Many companies ask if it is possible to become a certified Maintenance & Reliability Specialist (CMRS) in the U.S. Answer: No. Currently, there is no formalized certification for mechanical maintenance specialists in most state (yet). BEMAS is in the process of developing a formally recognized certification for this field.

How would you like to earn some money and be your own boss? Or work at home part-time and have the freedom and luxury of taking holidays when you please? You can have both with the right training and certifications for a certified maintenance & reliability professional. The CMRS certification is offered by many companies. The International Society of Certified Maintenance Technologists (ISCT) offers the CMRS certification.

You can become a certified maintenance practices specialist (CMPS) by passing the CMRS exam. This exam is administered by the Institute for the Study of Mechanics (ITM), Inc. You will need to pay a fee of $ 140 to take this test. After you pass the test, you will be issued a CMRS card which will allow you to work in the state of your choice as a maintenance practices specialist (unless the state authorizes another exam called the CMRS/MCSR exam).

In order to be prepared for the test, you will need to complete a study guide and register for an online CMRS training course. You can purchase books from your local bookstore or library or purchase books online through an e-reader software program such as the Amazon Kindle or Nook. A study guide to study for the CMRS certification exam will cost you about two hundred dollars and will give you a tour of how the Certified Maintenance and Reliability Specialist exam work and what types of questions will be asked. The exam also includes an exam for developers who will work on Information Technology projects.

If you do not pass the CMRS certification test, you will still be able to earn the CTM designation if you are willing to take the Certified Maintenance Technician (CMT) exam. To qualify for this exam, you will need to have at least eight years of experience working as a mechanic in a manufacturing setting who can apply general mechanical knowledge and experience with a variety of repair functions. CMT certification will take about three years of study and about twenty hours of actual testing. The exam is administered by Oracle Corp. You will have to pay about one thousand dollars for the certification and the remaining cost of learning will be funded by the company. There will also be periodic exams that you will need to pass in order to maintain your certification.

When you are certified, you will be able to take the exam for your designated certification level and will be able to apply it to get a CTM designation. This exam includes topics such as data recovery, diagnosing and repairing system-wide problems, maintenance scheduling, and testing and validating equipment parts and systems performance. You will also be tested on skills such as communicating with other technicians and understanding the diagnostic and reporting formats. The certification will let you know that you have completed an approved and reliable training program as well as the knowledge and ability to successfully complete assignments under field conditions.

Maintenance and reliability experts will also work to establish best practices across the industry. Best practices involve employing procedures and processes that increase operational productivity, reduce downtime, conserve energy, and prevent costly repairs and replacements. These practices allow organizations to reduce costs while maintaining productivity. Best practices can help management professionals set up a system to improve their efficiency. This system should include best practices that apply to maintenance personnel, management professionals, and customers. Management practitioners should create and implement guidelines for employees, management, and customers to follow in order to make the organization more efficient.

Certification exams for this certification level provide additional benefits. First, you will gain a significant amount of knowledge and skill for your role as a maintenance or reliability professional. Second, the exam fees for this certification level do not fluctuate as much as the annual renewal fees of other certifications. Finally, because you will be required to perform a specific number of hours of hands-on practice and laboratory work before having to take the exam, the certification is a great opportunity to get started in a new career while getting paid to do so. To learn more about how CTM certifications can benefit you, contact the American Society for Testing and Materials, Inc.