ICML introduces Lubrication Apprentice Technician (LAT) Certification

Unique among ICML credentials, the LAT requires no prior work experience and no formal training, and it offers no recertification opportunity, reflecting the transitional nature of the traditional apprenticeship model. 

Paul Dufresne, ICML Board Chairman and Chief Reliability Officer at Reliability Playbook, added: “The reliability leaders of tomorrow are the apprentices who understand lubrication today. Apprentice lubrication training isn’t about teaching tasks—it’s about developing technicians who think like reliability professionals.”

“The LAT apprentice certification is not intended for every practitioner,” said Paul Hiller, ICML Director of Marketing, “but it is absolutely applicable to many organizations with lubrication personnel because it offers aspiring technicians a differentiated, structured means to access the industry.”

Industry-driven development

Positioned as a vendor-neutral, independent, non-profit leader in the lubrication and oil analysis value chain since 2001, ICML has been pioneering global standards in lubrication certifications for 25 years. Industries rely on ICML to validate competency, standardize expectations, and support lubrication maintenance excellence across many sectors and geographies.

While ICML’s MLT I certification remains the industry’s best-in-class credential for trained lubrication technicians, end-customers and training partners have noted that a reliable method for assessing inexperienced workers, to improve their knowledge and performance, has been missing.

“There is an underserved community in the machinery lubrication market who are looking for a way to enter the technical trades and disciplines associated with M&R careers,” said Coggins. “At the same time, organizations worldwide are dealing with the retirement of experienced personnel and a limited, inexperienced pool of potential replacements. These conditions have created the need for a foundational, globally accessible, apprentice-level, competency certification and assessment tool.”

Benefits for employers

LAT expands, vets, and supports the pool of potential hires and provides a standardized evaluation of essential lubrication knowledge before technicians proceed to full-responsibility roles. This assessment helps plants shorten learning curves, establish foundational literacy, and reduce risk associated with the maintenance of business-critical, expensive lubricated assets where industry newcomers are involved.

“Plants don’t have time for long learning curves,” said Mike Gauthier, ICML Board Member and Director of Global Services at Trico Corporation. “The LAT certification accelerates a new technician's development by focusing on the essential knowledge and lubrication skills they must master early so preventable errors don't carry over into day-to-day maintenance.”

Addressing foundational gaps, confidence, and standardization

Frontline supervisors and reliability teams frequently report that new hires can struggle with lubrication-related tasks such as following industry protocols, differentiating between lubricant types (their uses and application), as well as other best practice essentials during their initial onboarding period. These knowledge gaps can increase risk, and they routinely highlight performance inconsistencies amongst work shifts.

“With high turnover rates and an influx of inexperienced workers, there is a noticeable deficit in foundational lubrication literacy,” said Loren Green, ICML Board Member and Senior Reliability Consultant at Reliability Solutions. “The Lubrication Apprentice Technician model helps bridge this gap and builds confidence early.”

Gauthier agreed: “The LAT certification gives completely new technicians the confidence to handle lubrication tasks correctly. When they get the basics right, the rest of their development happens faster and with fewer setbacks.”