Automotive Safety Analyst - 'Functional Safety Professional' Examination
Demonstrate Your Ability to Independently Apply ISO 26262 Safety Analyses in Real Projects.
The Automotive Safety Analyst – Functional Safety Professional Certification Examination validates a candidate's ability to apply ISO 26262 safety analysis methods within real-world automotive development projects.
As part of TÜV SÜD's Functional Safety Certification Program (FSCP), this professional-level certification demonstrates not only a strong understanding of safety analysis principles, but also practical experience in performing and reviewing safety analyses throughout the functional safety lifecycle. Successful candidates have demonstrated the competence necessary to independently support safety-related development activities involving Dependent Failure Analysis (DFA), FMEA, FMEA-MSR, FMEDA, and Fault Tree Analysis (FTA).
For organizations, this certification provides objective evidence that certified professionals possess both the knowledge and practical experience needed to contribute effectively to functional safety programs and safety-critical product development activities.
To learn about our complete ISO 26262 certification program learning path, see Modular training program: ISO 26262 Training – Modules & Exams.
This certification examination is intended for experienced professionals involved in automotive functional safety activities, including:
- Functional Safety Engineers
- Safety Analysts
- Functional Safety Managers
- Safety Managers
- System Engineers
- Hardware Engineers
- Software Engineers
- Reliability Engineers
- Quality Engineers
- Verification and Validation Engineers
- Product Safety Specialists
- Technical Project Managers
- System Architects
- Technical Assessors and Auditors
- Technical Leads and Engineering Managers
- Professionals responsible for performing or reviewing ISO 26262 safety analyses
ISO 26262 Functional Safety Framework
- Functional safety lifecycle
- Safety goals and safety requirements
- Technical safety concepts
- Safety analysis planning and work products
FMEA-Based Safety Analyses
- DFMEA
- Safety FMEA
- Failure mechanisms and effects
- Safety-related failure identification
- Risk reduction and mitigation concepts
FMEA-MSR
- Monitoring and System Response methodology
- Diagnostic monitoring
- Fault detection strategies
- Safety mechanism evaluation
- FTTI considerations
Dependent Failure Analysis (DFA)
- DFA objectives and requirements
- Common Cause Failures (CCF)
- Cascading failures
- Coupling factors
- Shared resources
- Communication dependencies
- Independence assessment
- DFA reporting and justification
Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)
- Qualitative FTA
- Quantitative FTA concepts
- Fault propagation
- Minimal cut sets
- Importance analyses
- Safety goal verification
FMEDA
- FMEDA methodology
- Failure rate estimation
- Diagnostic coverage evaluation
- Hardware fault classifications
- Safety mechanism assessment
Hardware Safety Verification
- SPFM
- LFM
- PMHF
- Reliability concepts
- Hardware architectural metrics
Integrated Safety Analyses
- Relationships between DFA, FMEA, FMEDA, and FTA
- Traceability and consistency
- Safety lifecycle integration
- Safety analysis review and interpretation
The Automotive Safety Analyst – Functional Safety Professional Certification Examination is designed for experienced engineers and safety professionals who actively participate in safety-related development projects governed by ISO 26262. Building on the foundational knowledge validated by the Functional Safety Engineer certification, this professional-level certification demonstrates the candidate's ability to apply safety analysis methodologies in practical automotive development environments.
The examination covers the application and interpretation of qualitative and quantitative safety analyses used throughout the functional safety lifecycle. Candidates are expected to understand not only the methodologies themselves, but also how their outputs influence architectural decisions, safety concepts, verification activities, and compliance with ISO 26262 requirements.
A major focus of the certification is the practical execution and evaluation of Dependent Failure Analysis (DFA). Candidates must demonstrate competence in identifying common cause failures, cascading failures, coupling factors, architectural dependencies, and independence violations that can compromise safety goals or fault-tolerant architectures. The examination also evaluates how DFA integrates with FMEA, FMEDA, and Fault Tree Analysis activities.
Candidates are further expected to understand quantitative hardware safety analyses, including FMEDA development, failure-rate estimation, diagnostic coverage assessment, hardware architectural metrics such as SPFM and LFM, PMHF evaluation, and quantitative Fault Tree Analysis techniques used to support hardware safety verification.
Successful candidates demonstrate that they possess the professional-level competence required to perform, review, and assess ISO 26262 safety analyses, support safety case development, contribute to technical decision-making, and participate effectively in the development and assessment of safety-critical automotive systems.
Achieving the Functional Safety Professional certification demonstrates that you possess both the technical knowledge and practical experience required to perform and assess safety analyses within ISO 26262 projects.
Upon successful completion, you demonstrate that you can:
- Independently apply ISO 26262 safety analysis methodologies.
- Perform and review DFA activities and associated work products.
- Analyze common cause failures, cascading failures, and system dependencies.
- Evaluate qualitative and quantitative FTA results.
- Interpret FMEDA results and hardware architectural metrics.
- Assess diagnostic coverage assumptions and safety mechanisms.
- Understand the interactions between FMEA, FMEDA, DFA, and FTA.
- Support safety concept development and architectural decisions.
- Contribute to safety case generation and safety compliance activities.
- Demonstrate recognized professional competence in automotive functional safety analysis.
For employers, the certification provides confidence that certified professionals possess the experience necessary to contribute effectively to safety-critical engineering activities.
Online Proctored Examination
This certification examination is conducted online under live remote supervision by a qualified proctor.
Throughout the examination, candidate identity, examination integrity, and compliance with examination regulations are monitored in real time.
Participants may communicate with the proctor through the examination platform's chat function whenever assistance related to examination administration is required.
