Frequently Asked Questions About Recent Program Changes:
Q. It looks like everything in the certification program has changed. What gives?
A. Software Certifications (formerly known as the QAI Certification Program) has been undergoing significant process reengineering during Summer 2001. A result is a revised set of Vision, Mission, & Goal Statements. This new web site, and a set of new administrative procedures for application and examination processing, were installed in September 2001 as a first step. These and other changes will allow us to better align the program with the state-of-the-art in competency testing. In that area, we are being guided by two important standards: 1) Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing from the American Educational Research Association and 2) Code of Professional Responsibilities in Educational Measurement from the National Council on Measurement in Education. These standards provide us with guidance on developing an effective examination development and administration process, and on defining our role as administrators of this certification program. We welcome comments from all stakeholders (email to info@softwarecertifications.com).
Q. Why was the CQA designation changed to CSQA?
A. Since its inception in 1986 there has been some confusion between the Certified Quality
Analyst (CQA) certification and the American Society for Quality's Certified Quality Auditor (CQA)
certification. Adding "Software" to the designation to form the Certified Software Quality
Analyst designation clarifies the difference. The CQA designation is
currently being transitioned to CSQA. The complete change (e.g. documents, examinations,
letters, credentials) will take until the end of 2001. New credentials will not be issued to
each active certificant until their next recertification cycle. The CSQA is a
software-focused assurance-discipline certification, while the ASQ's CQA is not software-oriented
and focuses on control and audit disciplines. We believe the revised designation makes the
differences and focus of these two programs clearer. Q. What happened to the laminated plaques that certificants used to receive?
A. As the various certifications have grown over the years, an increasing number of individuals who were once certified are no longer so because of failure to meet program recertification requirements. To meet this emerging need, and to maintain the integrity of the certifications for those who continue to hold them, we reengineered the credentialing process in 2001 to provide explicit expiration dates on all certification credentials so that individuals could not claim certification even after losing it because of a lack of recertification. As a result, new credentials must be issued whenever an individual recertifies. The laminated certificate plaques were permanent and inconsistent with the idea of credentials expiring, and so they were discontinued. Lamination services are readily available in most communities for certificants who desire to have their certificate mounted.