Controls Technician

Controls Technician

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Controls Technician

Prepare for a career as a Controls Technician. ICR's Learning Institute developed this program to provide individuals with the skills necessary to program and troubleshoot various controls systems. The extensive training provided in this program will enhance the skills of an individual that is currently working in the automation controls field and provide those who wish to enter the field with the skills necessary to find an entry level position in one of the following fields:

Automation Controls Technician
PLC (Programmable Logic Control) Programmer
Field Service Technician

The courses offered through this program are often used by the corporate sector to upgrade the skill of their workforce.

To successfully obtain a certificate in the Controls Technician program each student must successfully complete the various training segments, pass a stringent testing process and complete an internship requirement.

It is very difficult to find a Standard Occupation Code (SOC) for this particular occupation. We have searched O*Net and found two SOC that come close to representing the actual "Controls Technician" field:

17-3023.03 - Electrical Engineering Technician
15-1021.00 - Computer Programmer

Occupation Codes:

17-3023.03 - Electrical Engineering Technician <<Click To Go To O*Net Website

Tasks:

Provide technical assistance and resolution when electrical or engineering problems are encountered before, during, and after construction.
Assemble electrical and electronic systems and prototypes according to engineering data and knowledge of electrical principles, using hand tools and measuring instruments.
Install and maintain electrical control systems and solid state equipment.
Modify electrical prototypes, parts, assemblies, and systems to correct functional deviations.
Set up and operate test equipment to evaluate performance of developmental parts, assemblies, or systems under simulated operating conditions, and record results.
Collaborate with electrical engineers and other personnel to identify, define, and solve developmental problems.
Build, calibrate, maintain, troubleshoot and repair electrical instruments or testing equipment.
Analyze and interpret test information to resolve design-related problems.
Write commissioning procedures for electrical installations.
Prepare project cost and work-time estimates.

Tools:

Tools used in this occupation:

Electronic measuring probes — Current probes; Voltage probes
Microprocessors — Microcomputers; Microprocessors
Multimeters — Multimeters; Signal measuring equipment
Power drills — Drills; Power drills
Soldering or desoldering or combined stations — Desoldering stations; Soldering stations

Technology:

Technology used in this occupation:

Analytical or scientific software — Mathworks MATLAB; Mentor Graphics ModelSim; Proportional integral derivative control PID software; Root cause analysis software
Computer aided design CAD software — Autodesk AutoCAD; Computer aided design CAD software; MicroSim Pspice; Prentice Hall Electronic Workbench MultiSim
Development environment software — Assembler; C; Verilog
Industrial control software — Rockwell RSLogix; Rockwell RSView
Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel; Spreadsheet software

Knowledge:

Computers and Electronics — Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Engineering and Technology — Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Design — Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Mechanical — Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Mathematics — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Production and Processing — Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Public Safety and Security — Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Skills:

Troubleshooting — Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Mathematics — Using mathematics to solve problems.
Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Reading Comprehension — Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Learning — Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Active Listening — Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Equipment Selection — Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
Learning Strategies — Selecting and using training/instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Repairing — Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Monitoring — Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Abilities:

Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Written Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Finger Dexterity — The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Arm-Hand Steadiness — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

Work Activities:

Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Work Context:

Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — How often does this job require working indoors in environmentally controlled conditions?
Face-to-Face Discussions — How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
Electronic Mail — How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
Telephone — How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
Duration of Typical Work Week — Number of hours typically worked in one week.
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results — How do the decisions an employee makes impact the results of co-workers, clients or the company?
Freedom to Make Decisions — How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
Contact With Others — How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
Structured versus Unstructured Work — To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?

Education:

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.

Interest:

Realistic — Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Investigative — Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Work Styles:

Attention to Detail — Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Dependability — Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Cooperation — Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Initiative — Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Analytical Thinking — Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
Integrity — Job requires being honest and ethical.
Innovation — Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
Persistence — Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Leadership — Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
Achievement/Effort — Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

Work Values:

Achievement — Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Working Conditions — Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions

National Wages and Employment Trends:

Median wages data collected from Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technicians.

Employment data collected from Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technicians.

Median wages (2004)	$22.66 hourly, $47,140 annual
Employment (2004)	182,000 employees
Projected growth (2004-2014)	Average (10-20%)
Projected need (2004-2014)	56,000 additional employees

15-1021.00 - Computer Programmer <<Click To Go To O*Net Website