Live Proctoring Requirements
Participants must:
- Join the examination from a location with reliable internet access.
- Have a functioning webcam and microphone.
- Complete identity verification before the examination begins.
- Take the examination in a private room or office.
- Show the complete examination environment upon request.
- Ensure no other individuals are present in the room.
- Remove all non-permitted materials from the workspace.
- Ensure walls, desks, and surrounding areas are free of notes or reference material.
- Maintain a quiet examination environment.
- Ensure no additional computers, tablets, telephones, or electronic devices are active within reach.
- Maintain adequate lighting throughout the examination.
- Refrain from recording, copying, reproducing, or distributing examination content.
Violation of examination rules may result in disqualification, examination termination, or invalidation of results.
Technical Issues
If technical issues significantly affect the examination session, such as computer failure or internet connectivity loss, the examination may be terminated and rescheduled in accordance with TÜV SÜD examination policies.
All examinations are governed by the applicable TÜV SÜD examination regulations and any additional online examination requirements.
Certification is achieved through successful completion of the:
Automotive Safety Analyst – Functional Safety Professional Examination
The examination assesses both theoretical understanding and practical application of:
- DFA
- FMEA
- Safety FMEA
- FMEA-MSR
- FMEDA
- Qualitative FTA
- Quantitative FTA
- SPFM, LFM, and PMHF
- Safety analysis interpretation and review
- ISO 26262 functional safety requirements
Successful candidates receive the:
TÜV SÜD Functional Safety Professional Certificate
To ensure the professional-level nature of this certification, candidates must satisfy eligibility requirements before being admitted to the examination. Candidates must submit the required registration and eligibility documentation for review and approval prior to examination enrollment.
Professional Experience Requirement
Candidates must demonstrate:
Six (6) years of professional experience in functional safety engineering activities related to ISO 26262.
The following academic qualifications may be credited toward the professional experience requirement:
| Qualification | Experience Credit |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Degree (Electrical Engineering or related discipline) | 2 Years |
| Master's Degree (Electrical Engineering or related discipline) | 3 Years |
| Ph.D. (Electrical Engineering or related discipline) | 4 Years |
Project Experience Requirement
Candidates must provide evidence of participation in:
At least two (2) functional safety projects involving ISO 26262-related activities.
Recommended Preparation
Although not mandatory, candidates are strongly encouraged to complete:
- ISO 26262 Automotive Functional Safety Training Program (Modules 1-4)
- ISO 26262 Module 5: Safety Analyst – DFA with Qualitative FMEA, FMEA-MSR and FTA Safety Analyses
- ISO 26262 Module 6: Safety Analyst – DFA with Quantitative FMEDA and FTA Hardware Safety Analyses
These courses provide comprehensive preparation for the examination topics.
Application Process
Candidates must submit the required registration and eligibility documentation for review and approval prior to examination enrollment.Applicants must complete the Functional Safety Certification Program application package and provide supporting documentation for eligibility verification.
For application forms and eligibility review, please contact:
What is the Functional Safety Professional certification?
The Functional Safety Professional certification is the Level 2 certification within the Automotive Safety Analyst certification pathway and validates a candidate's ability to apply ISO 26262 safety analysis methods in real development projects.
How does Level 2 differ from Level 1?
Level 1 (Functional Safety Engineer) validates foundational knowledge of safety analysis techniques.
Level 2 (Functional Safety Professional) validates both knowledge and documented professional experience in applying those techniques within functional safety projects.
Is professional experience required?
Yes. Candidates must demonstrate six years of professional experience in functional safety engineering activities related to ISO 26262, subject to applicable academic credits.
Can academic degrees count toward the experience requirement?
Yes.
The following credits may be applied:
- Bachelor's Degree: 2 years
- Master's Degree: 3 years
- Ph.D.: 4 years
The degree should be in Electrical Engineering or a closely related technical discipline.
Is project experience required?
Yes.
Candidates must provide evidence of participation in at least two functional safety projects involving ISO 26262-related activities.
What safety analysis methods are covered?
The examination covers:
- DFA
- DFMEA
- Safety FMEA
- FMEA-MSR
- FMEDA
- Qualitative FTA
- Quantitative FTA
- SPFM
- LFM
- PMHF
Is Dependent Failure Analysis (DFA) a major topic?
Yes.
DFA is a central topic of the certification and includes common cause failures, cascading failures, coupling factors, shared resources, and architectural independence assessments.
Does the examination cover hardware safety analyses?
Yes.
Candidates are expected to understand FMEDA, hardware safety mechanisms, failure-rate estimation, SPFM, LFM, PMHF, and quantitative FTA concepts.
Do I need to attend the TÜV SÜD training courses?
No.
Attendance is not mandatory, but Modules 1-6 are strongly recommended as comprehensive preparation for the examination.
Is this exam conducted online?
Yes.
The examination is delivered as a live online proctored examination.
Is a webcam required?
Yes.
Candidates must maintain webcam and microphone access throughout the examination session.
Can I use reference materials during the examination?
No.
Unless otherwise stated in the examination regulations, the examination is conducted as a closed-book assessment.
What certificate do successful candidates receive?
Successful candidates receive the:
TÜV SÜD Functional Safety Professional Certificate
within the Automotive Safety Analyst certification pathway.
How long is the examination?
The examination duration is:
3 Hours
What is the next certification level after Functional Safety Professional?
The next certification level is:
Automotive Safety Analyst – Functional Safety Expert (Level 3)
which recognizes advanced expertise, leadership, and significant practical experience in automotive functional safety analysis.