The Certified Software Process Engineer (CSPE) certification aims at developing professionals who can be an integral part of the organization’s process improvement and can support the Quality Process Improvement team to develop software process, analyze and solve quality problems, track and implement process improvement suggestions. The CSPE certification can be taken by fresh graduates and individuals with work experience, aspiring to develop skills and knowledge in quality tools and processes and join an organization’s process improvement initiative.

Since the mid 1980s, more and more software organizations have started using models and standards to support and improve their software engineering activities. Most of the process improvement programs have achieved positive results. However, many have died a silent death for lack of experienced professionals participating in these process improvement initiatives. CSPE certification is a step in the direction to help bridge the gap between the demand and supply of qualified software process improvement professionals.

To qualify for candidacy, each applicant must meet one of four prerequisites:

1. A 4 year degree from an accredited college-level institution
2. A 3 year degree from an accredited college-level institution and 1 years experience in the information services field
3. A 2 year degree from an accredited college-level institution and 2 years experience in the information services field
4. Three years experience in the information services field

Depending upon a compliance sample selected according to program criteria, the applicant may be required to provide detailed education and/or employment documentation supporting the prerequisite option selected on the application. If selected for verification, the applicant must supply the documentation to the program. Applicants who fail to provide the requested documentation will not be allowed to sit for the exam or, if the exam has been taken and passed, may be subject to de-certification.

A completed Certification Candidacy Application must be submitted through the Customer Portal for entrance to Software Certifications as a candidate for any particular certification. It should be submitted by individuals who:

• Have met at least one of the above mentioned prerequisites
• Have significant experience and breadth of knowledge to have mastered the basics as discussed in the Principle and Concepts section
• Have reviewed the books, white papers, and web sites listed in the Recommended Reading section

The initial application fee is as follows:

• $200.00 All fee paid in USD (see Payment Policy)
  Fees in this program are non-refundable and non-transferable

Candidates for certification who rely only on limited experience/education or too few/specific study materials typically do not successfully obtain certification.  Do not apply unless you feel confident that your work/education activities and past experience have prepared you for the examination. Applicants already holding a certification from Software Certifications must submit a new application when deciding to pursue an additional certification.

Once a new application is accepted and approved, the Candidacy begins the date the application fee was processed. The candidate then has 12 months from the date the application fee was processed to take their initial exam. If after the 12-month period the candidate has yet to take the initial exam their candidacy will expire. The candidate must then reapply for candidacy and pay the current application fee to begin the process again.

If the initial exam is taken inside that 12-month period, a second or third sitting, if required, must be completed within 24 months from the date the original application fee was processed. After the 24-month period has elapsed their candidacy will expire. The candidate must then reapply for candidacy and pay the current application fee to begin the process again.

Candidates going for the CSPE certification must pass a three-part examination. The two hour exam is made up of three sections; 40 multiple-choice questions, 12 subjective short answer questions and questions based on a case study. The passing percentage is 60% for any one section and a combined 70% over all three sections. The two hour examination tests the candidate’s knowledge and practice of the skill areas defined in the Principles and Concepts and Recommended Reading sections.

Exams are now being offered either through a Prometric Testing Center (paper-based exam) or a Sponsored Site (paper-based exam). The location where you plan to take your exam will determine whether you take it at a Prometric Testing Center or Sponsored Site. See below for more information.

Prometric Testing Center

Prometric sites are available worldwide* (Find a Prometric Testing Center locations near you).

* WARNING: Prometric Sites are NOT an option to those wanting to take their exam in one of the following locations - India, Brazil, China, or Sri Lanka (see Sponsored Sites Schedule). Exams taken at a Prometric site in any of these locations will NOT be accepted and the candidate will forfeit any fees paid for said exam.

Scheduling
1. To schedule the CSPE certification exam a candidate must follow the instructions listed below.
2. Use the following link to find the Prometric Site(s) where you plan to take the exam (Find a Prometric Testing Center locations near you). During the process to find a location it will ask for an exam selection. Since the CSPE exam is not listed, simply pick either the CSQA or CSTE exam to continue to the available sites page for all exams.
3. Write down the address information and site code for each location where you wish to schedule your examination.
4. Determine the date range in which you plan to take the examination. Make sure the date(s) selected are at least six weeks out from the day you send the email as this process does take extra time.
5. Email this location and date information to certify@softwarecertifications.org.
   
   Rescheduling
   Please contact certify@softwarecertifications.org to reschedule an existing appointment at a Prometric site. There could be a fee depending on how close to the scheduled date you are try to rescheduling.

There is no guarantee that the date / location will be available so provide multiple dates / locations if possible. The farther out you attempt to schedule the better the chances you will get the date / locations requested. Waiting to the last minute to schedule your exam only reduces the chances greatly that you will not find a seat so you need to plan accordingly as there is no guarantee a seat will be available which is all based on availability at each site.

Sponsored Sites

Sponsored Site exams are ONLY offered in India, Brazil, China, and Sri Lanka. (see Sponsored Site Examination Schedule)

Scheduling
• Complete the following steps to schedule a Sponsored Site exam in the Customer Portal
1. Go to the My Examination page in the Customer Portal.
2. Click on Pick Scheduling Option.
3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the Sponsored Site tab.
4. Select the Examination Location from the drop-down
5. Select the Examination Date from the drop-down
6. To schedule your exam click on the Confirm this Examination Location / Date tab
• You must schedule your examination at least 30 days before the selected examination date in order to reserve a seat which are limited based on availability. (see Sponsored Site Examination Schedule)
• Candidates are strongly encouraged to check the Sponsored Site Examination Schedule page for specific location information for their scheduled examination during the days leading up to the examination sitting. Simply click on the location link of the exam you are scheduled for to view the location information as they are kept as up-to-date as possible. (see Sponsored Site Examination Schedule)
• While Software Certifications makes every possible effort to provide examinations as scheduled, last minute changes have been sometimes unavoidable in the past. Past disruptions have included exam location changes, inclement weather, and building closures.
  
  Rescheduling
• From time to time, candidates need to reschedule / postpone an examination for a Sponsored location to a later date. This is known as a Deferral**.
• To Defer an examination for a Sponsored location, a candidate must go to the My Examination page in the Customer Portal to Defer** the already scheduled exam.
• The deadline to Defer an already scheduled exam at a Sponsored location is 30 days prior to the examination date. Deferrals are not accepted less than 30 days prior to an examination date.

**NOTE: Once you Defer a scheduled exam it is final and will not be reset to the previous date / location just Deferred once inside 30 days from the scheduled exam date. Make sure you know exactly when your expiration date is as although your application may still be active when Deferring, that does not guarantee you will be able to reschedule your exam for a future date as it may be after your application expiration date. If you are not sure contact certify@softwarecertifications.org before proceeding with the Deferral as once you Defer it is final and any funds processed are not refundable or transferable (Payment Policy).