s knowledge of the course notes. The questions will be short and of the type that can be answered by no more than 10 words; no essays are required. The questions will be similar, or identical, to those given in the question and answers handbook. The pass mark is 50%.
Third Day Practical Exam: The professional candidates will be examined on their competence to carry out the following important tests:
The candidate will be required to competently write up reports on the results of the two tests.
The candidate’s exam results are assessed by an Examination Board drawn from the CTCB Advisory Board. It is anticipated that about 70% of the candidates will pass their exams in the first attempt. The CTCB has an examination appeals procedure. Anyone failing an exam can re-sit it at the next examination. This can be done in the UK, or at another CTCB Cleanroom Testing certification course in Ireland and Sweden.
The price is advertised in the notices for each course and with the booking forms. There are separate fees for each of the elements below:
Registration for associate and professional candidates, which includes:
Lecture course and exam
Professional three-day course which includes:
Associate two-day course including:
Coffee, tea and lunch over the course will be included in the cost.
Exam Re-sit
Candidates can re-sit their exams. There is likely to an opportunity every 6 months.
Note: Any costs required for accommodation and other meals are the responsibility of the candidate.
For current information and costs please contact CTCB.
CTCB
Contact: S2C2 Administrator,
Scottish Society for Contamination Control
Suite 20,
The Atrium Business Centre
North Caldeen Road
Coatbridge, ML5 4EF
Tel: +44 844 800 7809
Fax: +44 844 800 7810