Certification Training Courses

Training Certification Training Courses

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.

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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:

  • Provide a proven and reliable method of training specialists in this area.
  • Provide a fair, repeatable and consistent method of assessing candidates’ skills and knowledge.
  • Develop a pool of professionals who understand how to correctly carry out grounding, EMI and lightning studies in the electrical power industry and provide state of the art solutions when corrective measures are required.

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

1

Level 1

Fundamental

2

Level 2

Advanced

3

Level 3

Expert

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:
  • Practical Experience: At least one year of work experience in electrical engineering or a degree in electrical engineering or physics.
  • Knowledge: Good understanding of basic circuit theory and fundamental knowledge of electromagnetism (Ampere’s and Faraday’s laws, etc.).
Period of Validity:

Ten years. After this period, the candidate must attend a refresher course and pass the associated exam.

Information about Level 1 Certification compressed courses: please click here.

Course Description

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:

  • Understand the fundamentals of grounding and EMI as related to electric systems.
  • Explain and eliminate many misconceptions, ambiguities and incorrect measurement, analysis and design techniques which still abound in the industry and are taught at some courses.
  • Comprehend scientific concepts using practical examples drawn from the course material and documents.
  • Recommend appropriate soil resistivity test measurements as well as Fall of Potential, touch and step voltage field measurement.
  • Supervise and help technicians carry out accurate measurements using adequate equipment.
  • Understand differences between various soil structure models.
  • Discuss and describe the various types of grounding system configurations.
  • Evaluate electrical safety concerns and be able to identify unsafe conditions.
  • Comprehend the fundamental methods used in the steady state and fault analysis of electric circuits.
  • Apply the complete project management steps required to complete analysis and designs of electrically small and large grounding systems.
  • Understand the mechanisms of AC interference (EMI) and the methods used to mitigate their deleterious effects.
  • Understand the basic concepts of lightning shielding methods and techniques.
  • Understand the basics of insulation coordination and surge arrester applications that provide overvoltage protection from events such as switching and lightning surges.
  • Understand the fundamental differences between fault and high frequency transient (lightning) effects on electric systems.

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:

  • Practical Experience: At least two years of work experience in electrical engineering; alternatively, a degree in electrical engineering or physics and one year or more of work experience in electrical engineering.

  • Level 1 Certification is a prerequisite to take the Level 2 Certification exam.

Period of Validity:

Six years. After this period, the certified candidate must attend an updated course and pass the associated exam.

Course Description:

There are two Advanced Certification (Level 2) specializations:

  • Grounding Performance of High Voltage Substations.

  • Interference from High Voltage Lines (EMI).

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:

  • Specify all field measurements required for the completion of a study, including specification of appropriate equipment and test procedures.
  • Accurately interpret and refine soil resistivity measurements as well as Fall of Potential, touch and step voltage measurements.
  • Determine the appropriate soil structure models and their limiting cases due to seasonal and geographical variations.
  • Construct realistic soil models of complex environments using finite volume models.
  • Build accurate models of electric substations located in rural, semi-urban and urban areas and carry out the required fault current distribution analysis and complete the design of their grounding systems with all necessary mitigation measures.
  • Model power cables including pipe-type cables, gas-insulated substations (GIS) and gas-insulated lines (GIL), as applicable.
  • Include in the computer model various transformers types such as three-phase, three-winding, auto- and HVDC special type transformers, for accurate modeling of circulating currents during fault conditions in a substation or outside the substation.
  • Evaluate electrical safety concerns and be able to identify unsafe conditions.
  • Carry out comprehensive lightning shielding designs of substations and industrial plants.
  • Apply appropriate insulation coordination that provides overvoltage protection for communication circuits entering a site.
  • Apply various economical mitigation techniques to insure the safe performance of the grounding design.

2. Upon completion of the Advanced Certification course specializing in Interference from High Voltage Lines (EMI), candidates will be able to:

  • Specify all soil resistivity measurements required along a joint-use corridor to be studied for AC interference effects, including specification of appropriate equipment and test procedures.
  • Accurately interpret and refine soil resistivity measurements.
  • Determine the appropriate soil structure models and their limiting cases due to seasonal and geographical variations.
  • Build accurate models of transmission and distribution lines entering electric substations located in rural, semi-urban and urban areas.
  • Select appropriate tower structure configurations and ground impedances along the lines.
  • Model power cables including pipe-type cables and gas insulated lines (GIL), as applicable.
  • Select appropriate models of gas and oil pipes, water pipes, railway tracks and communication lines, as applicable.
  • Understand reasonably well the concerns of gas and oil pipeline companies, railway companies and communication line companies in order to address all important issues adequately.
  • Evaluate electrical safety concerns and be able to identify unsafe conditions specific to each utility or industry.
  • Understand the various mitigation techniques that are applicable to a specific utility and provide economical mitigation techniques to insure the safe performance of the affected utility.
  • Carry out a comprehensive analysis of the performance of the entire joint-use corridor during steady-state and fault conditions.

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:

  • Practical Experience: At least three years of work experience in electrical engineering; alternatively, a degree in electrical engineering or physics and two years or more of work experience in electrical engineering. The candidate must also demonstrate proficiency in the Level 2 specialization previously chosen.

  • Level 2 Certification

Period of Validity:

Five years. After this period, the candidate must attend an updated course and pass the associated exam.

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:

  • Calculation of the self and mutual impedances of arbitrary 3D circuits made of conductor and complex cable systems.
  • Determination of interference (EMI) caused by complex energized systems on exposed low voltage circuits during fault and transient conditions.
  • Study of transient performance of electric installations subjected to lightning or surge currents.
  • Design of mitigation measures aimed at suppressing or reducing EMI levels.

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.).