BECOME A CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL FOR SOFTWARE ARCHITECTURE – FOUNDATION LEVEL (CPSA‑F®)
Foundation Level Exam
As with all CPSA certifications, the Foundation Level Exam (CPSA‑F) is conducted by independent certifying bodies. The basis for this is a demanding, non-public catalog of questions developed by the iSAQB in accordance with the curriculum, from which a subset is selected as examination questions.
Types of Examinations of the CPSA-Foundation Level (CPSA‑F®)
Remote/Online exam: You can conduct a remote/online exam at home on your home PC.
Exam after classroom training: The CPSA‑F® exams are often taken directly after the classroom training by a training provider. Only iSAQB-accredited training providers and Academic Partners are allowed to offer this type of examination. The examination is conducted in paper form or with a tablet PC. Please note that not every training provider offers an examination after the classroom training, as the type of examination is handled individually. Participants may have to register for the CPSA‑F® exam independently with one of our certification partners after the training, for example for the remote/online exam.
Public exam: Dates and locations for public CPSA‑F® exams can be obtained from the certification authorities or booked directly on their websites.
Exam in test centers: You can take a CPSA‑F® exam at PEARSON VUE test centers in over 190 countries worldwide. Please see the bottom of this page for more information.
Preparation for the Exam
To prepare for the Foundation Level exam, participation in classroom or online training from an iSAQB Accredited Training Provider is highly recommended. An accredited CPSA‑F® training course usually lasts three to four days, and covers all relevant topics of the exam.
However, it is also possible to take the CPSA‑F® exam without attending a Foundation Level training course. We recommend the following literature for independent exam preparation:
Software Architecture Fundamentals by Mahbouba Gharbi, Arne Koschel, Andreas Rausch, and Holger Tiemeyer; dpunkt.verlag, 2nd Edition, October 2024
Examinations can be booked directly with the certifying bodies licensed by the iSAQB. The prices for exam registrations vary from country to country. Currently, exams are available in English, German, Italian, and Spanish.
Examination Procedure
The current CPSA‑F® exam consists of a multiple-choice exam of about 75 minutes duration, in which you have to answer about 40 questions. The exact number can vary due to a random drawing of questions with different scores. You will be awarded points for each correct answer, and to pass the exam you need 60 percent of the maximum possible score.
Exams are conducted by recognized certification bodies. They evaluate the exam and usually inform you about your exam result within one to two weeks after the exam. If you successfully pass the exam, you will receive your official CPSA‑F® certificate.
Is the iSAQB responsible for the quality of its training providers’ CPSA trainings?
The iSAQB operates an elaborate quality assurance system with regard to its training providers, CPSA trainings, and trainers. Our aim is to ensure a consistently high training standard for all CPSA training courses worldwide. However, despite extensive accreditation processes, the iSAQB assumes no liability for the quality of trainings provided by its accredited training partners. Furthermore, the iSAQB assumes no liability for the results of CPSA examinations.
How does the certification examination for CPSA-F (Foundation Level) work?
The actual CPSA-F examination consists of a multiple-choice test of approx. 75 minutes in which you will be required to answer roughly 40 questions (as the number of points allocated to individual questions varies and questions are randomized, the exact number of questions can vary, depending on which questions are drawn). You will be awarded points for every correct answer, and you will need to achieve 60% of the examination’s maximum possible points score in order to pass.
Candidates usually attend licensed training courses in order to prepare for this examination, but in terms of formal requirements you could also complete the examination without having taken part in any training.
The examination will be carried out by a licensed certification body – which will also be in charge of assessment and necessary formalities. This organization will then provide you with your examination result, usually within a week of completion of the examination, and also your official CPSA-F certificate if you have passed the examination.
Are there different examination conditions for non-native speakers?
In case the examination language is not your mother tongue, the duration of the examination can be extended to 90 minutes (net). Please indicate this when registering with the certification body.
Are there different examination conditions for the visually impaired?
In case you are profoundly visually impaired the duration of the examination can be extended to 90 minutes (net). Questions and possible answers can be read to you by the examiner. Please mention this when registering with the certification body.
Do credit points earned from attended Advanced Level training courses expire?
Credit points, once you have earned them, are valid indefinitely and do not expire.
How can I find a certification body for the CPSA exam?
You can find all information about the certification bodies here.
How long is a successfully completed CPSA certification valid?
A CPSA certification is valid for life, just like a university degree.
I failed the CPSA-Foundation Level exam. Can I repeat it?
The CPSA-Foundation Level exam can be repeated several times without any waiting period.
I have lost my certificate. Can it be reissued?
If your certificate has been lost, you can contact the certification body that took your exam or the iSAQB. Generally, you can request a copy of your certificate within 10 years after the date of the exam.
May I call myself “Software Architect” after passing the exam?
The CPSA certification is not a vocational qualification, but a proof of knowledge in the field of software architecture. The iSAQB is not entitled to award vocational qualifications, so we propose you call yourself “Certified Professional for Software Architecture by iSAQB” after passing the exam.
In Germany it is unclear if it is legally allowed to call oneself “Software Architect”. We recommend you inform yourself about the laws regarding the vocational qualifications in your country.
What is the difference between a certification body and a training provider?
The iSAQB has stipulated that there be a formal and organizational separation between training course providers and certification bodies – hence these two different roles. Training course providers offer training, courses, workshops in order to prepare you for the CPSA-F examination for instance, or your CPSA-A examination project.
Certification bodies organize the CPSA-F and CPSA-A examination – but must not offer any training or seminars in this area themselves.
What should I consider regarding credit points?
The credit points can be revaluated by the iSAQB every 12 months. If you plan your training measures over some years you should consider this, in case you focus mostly on the number of points for the individual seminars. This revaluation can apply to the number of points as well as to the distribution to the areas of competence. It is possible that credit points are no longer rewarded for one of the three competence areas, so you would have to cover this competence area with another seminar. However, there have only been very few changes so far.
Which requirements must I fulfil to access Foundation Level certification?
Participants should have the following knowledge and/or experience:
At least 18 months of practical experience in software development, acquired by programming various projects or systems outside of education.
Knowledge of and practical experience in at least one higher programming language.
Basics of modelling and abstraction.
Basics of UML (class, package, component and sequence diagrams) and their relation to source code.
Practical experience in technical documentation, especially in the documentation of source code, system designs or technical concepts.
Helpful for the understanding of some concepts are also:
Knowledge of object orientation
Practical experience in at least one object-oriented programming language
Practical experience in the design and implementation of distributed applications, such as client/server systems or web applications
We consider it useful to prepare for the CPSA‑F exam by attending an accredited training course – but in general you can also take a CPSA‑F exam without training.
The iSAQB Glossary covers the basic terminology of software architecture. The glossary is available in English, French, German, Chinese, Italian, Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish. Please note that only the English and German versions contain a detailed explanation of all terms.
Foundation Level – Mock Exam Questions
The Foundation Level mock exam contains 38 questions and is based on the real exam.
Foundation Level – Mock Exam Answers
This file contains solutions of the Foundation Level mock exam questions.
Foundation Level – Examination Rules
This document contains general rules regarding the CPSA-Foundation Level examination. It provides information on duration, types of questions, scoring, privacy, and confidentiality agreements. Short examples of question types are provided.
Examination Guide for Accredited Trainers at Foundation Level
This presentation contains information on the Foundation Level exam process. You can use it for your own purposes and shorten or adapt it if necessary.
Curriculum Foundation Level
Curriculum of the Foundation Level with all learning goals and terms for the individual chapters.
