I am very happy to report that I passed the CIMA exam! Although I was part of the educational program at another school, there is no way I could have passed without the Chicago Booth review program and having been also granted access to the Chicago Booth CIMA program educational materials and live session videos. Kathleen’s voice was a constant companion as I listened to classes driving and even while on family vacation. Thank you so very much!

- Alan P. Jesiel, CFP®, CIMA®, Vice President, Senior Relationship Strategist, PNC Wealth Management

The University of Chicago has a well-planned approach to teaching the CIMA curriculum. All of the important concepts are covered in a clear, concise format. The professors really want to make sure you understand the material and go to great lengths to provide intuition behind some of the math concepts. The class is very interactive and the faculty make themselves easily accessible throughout the class. I strongly recommend this program to anyone considering attaining the designation.

- Todd Muentzer, CIMA®, ETF Specialist

This was a great overall experience.  Kathleen does a great job presenting and reviewing the content.  It was also beneficial to connect with other students preparing for the exam.

- Jon Maldonado, Financial Advisor, UBS Financial Services

Excellent program with in-depth analysis of calculation needed for course material.

- Robert Filetti, Robert Baird

This class was far above my expectations.  This is a great value for the cost.

- Alicia Frye, Regional Business Consultant, Symmetry Partners

I got the passing score I needed to finally achieve my CIMA credentials. I was and am still ecstatic about this accomplishment and absolutely credit it to the Chicago Booth workshop and team for helping me get here. I would tell anyone interested in the CIMA program or who is trying to finish the certification process that the Booth workshop is the way to go.

- Jen Litton, CDFA, CIMA®

Having the two day review class at Booth is a major differentiator from the other education programs. Having a two day intensive review upon completion of the material helped me identify areas of weakness that I needed to focus on before the test and embolden my confidence in the material I knew well coming into the exam.

- Greg Goin CFP®, CIMA®, CLU®, CRPC® Advisory Solutions Director

There are very few people that I have met that have a true depth of knowledge in their field.  Kathleen is one of them.  She is amazing in her understanding of the concepts.

- Program past participant

When can I take the FE exam?

To be eligible to take the NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering exam, you must meet the following requirements:

1. Completed 90 credits
2. Achieved senior status
3. Be enrolled in mostly 400-level courses toward your engineering degree
4. Be enrolled in the ENGR 490 section assigned to your major department
   • Section 1002-Chemical & Materials Science Engr
   • Section 1003-Civil & Environmental Engr
   • Section 1004-Electrical & Biomedical Engr
   • Section 1005-Mechanical Engr
   • Section 1006-Geological Engr
   • Section 1007-Metallurgical & Mining Engr

For seniors ready to take the FE exam, you will still need to register for ENGR 490 the semester you plan on taking the exam. Please be mindful that if you plan on graduating in the semester you take the exam, you will need to take the test no later than prep day to allow for adequate processing time (uploading your test proof). Otherwise, this may delay your diploma.

CSE students are not required to take the FE exam. 

The test will be held at any NCEES-approved testing facility year round at a testing day and time that you choose. Do not wait to sign up for an test date! If you choose to wait to sign up for the test in the middle of or later in the semester, the testing center dates will most likely be FULL! This may cause a delay, or even denial, in receiving your diploma if you are taking the test in your last semester. Yes, it is an expensive test, but isn't it more expensive to have wait an extra semester for your diploma?

How do I sign up for the FE exam?

Register for the exam on the NCEES website.

How do I prepare for the FE exam?

You may access and review the current FE Supplied Reference Manual, the same type you'll be using during the examination, on the NCEES website.

Study sessions are often organized by the student chapters of ASCE and ASME once a semester. Emails will be sent to students enrolled in ENGR 490, and flyers will be posted on the College's Facebook page. There is often a small cost in order to attend each session.

Please contact Sam DiMuzio (sadimuzio@unr.edu) with any questions about review sessions.

Once you've passed the FE exam

Go to the Nevada State Board of Engineering website and apply for Engineer Intern certification. Instructions on how to apply can be found on their website.

ISA offers a variety of resources to help you prepare for the Certified Automation Professional (CAP^®) exam.

