CEFS – Certified Expert in Functional Safety

The internationally recognised CEFS qualification - Certified Expert in Functional Safety - is certified by TÜV NORD and offers specialist knowledge on systems for the functional safety of machinery. In a two-day expert training course you will discover the normative and technical demands placed on such a system. All the key elements are examined, from design and verification through to implementation. The qualification offers you a wealth of knowledge of the relevant standards and a practical look at how complex safety systems are put together. CEFS includes a range of coursework, in which you can learn about specific issues within an application.

When you pass the test you'll receive an independent certificate issued by TÜV NORD, which verifies your qualification. The certificate is recognised worldwide and entitles you to use the title "CEFS – Certified Expert in Functional Safety".

Basic knowledge of functional safety

• Basics of safety control systems
• Application and implementation of Performance Level (PL) and Safety Integrity Level (SIL)
• Safety requirement specification
• Coursework 1 "Producing a safety requirement specification"

Designing a safety control system

• Safety circuit architectures
• Preventing and controlling systematic failures
• Coursework 2 "Division into subsystems"
• Coursework 3 "Determining the probability of a random hardware failure"
• Coursework 4 "Checking the systematic requirements, including safety-related software"

Validating a safety circuit

• Creating a validation plan and protocol
• Coursework 5 "Designing a validation protocol"
• Using software tools for validation
• Coursework 6 "Software-based review of the safety level"

Expert knowledge of functional safety

• Special cases
• Solution-oriented exercise "Practical application of functional safety"
• Requirements and implementation of a corporate functional safety management system

Your optimum route to qualification:

• Introduction to Machinery Safety
• Fundamentals of Machinery Safety
• Design of Safety Control Systems according to ISO 13849 & IEC 62061
• CEFS – Certified Expert in Functional Safety

CEFS is aimed in particular at machine manufacturers, design engineers and integrators with special responsibility with regard to safe control systems. CEFS is also aimed specifically at people who are responsible on a daily basis for machinery safety on new and existing machines, e.g.:

• Design engineers (electrical and fluid technology)
• Programmers of safe control systems
• Project engineers
• System integrators
• Test engineers responsible for validating machinery

To successfully participate in the two-day expert training course you will need to demonstrate sufficient knowledge in the field of functional safety. This includes the following:

• Prior knowledge and extensive current experience of functional safety or
• Attendance at a one-day Pilz training course or other appropriate training on functional safety during the last year, e.g. "Functional safety in accordance with EN ISO 13849 and EN IEC 62061" or
• You have already qualified as a CMSE – Certified Machinery Safety Expert and you qualified or regained certification either this year or last year.

Unsure whether your current qualifications meet the required level? Feel free to get in touch with us. We will be happy to advise you personally and indicate potential alternatives for achieving the level of qualifications needed for CEFS.

The content of the training course is designed especially for people who are involved directly or indirectly in the design of safety control systems.

You will need your own laptop to participate in this training. CEFS includes an exam. This exam is held on a fixed day after the seminar has ended and is always conducted online. So you can take part from the comfort of your office or home. You will need your own laptop or PC, equipped with a webcam and Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge. All further information about the exam will be provided after you register for the training. TÜV NORD will provide access data to the exam portal in good time before the exam.

When you have passed the exam you will receive the TÜV NORD certificate for "CEFS – Certified Expert in Functional Safety", which is recognised worldwide. The certificate is valid for four years and then can be extended for another four years by taking part in a recertification.

• Learn how to successfully validate systems for functional safety – always in compliance with the current standards situation.
• Understand in detail how engineering decisions impact the reliability and availability of the control system.
• Discover how to choose the most effective and cost-efficient control system that's perfectly tailored to meet your requirements.
• A virtual machine model is used during the training course as part of the coursework. So hands-on learning is guaranteed.

Equivalent to 14.5 hours of CPD

Continuing Professional Development - usually abbreviated to CPD - is the intentional maintenance and development of the knowledge and skills needed to perform in a professional context. CPD hours (or points) are a way of measuring time and quality of learning. Points can be collected in a personal portfolio allowing participants to track their professional development and progression. CPD-accredited training can assist participants in honing their current skills, developing them to a new level or it could mean learning entirely new ones.

Following the scheduled two days at Pilz HQ for the CEFS course there is a 40 minute examination that delegates will need to complete to obtain the TÜV NORD certification - this exam will be sat in-house.

Times of the exam, to be sat on the third day, will be confirmed nearer the scheduled start dates.

Each participant for this course must complete an individual application form:

Application Form

Terms and Conditions