Join us for in-person trainings at SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation. Topics include systems engineering, adaptive optics, cryo-vacuum design, modern optical testing, and applied probability for systems engineers, and visible and NIR spectrograph design and development.
SPIE courses are designed to expand your knowledge and skills. Take what you learn in class and apply it directly to your work.
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Email a course proposal and your CV, including teaching experience, and/or any questions to courses@spie.org. Review our Instructor Guidelines for more information about timelines, course materials, requirements, and compensation.
There is more than one reason to take a course:
SPIE Members receive discounts on courses which are applied at the time of registration. SPIE Student Members receive even greater discounts on courses, particularly during early registration.
For more information contact courses@spie.org.
Not an SPIE Member? Purchase Membership with your registration and receive your discount right away.
• Check in at the Registration Desk to get your badge and verify any courses for which you are signed up.
• Go to the Course Desk.*
• Have your badge scanned and get your course materials and classroom location.**
* The Course Desk is usually in the same location as the Registration Desk. If not, ask the person who checked you in — they will know!
** Your course materials serve as your ticket to enter the classroom. Do not go to the classroom without picking up your course materials first. As such, be sure to do this step at least 30 minutes before your first course starts to get to the classroom on time.
Course registrations include a printed copy of the course materials. Some may include textbooks. Check the course descriptions for more information.
Yes, most people collect materials for multiple courses at the same time.
Classroom locations are provided onsite when you collect your course materials. Locations vary and courses may be held in a different location than the conferences.
We recommend coming to the Course Desk at least 30 minutes prior to the start of the course to give yourself time to collect your materials and walk to your classroom.
As a courtesy to the instructor and other attendees, please arrive at the classroom at least five minutes prior to, but no later than, the posted start time.
Course materials can be picked up any time before the scheduled date and time of your course, but it is a good idea to pick them up at least 30 minutes prior to the start. Remember, you will not be allowed access to your classroom without your materials.
Yes, you may register onsite for courses that still have open seats. However, we recommend registering for early to ensure you get a seat in your desired course, as they do fill up. Courses without sufficient registration three weeks prior to the event are subject to cancellation.
No, there are no waitlists for courses. Be sure to register early to secure a seat in your preferred course.
Sometimes, a course instructor becomes unavailable or there is an insufficient number of registrations. In these cases, SPIE reserves the right to cancel a course.
In either event, you will be contacted by SPIE staff via email.
You may transfer your registration to a different course or ask for a refund before registration fees increase.
If you cancel you will receive a full refund for the course, less a $75 USD service charge, if the request is made before this date.
PLEASE NOTE: All transfer requests and registration fees will be forfeited after this date.
No, the in-person courses will not be recorded. You must take the course onsite at the specified time.
No, there is no option to attend an in-person course virtually. The course will also not be recorded. You must take the course onsite at the specified time.
SPIE has a broad portfolio of online courses. These courses are versions of our live courses, taught by the same experts, but accessible at a time and place that work for you. However, not all of our conference courses are available in this format.
To see the current list of online offerings and for more information, visit SPIE Online Courses.
Yes, SPIE provides digital badges and certificates to participants who attend in-person courses. Certificates will be sent via email approximately six weeks after the conference has ended.
To receive these digital credentials, you must:
More information about digital credentials can be found at SPIE Badges and Certificates.
If you have more questions about courses, please contact courses@spie.org for assistance.