Primary Textbook

A Guide to the Automation Body of Knowledge is the primary text resource for the CAP test and provides a complete overview of all technical topics. Order the Guide to the Automation Body of Knowledge.

Study Guide

The CAP Study Guide is a comprehensive self-study resource that contains a list of the CAP domains and tasks, 75 review Braindumps complete with justifications. References that were used for each study guide question are also provided with the question. The Study Guide also includes a recommended list of publications that you can use to do further study on specific domains. Order the CAP Study Guide.

Review Courses

A CAP review course is available in several formats as preparation for taking the certification exam. This course is offered by ISA and can also be offered at your location.

ISA also has a variety of training courses that would be helpful in preparing for CAP. Visit the Automation Professional Training page for a complete list.

Additional Resources

Exam Topics

1. Basic Continuous Control: Process Instrumentation, Analytical Instrumentation, Continuous Control, Control Valves, Analog Communications, Control System Documentation, Control Equipment
2. Basic Discrete, Sequencing, and Manufacturing Control: Discrete Input & Output Devices and General Manufacturing Measurements, Discrete and Sequencing Control, Motor and Drive Control, Motion Control
3. Advanced Control Topics: Process Modeling, Advanced Process Control, Control of Batch Processes, Environmental, Environmental Monitoring, Building Automation
4. Reliability, Safety, and Electrical: Alarm Management, Reliability, Process Safety and Safety Instrumented Systems, Electrical Installations, Safe Use and Application of Electrical Apparatus
5. Integration and Software: Digital Communications, Industrial Networks, Manufacturing Execution Systems and Business Integration, System and Network Security, Operator Interface, Data Management, Software, Custom Software
6. Deployment and Maintenance: Operator Training, Checkout, System Testing, and Startup, Troubleshooting, Maintenance, Long-Term Support and System Management
7. Work Structure: Automation Benefits and Project Justifications, Project Management and Execution, Interpersonal Skills

CAP demo Questions

Questions on the test were derived from the genuine practice of automation professionals as outlined in the CAP Role Delineation Study and job task analysis. Using interviews, surveys, observation, and group discussions, ISA worked with automation professionals to delineate critical job components to develop test specifications to determine the number of questions related to each domain and task tested. This rigorous program development and ongoing maintenance process ensures that CAP certification accurately reflects the skills and knowledge needed to excel as an automation professional.

The following six questions were taken from the CAP test question item bank and serve as examples of the question type and question content found on the CAP exam.

1. The method by which the tasks and hazards associated with a machine or process are analyzed is known as:
   • A. Risk assessment.
   • B. Machine assessment.
   • C. Risk reduction.
   • D. Risk abatement.
2. To test controller tuning or prototype new control strategies offline, the model should be a(an):
   • A. Tie-back (loopback) simulation.
   • B. Artificial neural network.
   • C. Dynamic process simulation.
   • D. Steady state process simulation.
3. The temperature measurement with the BEST repeatability and resolution is the:
   • A. Thermocouple.
   • B. Resistance temperature detector (RTD).
   • C. Dial thermometer.
   • D. Capillary system.
4. Which of the following is NOT a variable speed drive setup parameter?
   • A. Acceleration rate.
   • B. Motor winding type.
   • C. Output frequency.
   • D. Maximum speed.
5. A complete test plan for system integration testing MUST include:
   • A. Comments for the application programmer.
   • B. Multiple test cases for each mode of operation.
   • C. At least five test cases for each test.
   • D. Expected results for each test case.
6. Frequency of maintenance should be determined by:
   • A. Failure rates of components.
   • B. Availability of personnel and parts.
   • C. Management targets for efficiency and productivity.
   • D. Effectiveness of maintenance personnel.

Sample Questions Answer Key

Organizational pressure to reduce costs and optimize operations has led many enterprises to investigate cloud computing as a viable alternative to create dynamic, rapidly provisioned resources powering application and storage platforms. Despite potential savings in infrastructure costs and improved business flexibility, security is still the greatest barrier to implementing cloud initiatives for many companies. Information security professionals need to review a staggering array of security considerations when evaluating the risks of cloud computing.

