The barrier to additive manufacturing adoption has shifted. It’s no longer about accessing the technology—it’s about deploying it with confidence.
ASTM International’s Advanced Manufacturing Division is betting that structured education can bridge that gap. The standards organization has unveiled two distinct training pathways designed to meet professionals where they are in their 3D printing journey.
For Newcomers: A Four-Week Foundation
The Virtual ASTM Professional Certificate Course in Additive Manufacturing (PCCAM) targets professionals transitioning from AM awareness to practical application. Running April 20 through May 19, 2026, the program covers evaluation frameworks, materials communication, qualification requirements, and organizational decision-making.
Instructors hail from NASA, Pratt & Whitney, and the University of Texas at Austin. Past participants include teams from the U.S. Army, NAVAIR, Stryker, Westinghouse, Lloyd’s Register, and Idaho National Lab—a roster that signals serious enterprise interest in formalizing AM expertise.
For Practitioners: Design-Stage Intervention
The three-day Design at Elevation course, scheduled for June 24-26, 2026, takes a different approach. This in-person program focuses on design-for-additive-manufacturing principles, where decisions about cost, risk, and performance get locked in.
Participants learn to align part designs with process capabilities, minimize support structures, and reduce build failures. Registration includes the Wohlers Report 2026 and DfAM reference materials. Capacity is capped at 30 attendees.
The most recent session sold out.
The Stakes Are Rising
ASTM’s push comes as qualification requirements tighten across regulated industries. Aerospace and medical device manufacturers face increasing pressure to demonstrate AM competency, not just capability.
For professionals eyeing leadership roles in advanced manufacturing, the window for foundational education may be narrowing. Those who understand both the technology and its constraints are increasingly the ones shaping implementation strategy.
The message from ASTM is clear: staying adjacent to additive manufacturing is becoming harder. These programs aim to pull practitioners into the center of the conversation.
Source: AM CoE <[email protected]> — Two paths into additive manufacturing. One decision point.
