IEC 61508 Certification Course
RisknowlogyIEC 61508 Certification Training — Functional Safety for E/E/PE Systems
Master the mother standard of functional safety — and turn it into practical, auditable work on real projects and products.
Four intensive days covering the full IEC 61508 lifecycle — from fundamentals and hazard analysis through hardware architecture, reliability calculations, software, and certification. Day 5: sit your exam and earn your certificates. Available Live Online and In-Person.
Live Online or In-Person · 4 days training + Day 5 exam · ~30 hours
Upcoming Sessions
All sessions include the full 4-day training and Day 5 exam. Contact us to register or to enquire about a corporate session at your site.
| Dates | Format | Location | Instructor | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8–12 June 2026 | In-Person | To be announced | Dr. Michel Houtermans | Open |
| To be announced | Live Online | MS Teams — open to all | Dr. Michel Houtermans | Contact us |
Need a session at your company's site? Contact us on WhatsApp to discuss a corporate class.
What You Will Be Able to Do
- Explain the structure and intent of IEC 61508 — including SIL, Safety Functions, E/E/PE systems, and random versus systematic failures.
- Apply the IEC 61508 safety lifecycle from concept through decommissioning, and understand how it connects to IEC 61511, IEC 62061, and other sector standards.
- Use Functional Safety Management concepts — lifecycle planning, competence, verification, validation, assessment, audits, and documentation.
- Set and interpret SIL requirements for systems, subsystems, and devices — including architectural constraints and SIL capability claims.
- Use failure rate and PFDavg / PFH data to support SIL verification and demonstrate that targets are met.
- Evaluate suppliers and development processes against IEC 61508 systematic capability and FSM expectations.
- Document compliance in a way assessors accept — from safety plans and safety manuals to verification and validation reports.
- Prepare confidently for FS Specialist and TÜV exams with aligned content, examples, and exam-style questions throughout the training.
- Build a long-term certification pathway toward Professional, Expert, and Master Functional Safety certification.
Certificates You Can Earn
Pass the Day 5 exam to earn your certificates. Higher scores unlock higher recognition.
Risknowlogy Knowledge Certificates
Internationally recognised knowledge certificates, linked to your personal Safety Passport®.
TÜV SÜD Functional Safety Certificates
For roles where a TÜV stamp is a formal requirement or a career differentiator. No additional exam — earned on your existing score.
Professional, Expert, and Master Functional Safety Field Certificates
Ready to certify real-world competence? Add field certification based on documented experience in IEC 61508 projects.
- Professional Functional Safety (IEC 61508) — certify that you apply IEC 61508 in real projects.
- Expert Functional Safety (IEC 61508) — demonstrate deep expertise across multiple complex projects and products.
- Master Functional Safety (IEC 61508) — the highest Risknowlogy recognition, based on 3,000+ hours, case studies, and interview.
Your Instructor
Dr. Michel Houtermans
Founder, Lead Instructor & Functional Safety Master — Risknowlogy
- 25+ years of experience in functional safety across process, energy, and manufacturing industries.
- Deep expertise in IEC 61508 lifecycle implementation, hardware architecture, reliability, and Functional Safety Management.
- Has trained and certified thousands of professionals worldwide — from OEMs and EPCs to certification bodies and automation engineers.
- Known for turning dense standards into clear, usable methods engineers and managers can apply on real projects from day one.
Michel brings real IEC 61508 project examples, assessment cases, and audit findings into every session — so you see how the standard is applied in practice, not just on paper.
What Students Say
"Very educational. The trainer was very competent and knows what he is talking about. Every colleague should follow this course, if only to understand functional safety management better."
"The focus of the material was excellent — knowing what the numbers mean and why they exist is far more valuable than memorising them. An outstanding course."
"Really positive learning experience. The lecturer has great skill in teaching the most essential issues with practical examples. In one week you can effectively learn the most important aspects of IEC 61508."
"Excellent notes, excellent course, very enjoyable. The mock exam is very useful."
Who This Course Is For
Professionals who need to understand and apply IEC 61508 in real projects and products:
- OEM and device manufacturers — sensors, logic solvers, and final elements that must demonstrate IEC 61508 compliance.
- System integrators and solution providers building safety-related systems for process, energy, or manufacturing industries.
- Automation and control engineers working with E/E/PE safety-related systems.
