Vibration Institute
Certified Vibration Analyst - Category III
Credential: Certified Vibration Analyst - Category III
Credentialing Agency: Vibration Institute
Renewal Period: 5 years
The Vibration Institute, Certified Vibration Analyst - Category III is an advanced intermediate-level credential for professionals who specialize in machine and equipment maintenance, troubleshooting, and engineering. Certified Vibration Analysts certified at the third level establish, direct, and perform programs for condition monitoring and diagnostics of machines including spectral, waveform, and orbit analysis. Category III Certified Vibration Analysts perform minor corrective actions involving operating deflection shapes, single-plane balancing, and diagnostic testing. Applicants for the Category III Certified Vibration Analyst must hold certification at category I and II, meet education, training and experience requirements and are also required to pass an exam.
More information can be found on the certifying agency's website.
Certified Vibration Analyst - Category III
Attainability: 
Eligibility Requirements (View Details)
- Credential Prerequisite: Certified Vibration Analyst - Category II
- Experience: 36 months
- Education: Associates
- Training: 38 hours
- Membership
- Other
- Fee
Note: This credential may have multiple options for a Service member to meet eligibility requirements. Requirements listed here are based on the minimum degree required.
To view other options, see the Eligibility tab.
Exam Requirements (View Details)
- Exam
- Written Exam
- Oral Exam
- Practical Exam
- Performance Assessment
Exam Administration (View Details)
- In-person exam
- Remote proctored on-line exam
- Third-party test vendor
Renewal Period: 5 years
- Continuing Education
- Exam
- Continuing Education OR Exam
- Fee
- Other
Vibration Institute
2625 Butterfield Road
Suite 128N
Oak Brook, Il 60523
Phone: (630) 654-2254
Fax: (630) 654-2271
Email: information@vi-institute.org
Applicants are required to hold the Certified Vibration Analyst - Category II.
Completion of two or more years of study in mechanical technology or mechanical engineering is recommended for Category III and Category IV. Applicants for Category III and Category IV are expected to be able to manipulate simple algebraic equations, use a basic scientific calculator, and be computer literate.
Applicants are required to provide evidence of a minimum of 36 months of experience in the field of machinery condition monitoring and diagnostics and electrical and mechanical technologies.
Applicants for the Certified Vibration Analyst - Category III must provide evidence of meeting the Vibration Institute training criteria as follows:
- Provided by a training body that conforms to the requirements of ISO 18436-3
- Based on the Body of Knowledge for each category (these are vibration principles, data acquisition, signal processing, condition monitoring, fault analysis, corrective action, equipment knowledge, and acceptance testing)
- Included formal lectures, demonstrations, trainer-specified practical exercises, and/or distance controlled self-study
- Met or exceeded 38 hours.
Details about required training can be found in the
Vibration Analyst Certification Handbook.
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Vibration Principles
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Spectrum analysis harmonics and sidebands
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Basic Motion
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Period, frequency
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Amplitude (Peak, peal-to-peak, RMS)
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Measurements (Displacement, velocity, acceleration)
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Units, unit conversions
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Orbital and Frequency Domains
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Vectors, modulation
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Phase
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Natural frequency, resonance, critical speeds
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Force, response, damping, stiffness
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Instabilities, Non-linear Systems
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Mode Shapes
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Data Acquisition
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Instrumentation (and acquire readings)
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Dynamic Range
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Transducers
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Sensor mounting, mounted natural frequency
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Fmax acquisition time
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Proximity sensor conventions
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Triggering
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Test planning
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Test procedures
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Recognition of poor data
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Vibration System Calibration
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Signal Processing
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RMS/Peak Detection
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Analogue/Digital Conversion
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Analogue and Digital; Sampling
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FFT Computation
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Windows (Uniform, Hanning, Flat-top)
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Filters (Low pass, High Pass, Band Pass, Tracking)
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Anti-aliasing
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Band-width, Resolution
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Noise Reduction
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Averaging (Linear, Synchronous Time, Exponential)
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Dynamic Range
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Signal to Noise Ratio
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Spectral Maps
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Run-out Compensation
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Condition Monitoring
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Computer Database Set-up and Maintenance
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Equipment Evaluation and Prioritization
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CM Program Design
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Alarm Set-up (Narrowband and Envelope)
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Baseline Assessments, Trending
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Route/Task Planning
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Alternate Technologies (e.g. Oil Analysis, Wear Debris Analysis, Infrared Thermography, Motor Current Analysis, Acoustic Emission)
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Alarm and Trip Level Determination
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Procedure Writing (and methods of working)
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CM Program Implementation and Management
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Integrated Health Analysis
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Prognostics
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Fault Analysis
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Time waveform analysis
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Phase analysis
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Transient analysis
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Orbital analysis
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Shaft center-line analysis
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Enveloping
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Mass unbalance
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Misalignment
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Mechanical looseness
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Rubs, instabilities
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Bearing defects (Rolling element, journal)
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Electric motor defects
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Flow induced vibration, aerodynamics and liquids
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Gearbox analysis
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Resonance and critical speeds
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Turbomachinery
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Corrective Action Recognition
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Shaft Alignment
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Concentricity
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Balancing
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Machine Part Replacement
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Flow Control
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Isolation and Damping
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Resonance Control
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Basic Maintenance Action
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Lubrication
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Equipment Knowledge
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Electric motors, generators and drives
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Pumps, fans
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Steam turbines, gas turbines
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Compressors
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Reciprocating machinery
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Rolling mills, paper machines, other process equipment
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Machine tools
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Structures, piping
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Gearboxes
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Rolling element bearings
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Journal bearings
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Gearing
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Couplings, belts
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Acceptance Testing
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Specifications and standards
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Acceptance Test Reporting
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Equipment Testing and Diagnostics
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Impact testing
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Forced response testing
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Transient analysis
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Damping Evaluation
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Operating Deflection Shapes
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Modal Analysis
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Torsional Vibration
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Axial Vibration and Thrust
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Process Safety
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Reference Standards
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Relevant International (ISO, IEC), National and Regional Standards
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Reporting and Documentation
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Machine History Records
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Vibration Diagnostic Reports
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Vibration Prognostic Reports
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Failure Investigation Report
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Decision Making and Recommend Action
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Fault Severity Determination
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Levels (Overall, Narrowband, Component)
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Spectrum Analysis
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Time Waveform and Orbit Analysis
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Severity Charts, Graphs, Formula
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Theoretical Rotor and Bearing Dynamics
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Rotor Characteristics
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Bearing Characteristics
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Rotor Dynamic Computation (using approved procedures)
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Rotor Dynamic Fault Modeling
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Field Balancing
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Single-plane
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Two-plane
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Multi-plane
There are a number of resources available to help you prepare for the Certified Vibration Analyst - Category III examination:
An additional resource is O'Reilly Learning Safari Books Online, a searchable digital library that provides online access to thousands of books, training videos and conference sessions. See the Educational Resources section on the
Related Sites page here on COOL to learn how to get free access.
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Exam Administration
Credential exams may be administered in-person at a testing site, proctored on-line remotely, or have options for both. If an exam is administered through a test vendor, the third-party test vendor box will be checked. The following test administration options apply to the Certified Vibration Analyst - Category III credential where checked:
- In-person exam
- Remote proctored on-line exam
- Third-party test vendor
Certified Vibration Analyst - Category III
Renewal Period: 5 years
The Certified Vibration Analyst - Category III credential has the following recertification information:
-
Certification as a Vibration Analyst - Category II is valid for five (5) years from the date of current certification level. After five years, certified Vibration Analysts are required to recertify. Recertification requires earning 29 CEUs or taking the associated Vibration Analyst exam.
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Note: Marine Corps COOL will only pay recertification fees for the current year, no arrears will be paid.
Voucher requests for recertification fees must be submitted with proof of the current status of the certification (for example, a screen shot of your
credentialing agency dashboard or a copy of a current fee receipt).
MOS is Military Occupational Specialty
ASI is Additional Skill Identifier
WOMOS is Warrant Officer Military Occupational Specialty
AOC is Area Of Concentration Officer
Functional Area
Branch
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This is an official U.S. Marine Corps website
Updated: January 29, 2021
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SOME
This credential is related to some tasks associated with the duties of the military occupation (related 80% to at least one or more critical tasks but less than 80% of all of the entire military occupation). Note that the credential may require additional education, training or experience before you are eligible for it.
OTHER
This credential is related to this military occupation, but is more advanced or specialized and therefore will most likely require additional education, training, or experience.
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SOME
This credential is related to some tasks associated with the duties of the federal occupation (related 80% to at least one or more critical tasks but less than 80% of all of the entire military occupation). Note that the credential may require additional education, training or experience before you are eligible for it.
OTHER
This credential is related to this federal occupation, but is more advanced or specialized and therefore will most likely require additional education, training, or experience.
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