ICML MLT I lubrication certification: exam guide
Machine Lubrication Technician Level I (MLT I) is a realistic first certification for a millwright who handles lubrication. Here is what it asks for and how it fits your trade.
Facts checked on ICML's website as of November 2026. Fees are in US dollars. Check with ICML before you apply.
What it is and who it's for
MLT I covers the day-to-day work of lubrication: picking the right lubricant, applying the right amount, storing and handling it cleanly, and spotting problems early. It suits millwrights, lube techs and maintenance planners.
Who issues it
The International Council for Machinery Lubrication (ICML).
Required or voluntary?
Voluntary. No province requires it. Some plants with reliability programs prefer it.
Prerequisites
- At least two years of post-secondary education or on-the-job training in machine lubrication, engineering, mechanical maintenance or maintenance trades.
- 16 hours of documented formal training in machinery lubrication. Online practice and review time can count for no more than 3 of those hours.
ICML's newer Lubrication Apprentice Technician (LAT) page describes MLT I as typically needing 12 to 24 months of lubrication job experience. The two pages don't quite match, so confirm your eligibility with ICML.
Exam format
100 multiple-choice questions, three hours, closed book. You need 70 % to pass.
Cost and renewal (USD, as of November 2026)
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| First exam | $295 |
| Retake | $175 |
| Recertification | $175 |
MLT I is valid three years. To renew, send a recertification application with 15 recertification points.
What comes next
- LAT: a new entry-level credential for new hires and apprentices. ICML says it has no recertification because it's meant as a stepping stone.
- MLT II: needs MLT I, three years of education or training in the field, and 32 hours of training in total.
- MLA I: oil analysis. Needs 12 months of experience and 24 hours of training.
How it connects to the Red Seal exam
Lubrication isn't its own task in the Red Seal exam weightings. It ties into task C-12, shafts, bearings and seals (18 % of the 22 % power transmission section), and into fluid analysis and preventive maintenance in task F-25.
How CrewForge helps
Lubrication and bearing lessons are coming in the CrewForge program. Our material is Red Seal prep. It does not count as ICML training hours and doesn't make anyone ICML certified.
Practice questions
Written by CrewForge for practice. Not taken from any ICML exam or body of knowledge.
1. A bearing is 110 mm outside diameter and 27 mm wide, greased from the side. Using the rule grams = 0.005 × D × B, how much grease goes in at each relube?
About 15 g. 0.005 × 110 × 27 = 14.85 g. This rule is published by a bearing maker (SKF). Always check the maker's data for your bearing.
2. An oil is ISO VG 68. What does the 68 tell you?
Its viscosity at 40 °C is about 68 cSt. The ISO viscosity grade is the mid-point of a band, measured at 40 °C. Higher numbers are thicker oils.
3. A motor bearing runs hot right after greasing, then cools down over a few hours. What is the likely cause?
Too much grease. Extra grease churns and heats up until the excess works out. Use the right amount, and open the drain plug if the housing has one.
4. Oil gets hotter in service. What happens to its viscosity?
It drops. Hot oil is thinner. That's why viscosity grades are stated at a set temperature, and why an oil that is right when cold can be too thin when hot.
Bearings and lubrication, the Red Seal way
CrewForge is building lessons on bearings, seals and lubrication, with worked exam questions.
CrewForge is not affiliated with or endorsed by the International Council for Machinery Lubrication.