UN 38.3 Course: Testing for the Transport of Lithium Batteries
Online 300 h course in UN 38.3: testing for the transport of lithium batteries. 6 modules covering the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, section 38.3, IEC 62133-2 (safety of portable lithium batteries) and LabVIEW. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
UN 38.3 Course: Testing for the Transport of Lithium Batteries — 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: 500 US$ (US Dollars), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United States
Typical roles
Questions from the United States
Is the programme taught in English?
Yes. All programmes are taught in English, with technical materials and assessments delivered in that language.
Can I study from any state?
Yes. Programmes are 100% online, so you can study from anywhere in the United States with a reliable internet connection.
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
Describe the international framework for the transport of lithium batteries.
Apply the T1 to T4 tests for altitude, thermal, vibration and shock.
Carry out the T5 to T8 tests for short circuit, impact, overcharge and forced discharge.
Prepare the test summary required by the Manual of Tests and Criteria.
Determine when a design change requires new testing.
Select packaging and documentation according to the mode of transport.
Develop a UN 38.3 compliance plan for a battery.
Who it's for
- Battery test engineer who wants to specialise in UN 38.3: testing for the transport of lithium batteries.
- Certification laboratory technician who wants to specialise in UN 38.3: testing for the transport of lithium batteries.
- Dangerous goods safety adviser who wants to specialise in UN 38.3: testing for the transport of lithium batteries.
- Regulatory compliance engineer who wants to specialise in UN 38.3: testing for the transport of lithium batteries.
- Battery shipments manager who wants to specialise in UN 38.3: testing for the transport of lithium batteries.
- Cell quality engineer who wants to specialise in UN 38.3: testing for the transport of lithium batteries.
- Graduates in engineering or science looking to enter battery manufacturing.
What you'll work with
- Manual of Tests and Criteria, Part III, section 38.3
- IEC 62133-2 (safety of portable lithium batteries)
- IATA DGR (packing instructions 965 to 970)
- IEC 62281 (safety in the transport of lithium cells and batteries)
- ADR (road transport)
- IMDG Code
- 49 CFR 173.185 (lithium batteries)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Class 9 dangerous goods1.2UN 3480, UN 3481, UN 3090 and UN 30911.3Manual of Tests and Criteria, section 38.31.4ADR, RID, IMDG and ICAO Technical Instructions1.5IATA DGR regulations1.6Cells, batteries and button cell batteries1.7Rated energy and lithium content1.8Vehicle batteries UN 31711.9Consignor responsibilities1.10Practical: classification of battery shipments
2.1T1 altitude simulation2.2T2 thermal test2.3T3 vibration2.4T4 shock2.5Sample preparation and states of charge2.6Mass loss criteria2.7Leakage, venting and disassembly2.8Open-circuit voltage2.9Number of samples per test2.10Laboratory: interpreting a T1-T4 report
3.1T5 external short circuit3.2T6 impact and crush3.3T7 overcharge3.4T8 forced discharge3.5Surface temperature and criteria3.6Small versus large cells3.7Batteries with electronic protection3.8Designing a safe test rig3.9Incident management in the laboratory3.10Practical: test plan for a pack
4.1Mandatory test summary document4.2Minimum content of the summary4.3Design changes that require retesting4.4Prototype and pre-production batteries4.5Damaged or defective batteries4.6Special provisions 376 and 3774.7Manufacturer's quality management system4.8ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratories4.9Customer verification of the summary4.10Case study: audit of a test summary
5.1Packing instructions P903 and P9085.2Approved packagings and markings5.3Lithium battery label5.4State of charge in air transport5.5Shipping documentation5.6Electric vehicle shipments5.7DGSA safety adviser5.8Staff training5.9Incident response in transport5.10Case study: air shipment of battery modules
6.1Cell and battery description6.2Product classification6.3Test plan6.4Laboratory selection6.5Analysis of results6.6Test summary6.7Packaging and documentation6.8Change management plan6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Delivered 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it easy to combine with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is LabVIEW, MATLAB, Arbin MITS Pro, advanced Excel, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures for altitude chambers and thermal cycling, vibration and shock rigs, and external short-circuit tests. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrative project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Describe the international framework for the transport of lithium batteries.
Apply the T1 to T4 tests for altitude, thermal, vibration and shock.
Carry out the T5 to T8 tests for short circuit, impact, overcharge and forced discharge.
Prepare the test summary required by the Manual of Tests and Criteria.
Determine when a design change requires new testing.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.
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 300 hours, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours a week, compatible with full-time work.
You will work with LabVIEW, MATLAB, Arbin MITS Pro and advanced Excel. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma on passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a Course or Postgraduate Diploma in the same area count towards the higher-level programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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