Durham, N.C. – September 24, 2026 -- The International Society of Automation (ISA) has released the Fourth Edition of A Guide to the Automation Body of Knowledge, the sole officially authorized text mapping ISA's core competencies for automation professionals.
Nearly 30 experts update the industry's reference text for certification exams
The revised guide was edited and written by close to 30 leading automation specialists and covers process instrumentation, control valves, discrete and batch control, digital twins, cybersecurity, safety systems, and asset management. It is designed to prepare candidates for ISA's Certified Automation Professional (CAP), Certified Control Systems Technician (CCST), and the Professional Engineer Control Systems Engineer (PE CSE) exams.
New content addresses networking, digital twins, and vision systems
Beyond legacy topics like PLCs, DCSs, and SCADA, the Fourth Edition adds coverage of process modeling, digital and analog communications, motion control, vision systems, and system troubleshooting and project management, reflecting shifts in industrial automation practice.
"What makes this guide so valuable is its focus on the fundamentals — the core concepts and skills that every automation professional needs to master, regardless of how quickly technology trends shift,