Page 1 of 147
Certificate of Qualification Instrumentation and Control
Technician (447A) Exam Questions with Correct
Answers and explanations LATEST THIS YEAR -JUST
RELEASED
Summarized Exam Coverage – 447A C of Q
Trade mathematics (ratios, proportions, algebraic equations, geometry), fundamentals of physics
(pressure, force, work, power, energy), basic electricity (DC/AC theory, series/parallel circuits, Ohm’s
law, Kirchhoff’s laws), electronics (solid state devices, amplifiers, power supplies), digital logic (Boolean
algebra, logic gates, number systems, binary/BCD), instrumentation principles (accuracy, precision,
range, span, hysteresis, linearity, repeatability, drift, calibration), process variables (pressure, level, flow,
temperature, analytical), measurement devices (manometers, transducers, transmitters,
thermocouples, RTDs, thermistors, pyrometers), flow measurement (orifice plates, venturi, pitot tubes,
magnetic, ultrasonic, vortex, Coriolis, rotameters, annubars), level measurement (sight glasses,
displacers, differential pressure, ultrasonic, radar, capacitance, conductance, nuclear), pressure
measurement (Bourdon tubes, bellows, diaphragms, strain gauges, capacitive, piezoelectric), analytical
instrumentation (pH, ORP, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, gas analyzers), control valves (types,
actuators, positioners, I/P converters, characteristics), control systems (on/off, proportional, integral,
derivative, PID tuning, feedforward, cascade), process control loops (P&IDs, loop sheets,
troubleshooting), final control elements (valves, dampers, variable frequency drives), safety systems
(emergency shutdowns, fire and gas detection, SIL), hazardous area classifications (Class I, II, III; Division
1/2; Zone 0/1/2; intrinsic safety, explosion-proof enclosures), communication protocols (4-20 mA, HART,
Foundation Fieldbus, Profibus, Modbus, Ethernet/IP, OPC), PLCs (ladder logic, analog I/O, discrete I/O,
programming, troubleshooting), DCS and SCADA systems, calibration and testing procedures (bench
calibration, loop checking, test equipment (multimeters, calibrators, signal generators, oscilloscopes,
deadweight testers)), pneumatic systems, tubing and fittings, root cause analysis, troubleshooting
strategies, safety (lockout/tagout, confined space, hazardous materials, fall protection, WHMIS, TSSA
regulations), codes and standards (CSA, ANSI/ISA, API, ASME, IEEE, IEC), and Canadian Electrical Code
(CEC) requirements.
1. An Instrumentation and Control Technician is calibrating a pressure transmitter with a range of 0-100
psi and an output of 4-20 mA. At 0 psi, the output is 4.1 mA. This error is called:
A) Hysteresis
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B) Zero error
C) Span error
D) Linearity error
Answer: B – Zero error occurs when the output is not at the lower range value (LRV) at the minimum
input.
2. A 4-20 mA loop powered transmitter has a supply voltage of 24 VDC. The total loop resistance is 600
ohms. What is the maximum loop current possible?
A) 4 mA
B) 20 mA
C) 40 mA
D) 50 mA
Answer: C – *Maximum loop current = supply voltage / total resistance = 24 V / 600 Ω = 40 mA;
however, a typical 4-20 mA transmitter will not exceed 20 mA. The question may be testing Ohm’s law;
the correct calculation yields 40 mA, but the transmitter is limited to 20 mA. The answer expects 40 mA
based on calculation alone.*
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3. A technician is troubleshooting a control loop. The transmitter output is 12 mA. The input pressure is
50 psi on a 0-100 psi transmitter. The output is:
A) Correct
B) High (should be 50% = 12 mA)
C) Low
D) Cannot determine
Answer: A – *50% of range = 0.5 × (20-4) + 4 = 0.5 × 16 + 4 = 8 + 4 = 12 mA.*
4. A thermocouple produces a millivolt signal proportional to:
A) Absolute temperature
B) Temperature difference between hot and cold junctions
C) Resistance change
D) Light intensity
Answer: B – A thermocouple generates a voltage based on the Seebeck effect, which depends on the
temperature difference between the measuring (hot) and reference (cold) junctions.
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5. A 4-20 mA loop is used to transmit a process variable. If the transmitter output is 8 mA, what
percentage of span does this represent?
A) 25%
B) 33.3%
C) 50%
D) 66.7%
Answer: A – *Percent = (output − 4) / (20 − 4) × 100% = (8 − 4) / 16 × 100% = 4/16 × 100% = 25%.*
6. A technician is installing a pressure transmitter with a range of 0-1000 psi. The transmitter must be
calibrated to 0-500 psi. This is called:
A) Re-ranging
B) Zero suppression
C) Zero elevation
D) Turndown
Answer: A – Re-ranging changes the calibrated span of a transmitter.
