How one professional’s LAT “Apprentice” certification made MLT I training more effective
Not everyone who works with B2B lubricant marketing has a solid understanding of what happens after their products leave the blending plant and get placed into the hands of end-user customers out in the field. Learning about downstream practices can be eye-opening and beneficial to non-technicians who seek to serve their customers more attentively.
Curiosity about this very subject was the motivation behind Bryson Bristow‘s decision to earn ICML’s Lubrication Apprentice Technician (LAT) certification, followed a few months later by the Machinery Lubrication Technician I (MLT I) certification.
“As someone in a marketing role, my decision to pursue the LAT and MLT I certifications was probably a little different than most,” says Bristow, a lubricants marketing manager at GROWMARK. “Over the last few years, I’ve learned a lot about the manufacturing and blending side of the lubricant business, but I wanted to learn more about the equipment, components, and applications where lubricants are actually used.”
His objective was to develop enough technical understanding to better relate his company’s products to the daily challenges faced by his customers, and he discovered that the LAT was a good first step to improve the efficacy of his MLT I training.
Starting with a foundational assessment tool
Bristow was already considering MLT I certification when he decided the LAT certification could be a practical starting point for someone like him. “I had already planned on doing the MLT I exam, [and] I thought the LAT would be a good introduction to content, learning, seeing what the testing format would be like, etc.”
This expectation—that LAT would provide an introduction to the subject matter while establishing a foundation for further study—aligns with the role ICML designed LAT to serve. Developed for new hires with minimal lubrication-related work experience, the LAT might be described as an entry-level apprentice certification, but “entry-level” does not necessarily mean the exam is easy or inconsequential. The examination is an assessment tool that introduces candidates to a broad range of concepts that form the foundation of machinery lubrication knowledge. For someone with limited prior exposure to lubrication programs, that breadth alone can be revealing.
Bristow discovered this firsthand. “I actually found the LAT exam to be more challenging than MLT I, mostly because it was a lot of information in a fairly short online exam,” he says.
The LAT provides an opportunity for newcomers to demonstrate their aptitude for the subject matter, identify topics that need further attention, and establish a certified baseline from which they can continue learning through targeted instruction alongside more experienced colleagues.
Discovering what you know—and what you don’t
Bristow’s experience indicates that this process works just as ICML intended.
Before sitting the LAT exam, he had elected to attend an optional, independently developed training course, and that’s when he truly discovered the scope of the subject matter. “For an introductory course, I felt like Noria’s class covered a lot of information in a little time. And, looking back, I probably waited too long after the training before taking the LAT test. My mastery scores came back lower than I was hoping for.”
As intended, however, the LAT mastery scores were instrumental for Bristow’s self-assessment, providing a clear picture of where his knowledge could benefit from further development. What could have been interpreted as a weakness in his preparation actually became something useful: a roadmap for further learning.
“One example of this is the ISO contaminant code R4/R6/R14,” says Bristow. “This topic was on both the LAT and MLT I tests. We spent much more time on this in MLT I training than in LAT, but very similar exam questions. This was a new concept for me in LAT, so the short amount of time we spent discussing it was lost with other new concepts.”
Later, when that concept was revisited in greater depth during MLT I preparation, he was able to grasp it more readily. Such progression is one of the practical benefits of establishing technical knowledge in stages. LAT does not represent the final word on every subject. Instead, it introduces concepts and establishes vocabulary and context, while helping candidates recognize the areas in which further study will be necessary.
A foundation that makes the next step easier
MLT I represents a deeper level of technical experience and knowledge than LAT, so Bristow subsequently approached MLT I preparation with a more extensive study program that built upon the framework established by his LAT experience.
“To prepare for the MLT I exam, I reviewed the LAT materials, spent some time with The Practical Handbook of Machinery Lubrication, attended a four-day Noria training course, and used Noria’s flashcards and practice exams,” he explains. “So, as a means of learning more about how lubricants are actually used by customers to solve challenges, I think MLT I meets this goal better than LAT did.”
At first glance, this assessment makes sense, because the MLT I exam is the one designed to cover a more advanced level of technical knowledge, and therefore it goes much further into the practical application of machinery lubrication principles.
“However,” he continues, “I am not sure I would have made those connections as easily without the background that LAT provided. During MLT I training it was great to hear from other people in the industry, and my LAT experience helped me keep up.”
This is Bristow’s clearest description of LAT’s value. LAT did not attempt to stand in for the deeper technical education required for MLT I, but it served its intended purpose by helping prepare him to benefit from it with foundational knowledge and perspective.
Technical knowledge has value beyond the technician’s role
Bristow’s stated motivation for learning also highlights another dimension of the LAT value proposition. His goal was not to become a technician for the sake of performing technical work; rather, he wanted to become a better marketer by understanding the technical scenarios in which GROWMARK’s products are ultimately used.
“My pursuit of these certifications was driven by a mix of personal interest, professional development, and career growth,” he says. “The more I understand the industry, the better I can communicate with technical teams, salespeople, distributors, and customers, and ultimately create marketing materials and sales tools that are more relevant and useful.”
This is a practical consideration as more organizations come to recognize that lubrication expertise extends across many functions throughout the lubrication ecosystem. Professionals in sales, marketing, product management, customer support and leadership may not be responsible for executing lubrication tasks, but they regularly communicate with the people who are. A stronger technical foundation can help those conversations become more informed and productive.*
LAT is not MLT, and MLT is not LAT
His LAT experience gave Bristow a first look at the technical knowledge involved in machinery lubrication. As a non-technician, he encountered subjects that were new to him, discovered his knowledge gaps, and then carried that foundation into a more intensive MLT I training class where his exposure to practitioners from various industries further connected those concepts to real-world applications.
“Some were from large industrial plants, so learning and understanding the scale of lubricants and machines was nice,” he recalls. “It was also nice to get to hear more firsthand stories, ‘We grease our bearings like this, why shouldn’t we do that?’ or, ‘We store our lubricants like this…’, etc.”
Bristow ultimately came away with a favorable perception of the LAT-to-MLT pathway: “I would definitely recommend these certifications to others.”
And his recommendation extends beyond the apprentices and future technicians who would normally be expected to pursue machinery lubrication credentials.
“I think the LAT/MLT I combo is valuable not only for technicians and reliability professionals, but also for anyone who works with lubricants, including sales, marketing, product management, customer support, and leadership roles.”*
For Bristow, the LAT foundation proved valuable when he moved into the more demanding MLT I learning environment, but that does not mean the LAT is simply a variation of MLT I. The two certifications serve distinct purposes for different stages of development. LAT provides an accessible starting point for people beginning their journey into machinery lubrication by offering exposure to appropriately curated technical knowledge, while MLT I builds toward a deeper level of technical competence that can improve effectiveness for experienced technicians and non-technicians alike.
Bristow’s experience suggests that the first step (LAT) works as designed to make the second step (MLT I) more productive.
“And now,” he says, “my understanding of hydraulics, gears, transmissions, oil analysis, and other machinery concepts has helped me better connect the product to the customer and understand the challenges they’re trying to solve.”
Objectives achieved!
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* Editor’s Note: Shortly after conducting this interview, ICML introduced the GLC (General Lubrication Concepts) and ALC (Advanced Lubrication Concepts) certification series for non-technicians whose key roles and decisions within the broader lubrication ecosystem directly impact the success of their companies’ machinery lubrication programs.
More Information
Discover the practical background of LAT and its place within ICML’s certification portfolio on the “Apprentice” landing page.
Organizations interested in hosting LAT group exam sessions may inquire at registrations@lubecouncil.org.