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

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

AND

Are working, or have worked at any time within the prior 18 months, in the field within covered by the certification designation

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:

1. Are working, or have worked at any time within the prior 18 months, in the field covered by the certification designation
2. Have significant experience and breadth of knowledge to have mastered the basics of the entire Software Quality Assurance Common Body of Knowledge
3. Have reviewed the Software Quality Assurance Common Body of Knowledge

The initial application fee is as follows:

• $350.00 (includes PDF version of CBOK)
  
  OR
  
• $420.00 (includes PDF version of CBOK, plus hard copy and CD)
  
  All fee paid in USD (see Payment Policy).

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. The fee to Retake the Examination** if within the guidelines mentioned above is $100 a sitting and can be done through the Customer Portal on the My Examination page by clicking on the Retake / Resit for this Examination link. 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.

** Note: Make sure you know exactly when your expiration date is as although your application may still be active when the Retake / Resit payment is made, 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 as once funds are processed they are not refundable or transferable (Payment Policy).

Locating a Prometric Test Center

• Click Here to Go to Prometric's site.
• Once you get to the Prometric site, click the Start tab.
• Enter the Country / State where you wish to sit, then hit Next.
• Find the Locate a Test Site link and click.
• Make your Exam Selection from the drop-down, then hit Next.
• All available site in the area selected will appear.
• To refine your search and locate alternative testing locations, simply enter a specific address, city or zip/postal code where you wish to take your test.

An Eligibility ID is needed to schedule a CSQA exam with a Prometric Test Center. If you do not have an Eligibility ID then you must follow the instructions listed below.

Eligibility ID - CSQA Certification

• Go to the My Examination page in the Customer Portal.
• Click on Pick Scheduling Option.
• Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the Prometric Site tab.
• Read the warning. If it does not apply to you then click on the Continue with Prometric to receive Eligibility ID.
• Click OK if sure to have your information sent to Prometric and a code assigned.
• The Eligibility ID will appear on the My Examination page in the Portal and could take up to three days to process as the information is being transferred to Prometric.

To schedule a CSQA certification exam at a Prometric Test Center a candidate must follow the instructions listed below ONLY after receiving their Eligibility ID.

Prometric Scheduling - CSQA Certification

• Click Here and follow the steps below.
• Once you get to the Prometric site click the Start tab.
• Enter the Country / State where you wish to sit, then hit Next.
• Find the Schedule an Exam link and click.
• Make sure you review all the information provided throughout the process.
• Now simply follow the steps as you will be guided through the entire scheduling process.

To Reschedule / Cancel an existing CSQA exam appointment with a Prometric Test Center you must follow the instructions listed below.

Prometric Rescheduling / Cancellation - CSQA Certification

• Review Prometric's Rescheduling / Cancellation policy for computer-based CSQA / CSTE exams only before proceeding
• You can either go to Prometric's Web site by Clicking Here and follow the steps below, or use their automated voice response system at: 800-861-9072 x4519; both are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
1. Once you get to the Prometric site click the Start tab.
2. Enter the Country / State where you wish to sit, then hit Next.
3. Find the Reschedule or Cancel an Exam link and click.
• You will need your Confirmation / Tracking Number which was provided by Prometric.

Sponsored Site exams are ONLY offered in India, Brazil, China, and Sri Lanka. See Sponsored Site Examination Schedule for the complete schedule.

All candidates must first apply online and have paid the application fee through the Customer Service Portal before scheduling an exam at a Sponsored Site. You MUST schedule your examination at least 30 days before the selected examination date in order to reserve a seat.

To schedule a CSQA certification exam at a Sponsored Site a candidate must follow the instructions listed below.

Sponsored Site Scheduling - CSQA Certification

• Go to the My Examination page in the Customer Portal.
• Click on Pick Scheduling Option.
• Scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the Sponsored Site tab.
• Select the Examination Location from the drop-down.
• Select the Examination Date from the drop-down.
• 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.
• 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.
• To view the Examination Information details simply click on the link of the exam location currently scheduled to attend. If no link is available that simply means we have not yet been provided any location information from the exam host for that sitting. Once provided it will be posted so simply check back occasionally as they are kept as up-to-date as possible.
• 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.

Occasionally a candidate may need to reschedule / cancel an existing scheduled Sponsored Site examination. This is known as a Deferral**.

Sponsored Site Rescheduling / Cancellation - CSQA Certification

• To Defer an existing scheduled examination for a Sponsored Site location, a candidate must go to their My Examination page in the Customer Portal and click Defer.
• The deadline to Defer an already scheduled exam at a Sponsored Site location is 30 days prior to the existing scheduled examination date.
• Deferrals are NOT accepted less than 30 days prior to an examination date.

**NOTE: Make sure you know exactly when your application 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 as the next possible Sponsored Site exam date(s) may occur after your application expiration date. If you are not sure of your applications expiration date contact certify@softwarecertifications.org before Deferring to ensure you can reschedule for a later Sponsored Site exam date(s) as once a Deferred exam is less than 30 days prior to the examination date it is FINAL and NO changes will be made.