With such a broad scope, how can an organization adequately assess all relevant risks to ensure that their cloud operations are secure? While traditional security challenges such as loss of data, physical damage to infrastructure, and compliance risk are well known, the manifestation of such threats in a cloud environment can be remarkably different. The blurring of boundaries between software-defined and hardware infrastructure in the datacenter demand a different perspective.

One of the first steps towards securing enterprise cloud is to review and update existing IT polices to clearly define guidelines to which all cloud-based operations must adhere. Such policies implement formal controls and processes with the specific aim of protecting data and systems in addition to fulfilling regulatory compliance obligations. Government bodies such as NIST, the US Department of Commerce, and the Australian Government Department of Finance and Deregulation (PDF) have produced cloud computing security documents that outline comprehensive policies for their departments, which can be a useful starting point for implementing a corporate policy.

Cloud security policies should be applied to both internal and third-party managed cloud environments. Whether building private or utilizing public cloud infrastructure within the enterprise, the responsibility for cloud security is shared between your organization and any cloud service providers you engage with. When conducting due diligence on cloud service providers, carefully review their published security policies and ensure that that it aligns with your own corporate policies.

A fundamental security concept employed in many cloud installations is known as the defense-in-depth strategy. This involves using layers of security technologies and business practices to protect data and infrastructure against threats in multiple ways. In the event of a security failure at one level, this approach provides a certain level of redundancy and containment to create a durable security net or grid. Security is more effective when layered at each level of the cloud stack.

When implementing a cloud defense-in-depth strategy, there are several security layers that may be considered. The first and most widely known protection mechanism is data encryption. With appropriate encryption mechanisms, data stored in the cloud can be protected even if access is gained by malicious or unauthorized personnel. A second layer of defense is context-based access control, a type of security policy that filters access to cloud data or resources based on a combination of identity, location, and time. Yet another popular security layer in cloud-based systems is application auditing. This process logs all user activity within an enterprise application and helps information security personnel detect unusual patterns of activity that might indicate a security breach. Finally, it is critical to ensure that all appropriate security policies are enforced where data is transferred between applications or across systems within a cloud environment.

When it comes to cloud security, no universal solutions are available to neutralize all threats against IT infrastructure. Corporate firewalls no longer demarcate a secure perimeter, which can often be extended well beyond the datacenter and into the cloud. It is similarly unwise to assume the security policies of third-party public and hybrid cloud service providers meet the standards and levels of compliance mandated by your internal policies. It is imperative that security requirements expected of third-parties are clearly defined and agreed upon.

Cloud security can be a daunting issue with wide-reaching implications for business. Threats and potential vulnerabilities are magnified and the scope of responsibility expanded dramatically: from protecting data and infrastructure from theft, intrusion or attack through to maintaining regulatory compliance. In following articles, I will outline major trends impacting cloud security, some of the challenges faced when securing a cloud environment, and provide you with suggestions and recommendations for strengthening data, access, and platform protection in your cloud environment.

The Series 7 test licenses the holder to sell all types of securities products except commodities and futures. Known formally as the General Securities Representative Qualification Examination, the Series 7 test and its licensing is administered by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).

Stockbrokers in the United States need to pass the Series 7 test to obtain a license to trade. The Series 7 exam focuses on investment risk, taxation, equity, and debt instruments; packaged securities, options, retirement plans, and interactions with clients for prospective securities industry professionals. This introductory-level test assesses a candidate’s knowledge of basic securities industry information including concepts fundamental to working in the industry.

The purpose of the Series 7 license is to set a level of competency for a registered representative or stockbroker to work in the securities industry. The Series 7 license is an essential requirement for an entry-level broker. The licensing test covers an extensive range of financial terms and syllabus as well as securities regulations.

Candidates who pass the Series 7 test can trade many securities, such as stocks, mutual funds, options, municipal securities, and variable contracts. The Series 7 license does not cover selling real estate or life insurance products. In addition to obtaining the Series 7 license, many states require that registered representatives pass the Series 63 exam, also called the Uniform Securities Agent State Law Exam.

“Some smart systems working on x-ray imaging for cancer have reached a point where artificial intelligence is more reliable than human judgment,” says Professor Kinji Ohno of Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine. In this way, medical informatics are rapidly transforming diagnostics, he notes. “Another area where we see some of the most marked transformations is surgical guidance.”