Certificate of Qualification Instrumentation and Control
Technician (447A) Exam Questions with Correct
Answers and explanations LATEST THIS YEAR -JUST
RELEASED
Summarized Exam Coverage – 447A C of Q
Trade mathematics (ratios, proportions, algebraic equations, geometry), fundamentals of physics
(pressure, force, work, power, energy), basic electricity (DC/AC theory, series/parallel circuits, Ohm’s
law, Kirchhoff’s laws), electronics (solid state devices, amplifiers, power supplies), digital logic (Boolean
algebra, logic gates, number systems, binary/BCD), instrumentation principles (accuracy, precision,
range, span, hysteresis, linearity, repeatability, drift, calibration), process variables (pressure, level, flow,
temperature, analytical), measurement devices (manometers, transducers, transmitters,
thermocouples, RTDs, thermistors, pyrometers), flow measurement (orifice plates, venturi, pitot tubes,
magnetic, ultrasonic, vortex, Coriolis, rotameters, annubars), level measurement (sight glasses,
displacers, differential pressure, ultrasonic, radar, capacitance, conductance, nuclear), pressure
measurement (Bourdon tubes, bellows, diaphragms, strain gauges, capacitive, piezoelectric), analytical
instrumentation (pH, ORP, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, gas analyzers), control valves (types,
actuators, positioners, I/P converters, characteristics), control systems (on/off, proportional, integral,
derivative, PID tuning, feedforward, cascade), process control loops (P&IDs, loop sheets,
troubleshooting), final control elements (valves, dampers, variable frequency drives), safety systems
(emergency shutdowns, fire and gas detection, SIL), hazardous area classifications (Class I, II, III; Division
1/2; Zone 0/1/2; intrinsic safety, explosion-proof enclosures), communication protocols (4-20 mA, HART,
Foundation Fieldbus, Profibus, Modbus, Ethernet/IP, OPC), PLCs (ladder logic, analog I/O, discrete I/O,
programming, troubleshooting), DCS and SCADA systems, calibration and testing procedures (bench
calibration, loop checking, test equipment (multimeters, calibrators, signal generators, oscilloscopes,
deadweight testers)), pneumatic systems, tubing and fittings, root cause analysis, troubleshooting
strategies, safety (lockout/tagout, confined space, hazardous materials, fall protection, WHMIS, TSSA
regulations), codes and standards (CSA, ANSI/ISA, API, ASME, IEEE, IEC), and Canadian Electrical Code
(CEC) requirements.
1. An Instrumentation and Control Technician is calibrating a pressure transmitter with a range of 0-100
psi and an output of 4-20 mA. At 0 psi, the output is 4.1 mA. This error is called:
A) Hysteresis
, Page 2 of 147
B) Zero error
C) Span error
D) Linearity error
Answer: B – Zero error occurs when the output is not at the lower range value (LRV) at the minimum
input.
2. A 4-20 mA loop powered transmitter has a supply voltage of 24 VDC. The total loop resistance is 600
ohms. What is the maximum loop current possible?
A) 4 mA
B) 20 mA
C) 40 mA
D) 50 mA
Answer: C – *Maximum loop current = supply voltage / total resistance = 24 V / 600 Ω = 40 mA;
however, a typical 4-20 mA transmitter will not exceed 20 mA. The question may be testing Ohm’s law;
the correct calculation yields 40 mA, but the transmitter is limited to 20 mA. The answer expects 40 mA
based on calculation alone.*
, Page 3 of 147
3. A technician is troubleshooting a control loop. The transmitter output is 12 mA. The input pressure is
50 psi on a 0-100 psi transmitter. The output is:
A) Correct
B) High (should be 50% = 12 mA)
C) Low
D) Cannot determine
Answer: A – *50% of range = 0.5 × (20-4) + 4 = 0.5 × 16 + 4 = 8 + 4 = 12 mA.*
4. A thermocouple produces a millivolt signal proportional to:
A) Absolute temperature
B) Temperature difference between hot and cold junctions
C) Resistance change
D) Light intensity
Answer: B – A thermocouple generates a voltage based on the Seebeck effect, which depends on the
temperature difference between the measuring (hot) and reference (cold) junctions.
, Page 4 of 147
5. A 4-20 mA loop is used to transmit a process variable. If the transmitter output is 8 mA, what
percentage of span does this represent?
A) 25%
B) 33.3%
C) 50%
D) 66.7%
Answer: A – *Percent = (output − 4) / (20 − 4) × 100% = (8 − 4) / 16 × 100% = 4/16 × 100% = 25%.*
6. A technician is installing a pressure transmitter with a range of 0-1000 psi. The transmitter must be
calibrated to 0-500 psi. This is called:
A) Re-ranging
B) Zero suppression
C) Zero elevation
D) Turndown
Answer: A – Re-ranging changes the calibrated span of a transmitter.
