Diploma in Emissions and Cycle Testing (WLTP/FTP/VECTO)
600-hour online postgraduate diploma in emissions testing: WLTP and FTP cycles, RDE, VECTO, chassis dynamometer, gases and particles, evaporative emissions, OBD, aftertreatment and CO2 of electrified vehicles, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Emissions and Cycle Testing (WLTP/FTP/VECTO) — studying from the United States
Regulatory affairs, safety engineering and homologation are essential across American industries, since products must meet federal and state requirements before reaching the market. Engineers in this field work on reliability, availability, maintainability and safety (RAMS) analysis, certification and conformity assessment. Sectors such as aerospace, automotive, medical devices and energy all require specialized compliance expertise. Standards organizations and government agencies define the frameworks that guide this work.
Fees for the United States: US$1,000 (US Dollars), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United States
Typical roles
Questions from the United States
Which US bodies handle regulation and homologation for engineered products?
Vehicle homologation involves NHTSA and the EPA, while other sectors are overseen by agencies such as the FAA, FDA, and OSHA depending on the product. Standards bodies include ANSI, ASTM, and IEC-linked US committees. Professional certifications like ASQ's reliability credentials are also recognized. SEIUM's private qualifications are not accredited, so recognition is decided by employers or regulators.
What roles use RAMS and homologation skills in the United States?
Roles include reliability engineer, safety engineer, certification specialist, and regulatory affairs professional. Employers include aerospace, automotive, medical device, and energy companies, plus testing laboratories and consultancies. Hiring managers usually look for demonstrated experience with standards and audits, so combine your training with applied project work.
Is employer funding typical for regulatory and safety training in the US?
Many US employers support job-related training through tuition assistance or professional development programmes, with terms that vary by company. Regulated industries often invest in compliance training. SEIUM offers instalment payments, and employer sponsorship may be possible, so raise the question with your manager or HR department before enrolling.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Apply the WLTC, FTP-75 and US06 cycles and the RDE test according to vehicle family and class.
Determine road load by coastdown and set up the chassis dynamometer.
Measure gaseous pollutants, particle mass and particle number with the dilution system and its analysers.
Run evaporative emissions tests in a sealed enclosure and interpret the results.
Assess the on-board diagnostic system, its monitors and in-use performance ratios.
Demonstrate aftertreatment durability through ageing and deterioration factors.
Calculate fuel consumption, CO2 and electric range for conventional, hybrid and electric vehicles.
Who it's for
- Type-approval engineers at light and heavy vehicle manufacturers.
- Emissions laboratory and chassis dynamometer technicians.
- Engine and aftertreatment calibration engineers.
- Technical service engineers who witness type-approval tests.
- Fleet CO2 compliance managers.
- Industrial, mechanical or chemical engineering graduates looking to move into vehicle testing.
What you'll work with
- Regulation (EU) 2017/1151 (WLTP and RDE procedures for light-duty vehicles)
- Regulation (EC) 715/2007 (Euro 5 and Euro 6 emissions)
- Regulation (EU) 2017/2400 (CO2 determination for heavy-duty vehicles (VECTO))
- UN GTR No. 15 (worldwide harmonised light vehicles test procedure)
- 40 CFR Part 1066 (US vehicle-testing procedures)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/631 (CO2 standards for cars and vans)
- Regulation (EU) 2018/858 (type approval of motor vehicles)
- SAE J1979 (OBD diagnostic test modes)
8 modules
1.1The WLTC and its classes by power-to-mass ratio1.2Low, medium, high and extra-high phases1.3The FTP-75 cycle and the US06 supplemental cycle1.4Highway cycle for combined fuel economy1.5The Japanese WLTP test and local particularities1.6VECTO simulation for heavy-duty vehicles1.7Real driving test with portable equipment1.8Conformity factors and margins1.9Selecting test vehicles and families1.10Declaring values and verification
2.1Single-axle and two-axle chassis dynamometers2.2Determining road load2.3Coastdown test on the track2.4Rolling and aerodynamic coefficients2.5Inertia simulation and test mass2.6Preconditioning and thermal soak2.7Climatic chamber and low-temperature tests2.8Battery charging in electrified vehicles2.9Checking correct vehicle installation2.10Dynamometer calibration and daily checks
3.1Constant volume sampling dilution system3.2Sample bags and deferred analysis3.3Non-dispersive infrared analysers3.4Flame ionisation detector for hydrocarbons3.5Chemiluminescence for nitrogen oxides3.6Gravimetric particle mass measurement3.7Solid particle counter and volatile particle remover3.8Measuring ammonia and nitrous oxide3.9Calibration with certified span gases3.10Linearity checks and response times
4.1Sealed housing for evaporative determination4.2Diurnal breathing and hot soak tests4.3Permeability of lines and tank4.4Activated carbon canister and purge4.5Canister loading and depletion test4.6Refuelling emissions and vapour recovery4.7System leaks and pressure-based detection4.8System durability requirements4.9Comparing regulations across regions4.10Diagnosing evaporative faults
5.1On-board diagnostic system architecture5.2Catalyst and oxygen sensor monitors5.3Malfunction indicator activation thresholds5.4Standardised fault codes and freeze-frame data5.5In-use performance ratios5.6In-service emissions monitoring5.7Anti-tampering protection5.8Security of emissions control software5.9Reading data via the standard port5.10OBD system compliance report
6.1Three-way catalyst and the lambda window6.2Oxidation catalyst and particulate filter6.3Active and passive filter regeneration6.4Selective catalytic reduction and urea dosing6.5Lean NOx trap and purge6.6Accelerated ageing on an engine bench6.7Deterioration factors and their demonstration6.8Useful life and mileage requirements6.9Reagent quality monitoring6.10Verification tests after ageing
7.1Calculating fuel consumption by carbon balance7.2Fuel emission factors7.3Hybrids: charge-sustaining and charge-depleting modes7.4Utility factor for plug-in hybrids7.5Measuring electric energy consumption and range7.6Range testing in cold conditions and with air conditioning7.7Charging efficiency and losses7.8Fleet targets and average calculation7.9Monitoring real-world consumption data7.10Report of declared values by variant
8.1Defining the scope and choosing the vehicle8.2Test plan and applicable cycles8.3Determining road load8.4Designing the preconditioning protocol8.5Simulated execution and data processing8.6Calculating declared emissions and consumption8.7Compliance analysis against the limits8.8Writing the report and the test report8.9Review with the tutor and technical defence8.10Submission of the file and improvement plan
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each intake, so you can combine the programme with your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is VECTO, AVL CONCERTO, MATLAB, Python, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied on real procedures for chassis dynamometer testing with constant volume sampling, sealed evaporative enclosures and on-road tests with portable equipment. Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus the final integrated project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- An internet connection and a computer able to run the programme software.
- English sufficient to read technical standards.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 600 hours over 6–9 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with VECTO, AVL CONCERTO, MATLAB and Python, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.
Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.
Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.
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