Free training

Changes to the 2nd Edition of IEC 61511 — What Changed and What Didn't

The training is free. Use it to stay current with IEC 61511:2016 — or to upgrade your existing TÜV FS Engineer or FS Professional certificate.

In 2016 the 2nd Edition of IEC 61511 replaced the 2003 version. Many changes were made across all 19 chapters. This course walks through every chapter — what changed, what stayed the same, and what it means for your projects and products. Enrol free today. Pay only if you want the exam and certificate upgrade.

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Free training · Self-paced · ~8 hours · Exam available as paid upgrade

Who This Course Is For

This is not a general IEC 61511 training. It is specifically for professionals who already know the standard and need to understand what changed in 2016.

Your TÜV certificate states IEC 61511:2003

Use this course and the associated exam to upgrade your FS Engineer or FS Professional certificate to the 2016 edition. Pay for the exam, pass, and receive two updated certificates.

Your TÜV certificate has expired

Use this course to renew your TÜV FS Engineer or FS Professional certificate and receive a lifetime version valid for IEC 61511:2016. No additional training course needed.

You work with IEC 61511 and need to stay current

If your projects, products, or contracts reference IEC 61511:2016 and you trained on the 2003 version, this course covers every change that affects your work.

You want the knowledge without certification

The training itself is free. Enrol, study all 19 chapters, and use the knowledge immediately — with no obligation to take the exam.

This course is not for you if:

You do not yet have a foundation in functional safety and IEC 61511. This course explains changes to the standard — not the standard itself. If you are new to IEC 61511, take the IEC 61511 Certification Course first.

What You Will Learn

Identify all significant changes between IEC 61511:2003 and IEC 61511:2016 — chapter by chapter, across the full standard.
Understand what stayed the same — so you can focus your attention where the changes actually matter.
Assess the impact on your projects and products — where changes affect design, verification, documentation, or compliance claims.
Apply the 2016 requirements correctly in HAZOP, LOPA, SRS, hardware design, software, validation, and FSM contexts.
Upgrade your existing TÜV certificate to the 2016 edition by passing the associated exam.

Certificate Upgrade — What You Can Earn

The training is free. If you want to upgrade or renew your TÜV certificate, add the paid exam. Pass and receive two certificates.

Risknowlogy Knowledge Certificate

Demonstrates your knowledge of the changes between IEC 61511:2003 and IEC 61511:2016. Linked to your Safety Passport®.

Risknowlogy FS Specialist Certificate — IEC 61511 — FS Specialist.

Risknowlogy FS Specialist with Distinction Certificate — IEC 61511 — FS Specialist with Distinction — IEC 61511:2016 Changes.

TÜV SÜD Upgrade Certificate

Pass the exam and receive an updated TÜV FS Engineer or FS Professional certificate listing IEC 61511:2016 as the basis — replacing your 2003 version. The upgraded certificate is valid for life.

TÜV Functional Safety Engineer Certificate — IEC 61511 — TÜV FS Engineer — updated to IEC 61511:2016.

What Students Say

"Thank you for the detailed analysis of the changes and leaving out all other information."

S. Lim — Singapore

"I take the occasion to renew my compliments for the extraordinary organisation of Risknowlogy in each aspect."

S. Anfossi — Italy

How the Course Works

Fully self-paced eLearning. Enrol free and start immediately.

~8 hours of structured text-based content — no video, focused entirely on what changed.
19 chapters — one for each clause of IEC 61511, covering changes and continuity side by side.
Exam available as a paid option — take it when you are ready, within the course duration.
Free retakes — if you do not pass on the first attempt, retakes are included at no charge.
Two certificates on passing — Risknowlogy FS Specialist + TÜV SÜD upgrade certificate.

Course Structure

The course follows the IEC 61511 chapter structure exactly — so you can navigate directly to the clauses most relevant to your role:

Scope
Normative References
Terms, Definitions and Abbreviations
Conformance
Management of Functional Safety
Safety Life-cycle Requirements
Verification
Process Hazard and Risk Analysis
Allocation of Safety Functions to Protection Layers
SIS Safety Requirements Specification (SRS)
SIS Design and Engineering
SIS Application Program Development
Factory Acceptance Test (FAT)
SIS Installation and Commissioning
SIS Safety Validation
SIS Operation and Maintenance
SIS Modification
SIS Decommissioning
Information and Documentation Requirements

Free Training or Certificate Upgrade

Option	What is included
Training Only — Free	Full access to all 19 chapters. No exam. Enrol and start immediately at no cost.
Training + Certificate Upgrade	Course + exam. Earn FS Specialist (≥60%) or FS Specialist with Distinction (≥85%) from Risknowlogy, plus an updated TÜV SÜD certificate listing IEC 61511:2016. Free retakes included. Achievement recorded in your Safety Passport®.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the training really free?

Yes. The training content — all 19 chapters — is free. You pay only if you want to take the exam and receive the certificate upgrade.

Can I upgrade my existing TÜV certificate with this course?

Yes. If your TÜV FS Engineer or FS Professional certificate lists IEC 61511:2003, pass the exam in this course and you will receive an updated certificate listing IEC 61511:2016. No additional training course is required.

Can I renew an expired TÜV certificate?

Yes. If your TÜV FS Engineer or FS Professional certificate has expired, use this course to renew it and receive a lifetime version valid for IEC 61511:2016.

How long is the upgraded TÜV certificate valid?

The upgraded certificate is valid for life — no renewal required unless a new edition of IEC 61511 is published. When the 3rd edition is released, Risknowlogy will produce an equivalent upgrade course.

Will I be listed on the TÜV SÜD website?

Yes — but you must give TÜV consent for the listing by completing the required form. Instructions are provided in the course.

What if I fail the exam?

Free retakes are available for the duration of the course. Contact Risknowlogy to arrange a new exam access window.

Is this a full IEC 61511 training course?

No. This course explains only the changes between the 1st and 2nd editions of IEC 61511. If you do not yet have foundational knowledge of the standard, take the IEC 61511 Certification Course first.

Will I get a Safety Passport®?

Yes. Every participant who passes a Risknowlogy exam receives a personal, online Safety Passport® documenting their achievement.

Start Learning for Free

Enrol at no cost. Add the exam when you are ready to upgrade your certificate.

About the course

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