CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page 1 Certification of Systems Engineers David D. Walden, CSEP INCOSE Certification Program Manager For more information visit: © 2007 International Council on Systems Engineering

CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page 2 INCOSE Copyright Notice Copyright (c) 2007 by INCOSE, subject to the following restrictions: –Author Use. Authors have full rights to use their contributions in a totally unfettered way. Abstraction is permitted with credit to the source. –INCOSE Use. Permission to reproduce and use this document or parts thereof by members of INCOSE and to prepare derivative works from this document for INCOSE use is granted, with attribution to INCOSE and the original author(s) where practical, provided this copyright notice is included with all reproductions and derivative works. –External Use. This document may be shared or distributed to non-INCOSE third parties. Requests for permission to reproduce this document in whole are granted, provided it is not altered in any way. Requests for permission to prepare derivative works of this document for external and/or commercial use will be denied unless covered by other formal agreements with INCOSE. Copying, scanning, retyping, or any other form of reproduction of the content of whole pages or source documents is prohibited except as approved by the INCOSE Central Office, 2150 N.107th St., Suite 205, Seattle, WA –Electronic Version Use. Any electronic version of this document is to be used for personal use only and is not to be placed on a non-INCOSE sponsored server for general use. Any additional use of these materials must have written approval from INCOSE Central. –Permissions. INCOSE has granted permission to member companies of the INCOSE Corporate Advisory Board to post and use this document internally, subject to the external use restriction. –Technical Data. This data was prepared by INCOSE for information only. It is has been released by INCOSE Technical Data. It is subject to change without notice and may not be referred to as an INCOSE Technical Product. Send comments to This briefing was created from information from various INCOSE sources as indicated in the Notes section of this slide.

CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page 3 Topics What is certification and why is it important? What are the requirements for certification? What is the process for certification? What is the current state of certification? What is planned for the future? Where can I find more information?

CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page 4 Topics What is certification and why is it important? What are the requirements for certification? What is the process for certification? What is the current state of certification? What is planned for the future? Where can I find more information?

CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page 5 What Is Certification? Certification is an occupational designation –Provides confirmation of an individual's qualifications (specific knowledge and/or skill level) in a specified profession or occupational specialty Certification is a formal process –Issued by an organization Certification is voluntary –It is neither a barrier nor a gate to entering a job –However, it may be used as a qualifier in placement. INCOSE Certifies professionals in the discipline of Systems Engineering

CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page 6 Why is Certification Important? Formally recognizes your SE capabilities Distinguishes you from others within your professional field Can provide a competitive advantage in your career Provides a portable SE designation that is recognized across industry Furthers your professional development as a systems engineer Formally recognizes the SE capabilities of your people Can provide a competitive discriminator for your proposals Can be used as part of the hiring process Provides an independent internal and external assessment Helps advance the state of the art and practice of SE INCOSE Certification sets you and your organization apart! To you… To your organization…

CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page 7 Topics What is certification and why is it important? What are the requirements for certification? What is the process for certification? What is the current state of certification? What is planned for the future? Where can I find more information?

CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page 8 What are the requirements for Certification? Certification has four key components –Systems Engineering Experience –Experience Confirmation –Education –Knowledge Certification is open to all people, it is not restricted to members of INCOSE INCOSE Certification is much more than just “book knowledge” – substantiated Systems Engineering experience is required

CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page 9 Certification Experience Requirements Systems Engineering Experience –5 years minimum in multiple Systems Engineering disciplines Experience Confirmation –Recommendations from at least 3 colleagues / peers / managers –Must cover the period documented by applicant –The references must also be knowledgeable in Systems Engineering

CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page 10 Systems Engineering Disciplines Recognized for Experience Requirements Engineering Risk and Opportunity Management Baseline Control Technical Planning Technical Effort Assessment Design Development Qualification, Verification, and Validation Process Definition Tool Support Training System Integration Quality Assurance Specialty Engineering Other Successful candidates must have balanced experience across multiple disciplines

CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page 11 Certification Education Requirements Education –Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) in technical field Addition Experience Can be Substituted  5 more years of engineering experience for non- technical Bachelor’s (total 10 years)  10 more years of engineering experience if no Bachelor’s degree (total 15 years)

CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page 12 Certification Knowledge Requirements Exam Basis –INCOSE SE Handbook Version 3.1 –Note: SE Handbook Version 2A can be used through June 2008 –Transition to exclusive use of SE Handbook 3.1 as of July 2008 Exam is –2 hours in length –120 questions –Administered electronically at world-wide Prometric locations - Pass/Fail results provided immediately upon exam completion Candidates are eligible for two re-tests within one year of application submittal The INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook is the basis for the Certification exam

CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page 13 Certification Renewal Requirements Certification is Valid for 3 Years Recertification requires –120 Professional Development Units (PDUs) –Renewal application –Continuing education log submittal –Must be submitted before current certification period ends INCOSE Certified professionals have an ongoing growth and learning obligation

CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page 14 Education ActivityCredit 1 College or unit semester hour45 PDU 1 College or unit quarter hour 30 PDU 1 Continuing Education Unit (CEU)10 PDU 1 Professional Development Hour (PDH)1 PDU 1 hour of teaching of professional development coursework. Teaching credit is awarded for teaching a course/seminar for the first time only. Not applicable to full-time faculty. 2 PDU Authoring published papers, articles or books in any area relevant to practice 10 PDU 1 hour of participation in professional and technical society working groups/management 1 PDU Patents 10 PDU 1 hour of professional development in coursework, seminars, or professional or technical presentation made at meetings, conventions, conferences, or exam preparation 1 PDU PDUs for Certification Renewal

CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page 15 Topics What is certification and why is it important? What are the requirements for certification? What is the process for certification? What is the current state of certification? What is planned for the future? Where can I find more information?

CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page 16 Certification Process Diagram INCOSE SE Handbook Version 3.1 Study Notify Applicant Two weeks $ Submit Completed Application And Fee INCOSE Application Center INCOSE Evaluation Four to six weeks Applicant has up to one year to pass the test (three tries 3 months apart). Test is scheduled directly with Prometric. Application Development 1. Verifiable Education 2. Verifiable Experience 3. Applicant’s Advocates (three references knowledgeable about SE) Applicant’s own pace Timeline Pass 3 year Certification Notify Applicant Pay test fee Schedule & Take Exam (Prometric Test Center) Applicant’s own pace

CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page 17 There is no one answer. Much depends on the applicant. Time Applicant Downloads information from INCOSE web page Collects information Fills out and submits forms via Pays fee on-line A. ?????? INCOSE Receives application & fee Checks completeness of submittal Notifies applicant by that application was received and is complete or has missing material B. < 2 weeks References submit recommendations via to INCOSE. Applicant submits missing material. C. Averaging 50 days INCOSE sends CSEP certificate via postal mail to applicant F. < 2 weeks Applicant Schedules exam with test organization Takes exam at test site Receives results immediately Schedules another exam if needed E. Averaging 62 days INCOSE Receives recommendations from references and missing information Evaluates education and experience Notifies applicant of evaluation results. If minimum requirements are met, authorizes exam D. Averaging 21 days Time for Steps B-F: Shortest is 37 days, Average is 147 days How Long Will It Take to Get Certified?

CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page 18 Topics What is certification and why is it important? What are the requirements for certification? What is the process for certification? What is the current state of certification? What is planned for the future? Where can I find more information?

CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page CSEPs as of 11/1/2007

CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page 20 Certifications by USA State* (2 or More) *10 States Have 1 CSEP. Data as of 1 November 2007

CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page 21 8 Certifications Outside of USA Australia Belgium Canada (2) India Norway (2) Republic of Korea

CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page 22 Certifications by Company* (2 or More) *57 Companies Have 1 CSEP. Data as of 1 November 2007

CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page 23 Topics What is certification and why is it important? What are the requirements for certification? What is the process for certification? What is the current state of certification? What is planned for the future? Where can I find more information?

CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page 24 Future Directions for Certification ASEP Entry Level MSEP Senior Level CSEP Foundation Level CSEP Acq Discipline Extensions

CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page 25 CSEP-Acq ASEP requirements plus Tech Degree 5 yrs SE experience or Non-Tech Degree additional 5 yrs experience or No Degree additional 10 yrs experience Experience References Education Knowledge Certification Candidates ASEP CSEP MSEP SEH Exam Tech Degree 15 yrs SE experience20 yrs SE experience Tech Degree Significant Experience References Education INCOSE Member Multi-Level Certification Concept Education Knowledge No Exam Oral Presentation CSEP requirements plus DAG Chap 4 Exam

CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page 26 Topics What is certification and why is it important? What are the requirements for certification? What is the process for certification? What is the current state of certification? What is planned for the future? Where can I find more information?

CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page 27 INCOSE Certification web site at Where Do I Find More Information?

CSEP Certification Overview Subject to the restrictions on Copyright Page 28 Any Questions? Additional Contacts: Certification Office: incose.org Dave Walden, CSEP Certification Program Manager: