Examination Information
Preparing for the Examination
The certification examination is designed to identify the candidate's ability to assist management in improving the quality of information systems within the specialization represented by the certification, evaluate his/her ability to apply quality assurance knowledge to practice in the discipline, and provide a foundation for granting professional recognition. The framework of any profession is the body of knowledge upon which it bases its standards.

The examination reflects state-of-the-art principles and practices from the disciplines included in the associated Body of Knowledge for the certification specialty. The exam expects that familiarity with current industry topics via experience, periodicals, and textbooks is continually being maintained. It is the philosophy of the Software Certifications Board that knowledge of significant developments in the information services industry, as well as a basic understanding of the various disciplines affecting software quality assurance, be current. For this reason the examination instrument is continually reviewed and revised to implement these factors into the testing process.

Professional certification is a significant undertaking .Sufficient time and energy should be allocated by the candidate toward preparation.  Most of the needed preparation involves reviewing and brushing up on the various knowledge domains in the certification’s respective Body of Knowledge.  If candidates have extensive experience in the quality practices described in the knowledge domains of the Body of Knowledge, the examination should not be difficult.  Candidates should avoid last minute cramming, as it is rarely beneficial in the long term. If their experience is minimal, or is limited to only certain areas of those related knowledge domains, they should seek study materials and work experience that will broaden their knowledge and experience. Unless candidates have had extensive exposure to quality management principles, and a broad array of job responsibilities within information services related to the certification knowledge domains, they are very unlikely to pass the certification examination. The examination presumes that candidates have had a broad exposure to quality practices and have reviewed and read the current literature available on quality management in their particular area. Candidates should avoid last-minute cramming, as it is rarely beneficial in the long term.

There is no specific outline of study curriculum established by Software Certifications.  Candidates are responsible for their own study and preparation.  The Quality Assurance Institute, as administrator of Software Certifications, does not infer that attending specific courses or programs will significantly enhance the candidate’s chances of passing the examination.  Bibliographic references are included in the applicable Body of Knowledge description for information purposes.  Candidates are expected to know and pursue other and more recent resources.
 
Scheduling / Rescheduling the Examination Sitting

Exams need to be scheduled in the Customer Portal from the My Examination page. The location where you plan to take your exam will determine whether you take it at a Prometric Site or Sponsored Site. See below for more information.

Prometric Testing Center

  • Prometric sites are available worldwide* (Find a Prometric Testing Center locations near you).
  • An Eligibility ID is needed to schedule with a Prometric Site* which you receive when starting the scheduling process in the Customer Portal's My Examination page by clicking on the Schedule this Examination link and then selecting the Prometric Site* tab.

    • * 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.

  • The Eligibility ID will appear on the My Examination page and could take up to three days to process as the information is being transfered to Prometric.
  • Once you have your Eligibility ID you simply click on the Go to Prometric---> link on the My examination page to find available dates and schedule your exam.
  • Dates / locations will not be listed on a schedule page as exams are offered daily at each location based on availability of the date(s) / location(s) you are looking to schedule so plan accordingly.
  • To schedule one of the the following certifications see CASQ, CAST, CMSQ, CMST, CSPM, CSBA, CSPE, CQSPE and go to the Examination section for details.

    Rescheduling
  • Please contact Prometric directly 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.

Sponsored Sites

  • Sponsored Site exams are ONLY offered in India, Brazil, China, and Sri Lanka. (see Sponsored Site Examination Schedule)
  • Candidate must go to the My Examination page in the Customer Portal and click on the Schedule this Examination link and then select Sponsored Site. You will be directed to a new page where you would select the location / exam date you wish to attend.
  • 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. 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).
 
Taking the Examination
Candidates should arrive at the examination location at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of the examination. Candidates must have their examination admittance letter (Sponsored Exams only) and photo identification with them in order to register and gain admission to the examination.

No study or supporting materials are permitted in the examination room. Seats are assigned for each individual. Breaks are taken between each examination part, and are not permitted during the taking of the examination sections. The examinations can take from 2 to 4 hours depending on the certification you selected. See the individual certification pages for more information about that particular certification exam.

No-shows
Candidates who fail to appear for a scheduled examination are considered "no shows" and must reschedule their exam in the Customer Portal. Once your record has been reset a Resit link will appear which can be used to start the rescheduling of a new examination date. Candidates must first pay a $100 Resit fee before they will be able to reschedule. This only applies if your application has not expired**.

** Note: Make sure you know exactly when your expiration date is as although your application may still be active when the 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).
 
Examination Results

Examination results will be available on the Software Certification's Customer Portal when the grading is complete, so there is no need to contact Software Certifications regarding the results status as you will receive notification via email when results are posted. To view your results simply login to the Portal and go to the My Examination page and click on the View Results link. The passing mark is 75% which is the average score of all parts.

Note: Once your online results are available, you will not receive your certificate for those passing for possibly another 6 to 8 weeks. Please be patient and if nothing is received 6 weeks after your results were announced then feel free to contact us at certify@softwarecertifications.org, but NOT until then.

A certificate will be sent regular mail via the United States Postal Service using the default address in the Portal so it is critical that candidates keep their Portal records up to date as once mailed they are not traceable. Now even the smallest error or omission of information can cause serious delays in receipt or non delivery so make sure the address is complete and correct. Many candidates change their residence or job situations during their certification candidacy. If any such changes occur, it is the candidate's responsibility to change their My Profile information in the Software Certification's Portal.

The processing of examination results will depend on how the examination was scheduled.

Prometric Examinations
If you took your examination at a Prometric testing center, you will typically receive your results in 6 weeks:

  • 4 weeks of grading by multiple reviewers
  • 1 week for data processing
  • 1 week of statistical analysis and establishment of cut-scores

Sponsored Site Examinations
If you took your examination at a Sponsored testing center, you will typically receive your results in 8 weeks:

  • 2 weeks for collection at the administration center from examination sites around the world
  • 4 weeks of grading by multiple reviewers
  • 1 week for data processing
  • 1 week of statistical analysis and establishment of cut-scores.

Examination papers are not returned to the candidates. The examination process is not a diagnostic tool. Specific discussion concerning an individual's exam results is prohibited by the policies and practices of the Software Certifications. Original exam papers are destroyed one year after the exam date.

Candidates who do not pass the examination will need to retake the examination as long as their application has not yet expired** by either reaching the expiration date or their three attempts.

** Note: Make sure you know exactly when your expiration date is as although your application may still be active when the Retake 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).

 
Appeals Process

Individuals dissatisfied with a failed exam score may appeal such results to the Appeals Committee of the Software Certifications Board. Requests must be submitted in writing, and sent via certified mail, to:

Appeals Committee
Software Certifications
2101 Park Center Drive, Suite 200
Orlando, Florida 32835 USA.

It is the individual's responsibility to include any and all supporting documentation that they believe is needed by the Appeals Committee to understand and properly assess the issue. The Appeals Committee meets quarterly. All Appeals Committee decisions are final.
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