Certified Production Technician (CPT and CPT+) by MSSC
Employers in advanced manufacturing are not just looking for workers who can perform tasks. They are looking for workers who can demonstrate that they have mastered the core competencies of front-line production work in a way that is documented, portable, and recognized across the industry. For manufacturing programs preparing students for careers on the production floor, few credentials carry more weight or broader recognition than the Certified Production Technician certification from the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council.
The CPT and CPT+ programs are the national standard for entry-level to mid-level advanced manufacturing certification, recognized by the U.S. Departments of Labor, Education, Justice, and Veterans Affairs and aligned with the NAM-endorsed Skills Certification System. They are stackable, portable, and directly aligned with the skills that manufacturing employers across every sector need in their front-line workforce. For programs using Amatrol training systems, the CPT+ builds directly on that equipment investment by adding Amatrol's Skill Boss as the hands-on performance assessment component.
Klein Educational supports CPT and CPT+ certification programs at CTE programs, community colleges, workforce development centers, and manufacturing training facilities across California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and Alaska. As the only authorized Amatrol distributor in these seven states, we are uniquely positioned to help programs build a complete CPT+ pathway using Amatrol training systems and the Skill Boss Manufacturing assessment device.
About MSSC
The Manufacturing Skill Standards Council is a 501(c)3 non-profit and the nation's leading industry-led training, assessment, and certification system for front-line production and material handling workers. MSSC is the only ISO Standard 17024 certified program covering entry-level to basic front-line supervisor skills in manufacturing. The CPT program is delivered through more than 1,500 MSSC Centers with a network of over 2,300 Authorized Instructors at colleges, secondary schools, and workforce development locations nationwide.
What is the CPT certification?
The Certified Production Technician certification consists of five individual stackable credential modules that together cover the core competencies of advanced manufacturing production at front-line positions. Students can earn each module certificate independently and stack them toward the full CPT certification, making the program flexible for students at different stages of their education and career.
The Safety and Employability module covers production teams, training and leadership, personal protective equipment, fire and electrical safety, work area safety, hazardous material safety, tool and machine safety, and material handling safety, building the foundational safety knowledge that every manufacturing worker needs before entering a production environment.
The Quality Practices and Measurement module covers multi-view drawings, assembly drawings and fasteners, geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, basic and precision measurement, dimensional gauging, quality systems, introduction to statistical process control, control charts, and continuous improvement, giving students the quality literacy that employers need in every production role.
The Manufacturing Process and Production module covers mechanical principles and linkages, gear drives, machining processes, machine tooling and operations, equipment procedures, production planning, and workflow and production control, providing the operational knowledge of manufacturing processes that front-line production workers need.
The Maintenance Awareness module covers welding, basic electrical circuits and measurements, pneumatic power systems and circuits, lubrication concepts, bearings and couplings, belt and chain drives, machine control concepts, automation and operation modes, and electrical motor control, building the maintenance awareness that allows production workers to recognize and communicate equipment issues effectively.
The Green Production module covers certification in the use of equipment, technologies, and processes that improve the environmental performance of manufacturing companies, addressing the sustainability competencies that manufacturers increasingly require of their workforce.
What is CPT+ and the Skill Boss?
The CPT+ certification is a stackable credential that builds on the full CPT by adding a hands-on performance assessment component, providing employers with documented proof that an individual has not just the knowledge but the practical skills needed to be a qualified production technician. CPT+ certification requires successful hands-on demonstration of skills in electronic, electrical, fluid power, and mechanical systems.
The hands-on assessment is conducted on the Amatrol Skill Boss Manufacturing device, a computer-controlled mechatronics system specifically designed for production technician skills assessment. Students install, adjust, and troubleshoot components on the fully functional Skill Boss, demonstrating competency in the actual hands-on tasks that advanced manufacturing work requires. The Skill Boss is applicable to both discrete parts and process manufacturing environments, making it relevant across the full range of manufacturing sectors CPT-certified workers enter.
For programs already using Amatrol training systems to deliver CPT curriculum, the Skill Boss is the natural assessment complement, pairing the knowledge development that Amatrol's learning systems provide with the hands-on performance documentation that CPT+ requires. Klein Educational supplies Amatrol Skill Boss Manufacturing devices and supports the full CPT+ implementation pathway.
Why CPT and CPT+ matter to employers and students
The CPT certification is nationally portable, meaning a credential earned at a high school in California carries the same documented value as one earned at a community college in Washington. It articulates between high schools and colleges, integrates into apprenticeships and internships, and stacks with other industry certifications including NIMS, AWS, and SME credentials, giving students a growing credential portfolio that documents their expanding competency over time.
For employers, CPT-certified workers have documented proof of foundational competency in safety, quality, manufacturing processes, and maintenance awareness, reducing the time and cost of onboarding and improving early-stage performance and retention. The CPT+ adds the hands-on skills documentation that employers in automated and computer-driven manufacturing environments specifically need when hiring for roles that require more than procedural knowledge.
How Klein Educational supports your program
Klein Educational works with program directors, department heads, and workforce administrators from the first conversation through Skill Boss delivery and ongoing support. We help programs understand the CPT and CPT+ certification pathway, connect with MSSC authorization, and integrate the Amatrol Skill Boss Manufacturing device into their assessment workflow.
As the only authorized Amatrol distributor in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and Alaska, we have direct access to the Skill Boss and the full Amatrol training system line that supports CPT curriculum delivery.
Frequently asked questions
What is the MSSC CPT certification? The Certified Production Technician certification is a nationally portable, industry-led credential that prepares and certifies individuals for front-line advanced manufacturing roles. It consists of five stackable certificate modules covering Safety and Employability, Quality Practices and Measurement, Manufacturing Process and Production, Maintenance Awareness, and Green Production.
What is CPT+ and how does it differ from CPT? CPT+ is a stackable credential that adds a hands-on performance assessment component to the full CPT certification, requiring students to demonstrate practical skills in electronic, electrical, fluid power, and mechanical systems on the Amatrol Skill Boss Manufacturing device. CPT+ provides employers with documented proof of both knowledge and hands-on competency.
What is the Amatrol Skill Boss? The Skill Boss Manufacturing is a computer-controlled mechatronics system developed by Amatrol specifically for CPT+ performance assessment. Students install, adjust, and troubleshoot components on the fully functional system, demonstrating the hands-on production technician skills that CPT+ certification requires.
Is the CPT program accredited? Yes. MSSC is the only ISO Standard 17024 certified program covering entry-level to basic front-line supervisor skills in manufacturing, and the CPT program is nationally recognized and federally endorsed by the U.S. Departments of Labor, Education, Justice, and Veterans Affairs.
Can CPT credentials be stacked with other certifications? Yes. CPT is stackable under the NAM-endorsed Skills Certification System and can be coordinated with NIMS, AWS, SME, and other manufacturing credentials, giving students a growing portfolio of industry-recognized certifications.
What states does Klein Educational serve? We serve California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, and Alaska.
Ready to Add CPT and CPT+ Certification to Your Program?
Whether you are building a new advanced manufacturing certification pathway or adding CPT+ capability to an existing Amatrol-equipped program, our team will help you connect with MSSC and get the right Skill Boss configuration for your needs.