Here, Nagoya’s recent research is making a mark. In collaboration with imaging giant, Olympus, and Professor Kensaku Mori at Nagoya University, a variety of surgical navigation systems are being developed. One is the ‘virtual endoscope’, which constructs accurate 3D virtual renders from CT and MRI scans to help guide precision biopsies. “With endoscope cameras, you get a view of the stomach’s linings. The virtual endoscope gives you an additional view of what would be behind that duct wall, as though the wall became transparent. It gives guidance on where exactly to do a biopsy for tissue samples,” explains Ohno.

In 2019 the team also brought to market an endoscope-scan artificial intelligence (AI) software that helps determine, in real time, the likelihood of a tumour being cancerous. The aim is to Boost biopsy targeting, and the early diagnosis of colon cancer, by sorting through the many benign polyps that coexist with cancerous ones.

New course in personalized preventative medicine

Ohno has a unique mix of expertise; both a neurologist and computer programmer, his research interests include developing informatics tools in medicine. “A lot of researchers from across Japan reach out to me when they have a project at the crossroads of medicine and informatics. They find it difficult to envision how to work together, since they basically speak completely different languages.”

That must change, says Professor Kenji Kadomatsu, Dean of the Graduate School of Medicine. “Society is asking us to innovate in a way that demands sophisticated informatics; even common research methods in medicine, such as cohort studies, would become weak without them,” he observes.

Kadomatsu’s vision is “to cultivate solid literacy in informatics for medicine graduates so that they become good algorithm users. There are so many useful algorithms out there that researchers in medicine just aren’t familiar with,” he says. “We need more people like Ohno, with both wet and dry lab skills.”

In 2019, Nagoya University obtained a grant from the government as part of an initiative to establish world-class PhD programs that draw on each university’s area of strength. Nagoya University’s new programme, the Convolution of Informatics and Biomedical Sciences on Glocal Alliances (CIBoG), aims to train experts who take personalized treatment to the next level, to achieve personalized preventative medicine. A major research pillar at CIBoG is using big data to look at indicators before the onset of disease.

Personalized prevention

Kadomatsu points out that personalized prevention is key to sustainable healthcare in Japan, as its super-ageing society will see surging numbers of patients with cancer and other age-associated diseases. “Graduates will not only contribute to basic and clinical sciences, but also holistically to town planning and policy through the likes of personalized health records and smart hospitals,” he predicts. Nagoya partners with local institutions on research to tackle these issues, including the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Aichi Cancer Center and the Aichi Developmental Disability Center.

The two professors believe that strong research is the core foundation for quality education. In January 2020, the Graduate School of Medicine built a new research hub as part of CIBoG. Named the Center for 5D Cell Dynamics (C5CD), the centre brings researchers in medicine, molecular biology, and mathematical sciences under one roof.

“With recent advances in computational science like sequencing, omics techniques, imaging, text mining, and AI, it’s becoming possible to understand life as a system of cells, and to build a mathematical model of its dynamics,” says Kadomatsu. “At C5CD, we’re trying to gain a deeper understanding of molecular networks at the single-cell and single-molecule level, over space and time.” Eventually, they hope modelling early disease mechanisms will give researchers the means to predict and prevent progression.

In addition, the university is expanding its horizons through international partnerships in education. “We took the first initiative in Japan in 2015 to offer a joint-degree program,” says Kadomatsu. “Currently we offer joint degrees with universities in Australia, Sweden, and Germany. It’s quite challenging since students must pass the standards of both universities to obtain a PhD — but it’s a very rare opportunity.”

He adds that Graduate School of Medicine is a part of an international alliance named the Global Alliance of Medical Excellence (GAME), where nine medical schools based in Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Australia, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, United Kingdom and Canada collaborate on research and education. Nagoya is currently leading a GAME collaboration looking for early detection symptoms and biomarkers on a common form of dementia called Lewy body disease.

With the 150th anniversary of the Graduate School of Medicine fast approaching in 2021, Kadomatsu points out that, “adding in the personalization aspect to preventative medicine is our way of contributing to the future. Informatics, and its education, are a definite must to take us there.”