Managers are increasingly being pressurized to ensure that their staff is correctly trained. Whilst the decrease in general staff levels continue the requirements for staff competence increase and paperwork to prove that competence needs to be acquired.

In the thirty years that Protrain have been training scanning electron microscopists we have endeavored to raise the level of operator competence through our range of courses. Although our H Series of courses offer a basic training structure, a complete course, taking the electron microscopist from the A to Z of the subject, has until now not been made available. We are pleased to offer Certificated Training a quadrant “on site” teaching scheme that is designed to take the scanning electron microscope operator from a basic introduction to the instrument through to the highest levels of the subject. At last a course where we are able to pass on all of the techniques which we know improve the standard of electron microscopy and have each student provide pictorial proof of their competence.

The training schedule is broken down into quadrants, each an individual stand-alone unit. A student moving through the quadrants, basic, intermediate, advanced and x-ray will learn all there is to know about operating the microscope. Both the interactive CD training and practical periods are designed to impart the maximum amount of practical information. They combine to produce a student workbook, a Portfolio, which is the ultimate in a demonstration of practical scanning electron microscopy. Every action performed on the microscope is a part of this book. Each procedure is structured to result in a pictorial display defining the optimum point of that action. Whilst the course is applicable to any of the modern SEM, potential students operating elderly or very basic instruments must be aware that the depth that the course may reach will be more limited. It is essential that the instrument(s) used be fitted with a computing system, or some other means of obtaining instant pictures.

Each student between quadrants will require a certain amount of instrument time. In the case of students being involved with individual quadrants, after each quadrant is completed, and the Portfolio is up to date, an intermediate certificate of competence is awarded. After three completed quadrants we feel that every avenue within the field of scanning electron microscopy will have been explored and a graded “full competence” certificate is awarded. Quadrant four takes the student into x-ray analysis and backscattered electron imaging. 

In the FEGSEM version of the training specific practicals are provided to help the operator to fully understand the more complex imaging system that these superb instruments have available.

The course includes an interactive training CD (see here for M9 content), an updated version of our out of print text "Working With an SEM", a Protrain Portfolio (results album) a set of practical instructions and a number of specimens for use within the course.

Each stage of the course is monitored by us in that the students forward a doc or pdf file for examination and approval.  When the Portfolio is determined to be up to our standard it is returned to the student with our certification of competence.

Course cost £320 (UK plus VAT)

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