1. WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT ATMAE CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS?

There are currently seven ATMAE Certification Programs:

Certified Controls Engineer (CCE), Certified in Engineering Graphics (CEG), the Certified Manufacturing Specialist (CMS), the Certified Technology Manager (CTM), the Certified Technical Professional (CTP), Microelectro Mechanical Systems Foundation Certification (MFC), and the Certified Lean Six Sigma (CLSS).

A Senior designation is available (CSCE, CSEG, CSMS, CSTM, and CSTP) for certified individuals who have reported 30 PDUs since certification or who qualify initially for senior status. Senior certification is not available for the MFC. The applicant must report thirty (30) professional development units (PDU) of continuing education activity that were completed within 3 years prior to the application. (Please note that coursework completed in pursuit of the academic degree used as the qualifying degree for CCE, CEG, CMS, CTM, or CTP certification cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.)

See suggested PDU activities and values and review the required documents for Senior Certification.

2. HOW MANY QUESTIONS ARE ON THE EXAMS AND WHAT IS COVERED?

The Certified Controls Engineer (CCE) exam is an *open-book, 120-question, multiple choice examination with questions on Automated Systems, Controls (Open Loop/Closed Loop Systems), Electrical Power Systems, Electrical Safety Systems, Electronics Fundamentals, Energy Management/Alternative Energy, Financial Justification, Fluidics/Fluid Power, Industrial Maintenance, Instrumentation, Mechanical Advantage, Networking Fundamentals, Programming Fundamentals, and Robotic Systems. Passage of the exam is determined by a cumulative score of 72 points or higher.

The Certified in Engineering Graphics (CEG) exam is an *open-book, 145-question, multiple choice examination designed for individuals with a background in the expression of industrial design ideas through engineering graphics, including geometric construction, orthographic views, and standardized annotations. The questions fall into 16 main content areas, as detailed in the CEG Study Guide. Passage of the exam is determined by a cumulative score of 72 points or higher.

The Certified Manufacturing Specialist (CMS) exam is an *open-book, 175-question, multiple-choice examination with questions on the following 16 content areas: Manufacturing Joining, Forming, and Casting, Machining, Non Traditional Machining, Polymers, Industrial Materials, Computer Integrated Manufacturing, Production Planning, Quality; Management & Supervision, Metrology, Wood Technology, Technical Drafting, Manufacturing Philosophies, and Electronics. Passage of the exam is determined by a cumulative score of 95 points or higher.

The Certified Technology Manager (CTM) exam is an *open-book, 160-question, multiple-choice examination with questions focusing on the following categories: Leadership, Self-Management, Systems, Processes, Operations, People, Projects, Quality, and Risk. Passage of the exam is determined by a cumulative score of 95 points or higher.

The Certified Technical Professional (CTP) exam is an *open-book, 150-question, multiple-choice examination with questions on Applied Mathematics, Engineering Graphics, Production Planning & Control, Safety, Quality, and other rudimentary questions pertaining to Algebra, Trigonometry, and English. Passage of the exam is determined by a cumulative score of 72 points or higher.

The Microelectro Mechanical Systems Foundation Certification (MFC) exam is an *open-book, 90-question, multiple choice examination designed for individuals who have completed the nine SCME MEMS Foundations short online courses. The questions fall into 9 main content areas, as covered in the MEMS foundations courses and as detailed in the MFC Study Guide. Passage of the exam is determined by a cumulative score of 68 points or higher.

The Lean Six Sigma (LSS) exam covers 12 main content areas and is further divided into 88 subcategories. The exam is divided into two main parts: the first part consists of 100 multiple choice questions that are worth 1 point each. The second part of the exam is composed of 25 multiple choice questions that require an examinee to solve a production or statistical problem that may take several minutes. Because of the time constraints, these questions are worth 4 points each. Therefore, each of the parts is worth 100 points and the combined scores from these two parts are used to calculate the examinee’s final score on the exam. 

Depending upon the grade earned by the examinee taking this exam, an individual can earn one of three different belt distinctions:

Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt: examinees that earn a score of 40-59% on the exam 
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt: examinees that earn a score of 60-79% on the exam.
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt: examinees that earn a score of 80% or higher on the exam.

3. HOW MUCH TIME IS ALLOWED TO COMPETE THE ATMAE CERTIFICATION EXAMS?

The maximum amount of time allotted for ATMAE Certification Examinations is two (2) hours.

4. ARE THERE STUDY GUIDES, REVIEW MATERIALS OR SUGGESTED TOPICS TO USE TO PREPARE FOR THE ATMAE EXAMS?

The study guides provides information on the content covered by the exams, and list additional study references. Click the links below to download the appropriate study guide:

Certified Controls Engineer (CCE) Study Guide (pdf)

Certified in Engineering Graphics (CEG) Study Guide (pdf)

Certified Manufacturing Specialist (CMS) Study Guide (pdf)

Certified Technology Manager (CTM) Study Guide (pdf)

Certified Technical Professional (CTP) Study Guide (pdf)

Access to Support Center for Microsystems Education (SCME) Microelectro Mechanical Systems Foundation Online Courses (Free)

Certified Lean Six Sigma (CLSS) Study Guide (pdf)

5. WHAT IS THE EXAM FORMAT AND REQUIREMENTS

All exams are available online only, and require a proctor. You must have a Windows® or Apple® laptop or desktop computer, iPad®, or other tablet or smart phone mobile device to take an online exam. Exception are candidates using the online/virtual proctoring service. You are not allowed to use an iPad®, or other tablet or smart phone mobile device for the online/virtual proctoring service. The exams are currently in English only, and translations are not available.

6. WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I TAKE THE EXAM?

After taking the exam, you will immediately receive a pass or fail result.

As of January 1, 2021 individuals that have paid the exam fee, and passed any ATMAE Certification exam (not given as a group assessment exam) will be certified upon passing their exam. You will receive an email with instructions for viewing and downloading your certificate within 5 days of passing the exam.

Candidates that have passed a Group Assessment Exam given by an ATMAE accredited institution must apply for ATMAE Certification. There is no "automatic” certification for group assessment exams. If you pass the exam, and want to be certified, you need to apply, meet all eligibility requirements, and pay the necessary fees. 

7. CAN I FIND OUT MY EXACT SCORE?

• No, ATMAE does not release your specific score. Your exam result is recorded by ATMAE as either pass or fail. We do not give out your raw scores to you or anyone else, with one exception for Group Assessment Exams. ATMAE accredited programs uses the exams for program assessment purposes, and thus we will release your individual score to the department requesting the exams. The department may only use students' scores obtained in such fashion for program assessment and may not release the exam scores to third parties.

• A report of how well the examinee performed on each of the 12 main areas and 88 subcategories is available after taking the exam. The report is a useful instrument to the examinee for reviewing any areas of weakness in case he or she would like to retake the exam to earn a higher belt distinction. 

8. HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO WAIT TO RETAKE THE EXAM IF I DO NOT PASS?

There is no required waiting period to take an exam again. However, you must resubmit a proctor agreement form for the new exam date. 

Exam retake fee for all exams is $25 for students or professionals. Schedule a retake exam

9. WHAT IS THE EXAM CANCELLATION POLICY? 

If you wish to cancel your scheduled exam, please notify ATMAE as soon as possible. ATMAE will issue a full refund for exams scheduled, but not taken.

10. WHAT IS THE POLICY TO RESCHEDULE AN EXAM?

If you would like to reschedule your exam, it must be within one year from the purchase of your exam. You must coordinate your new exam date with your exam proctor and provide ATMAE with a new Proctor Agreement for the new date.