- Functional Safety managers and engineers responsible for compliance, certification, and FSM implementation.
- Certification bodies, assessors, and consultants who must interpret and apply IEC 61508 requirements.
- Project managers and quality specialists involved in functional safety projects who need to understand the standard's scope and obligations.
If IEC 61508 appears in your contracts, audits, or product requirements, this course is designed for you.
How the Course Works
Four intensive training days, followed by the exam on Day 5. Available as Live Online or In-Person — same content, same structure, same certification outcomes.
- Day 1: IEC 61508 fundamentals, safety lifecycle, risk and SIL concepts, system scope, and Functional Safety Management.
- Day 2: Hazard and risk analysis — HAZID, FTA, FMEA, ETA, and risk reduction techniques.
- Day 3: Hardware concepts — energise/de-energise to trip, operating modes, PFDavg, PFH, redundancy, diversity, voting, HFT, failure rates, diagnostics, proof testing, and architectural constraints.
- Day 4: Reliability calculations, application software requirements, certification and prior use, proven-in-use data, operating the safety function, modifications, and bypass management.
- Day 5: Exam session — Risknowlogy FS Specialist exam and, where applicable, TÜV certification.
You receive digital materials, exercises, and post-course access to key resources — so you can revisit topics when preparing for projects, audits, or certification upgrades.
- Live Online: Delivered via MS Teams — instructor-led sessions with interactive discussions, exercises, and case work throughout all five days.
- In-Person: On-site training for maximum interaction, group exercises, case discussions, and workshops.
- Corporate sessions available — contact us to run this course at your site for your team.
Choose Your Certification Path
| Option | What is included |
|---|---|
| Training Only | Four days of IEC 61508 instructor-led training. No exam. Ideal if your organisation manages certification internally or you are not yet ready to take the exam. |
| Training + FS Specialist Certificate | Training + Day 5 exam. Earn FS Specialist (≥60%) or FS Specialist with Distinction (≥85%). One free retake included. Achievement recorded in your Safety Passport®. |
| Training + TÜV Certificate | Training + exam + TÜV Functional Safety Engineer (≥60%) or TÜV Functional Safety Professional (≥75%). TÜV certificates ordered separately after passing — no additional exam required. |
| Add Professional / Expert / Master Functional Safety | The complete package — training, both Risknowlogy and TÜV SÜD knowledge certificates, plus field certification as Professional, Expert, or Master Functional Safety (IEC 61508) based on documented experience (40+, 1,500+, or 3,000+ hours), case studies, and assessment. Contact us on WhatsApp for combo pricing. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the certificate expire?
No. Risknowlogy training certificates are knowledge certificates — they do not expire.
When is the exam taken?
On Day 5, immediately after the four training days. If you cannot attend the Day 5 exam session, contact Risknowlogy to discuss rescheduling options.
What if I fail the exam?
One retake is free of charge. Contact Risknowlogy and a new exam session will be arranged.
Is the TÜV certificate included automatically?
No — it depends on the package you enrolled with. If your package includes TÜV, the certificate is ordered separately after you pass the exam. No additional exam is required.
Will I be listed on the TÜV SÜD website?
Yes — if the TÜV certificate is included or ordered separately, TÜV will list you on their website once you return the required forms and have passed the exam.
Will I get a Safety Passport®?
Yes. Every participant who passes a Risknowlogy exam receives a personal, online Safety Passport® documenting their achievement and level.
Can I get a refund?
Live Online: full refund up to 1 business day before course start. In-Person: full refund up to 7 days before course start. You can also transfer your seat to a later edition or a colleague — contact us to arrange this.
Is there a self-study version of this course?
Not currently. This course is delivered as instructor-led Live Online or In-Person. If you are interested in a self-study or corporate option, contact us to discuss.
How does IEC 61508 relate to IEC 61511?
IEC 61508 is the base standard for functional safety of E/E/PE systems — it covers all sectors and defines requirements for both development and application. IEC 61511 is the process industry application standard that draws on IEC 61508. Understanding IEC 61508 gives you the foundation to apply any sector standard confidently.
Is there a higher level of certification?
Yes. Beyond FS Specialist and TÜV certificates, you can progress to Professional, Expert, and Master Functional Safety (IEC 61508) through documented experience, case studies, and assessment.
Ready to Get Certified?
Questions about dates, formats, or corporate sessions? Talk to us directly — we respond fast.