Certified skills that Power the future of automation

NICA certification helps you stand out in the world of controls and automation.
Our instructor-led training and proctored exams are built to prove your real-world skills and prepare you for the job.

lEARN MORE ABOUT nica

What is NICA?
—
and how certification works

The National Institute for Controls and Automation (NICA) is an independent training and certification organization focused on job-ready skills in industrial automation.

NICA was established to bridge the gap between traditional education and the real demands of modern automation roles. Our certifications are developed by professionals who actively work in the automation industry and bring decades of experience across PLC programming, system integration, commissioning, and troubleshooting. This industry-first perspective ensures that certification requirements reflect how automation work is actually performed, not just how it is described in textbooks.

NICA focuses on demonstrated capability. A NICA certification signals that you have been trained to meet the real demands of the automation field and understand what it takes to succeed in professional automation roles.

1. Train

Hands-on courses built around real PLC and automation workflows, not just theory.

2. Certify

Proctored exams that measure applied skill, troubleshooting, and decision-making. ​

3. Verify​

Share credentials employers can validate anytime through the public registry.

Our Flagship Certifications

NICA’s flagship certifications define progressive skill levels for professionals working in industrial controls and automation. Certification-aligned courses are delivered fully online and instructor-led, with structured instruction, live guidance, and practical exercises.

Who it’s for:

Technicians, electricians, maintenance personnel, and engineers beginning their work with PLC-based control systems.

What it covers:

CPLC-1 establishes the foundation of industrial automation. Candidates learn how PLCs operate, how ladder logic is structured, and how real-world control systems are wired, tested, and troubleshot. The emphasis is on understanding signal flow, execution order, and diagnosing faults in practical scenarios—not just writing logic.

Outcome:

Certified individuals demonstrate job-ready competency in basic PLC operation, I/O handling, and systematic troubleshooting in industrial environments.

✅Status: Available Now

Who it’s for:

Technicians, electricians, maintenance personnel, and engineers beginning their work with PLC-based control systems.

What it covers:

CPLC-2 focuses on structured program design and system integration. Candidates work with modular logic, Structured Text, and Function Block Diagrams. Emphasis is placed on maintainability, scalability, and integrating PLC logic with field devices and subsystems

Outcome:

Certified individuals demonstrate the ability to design and integrate reliable PLC systems that scale beyond single machines.

✅Status: In Development

Who it’s for:

Senior programmers, lead engineers, and automation architects designing complex systems.

What it covers:

CPLC-3 addresses advanced automation architecture, system-level design, and integration with HMI and SCADA platforms. Candidates are evaluated on fault-tolerant logic, system diagnostics, and long-term maintainability across large or mission-critical installations.

Outcome:

Certified individuals demonstrate mastery in designing, analyzing, and maintaining complex industrial automation systems.

✅Status: In Development

Built for real world credibility

NICA is designed around job-ready outcomes—skills you can demonstrate, validate, and defend in front of an employer.

  • Skills-first: focused on what technicians and engineers actually do on the job
  • Hands-on labs: practical tasks, troubleshooting, and real workflows
  • Proctored exams: identity-verified assessment (not just completion badges)
  • Employer verification: credentials can be validated in the public registry

Begin with NICA

Earn certification in industrial automation and controls.
Credentials designed to be verified and trusted.

Before You Get Started

Both. NICA delivers training and issues certifications through identity-verified exams. Training builds the skill; certification proves it.

Exams are proctored to verify identity and maintain exam integrity. Specific proctoring steps are provided during registration. Remote proctoring is available for all Certifications.

Employers can validate credentials through NICA’s public registry using your verification details.

Certifications are structured in progressive levels, starting with CPLC-1.

Ready to get started?

Choose your next step.
Register, Train, or verify an existing credential.

1

Register as a NICA Candidate

Create your candidate profile to access training, exams, and credential records within the NICA system.

2

Train & Demonstrate Skills

Complete hands-on training and practical assessments designed around real PLC and automation workflows.

3

Earn & Verify Your Certification

Pass a proctored exam and receive a credential that employers can verify through the public registry.

Register
Train
verify