Is it possible to attend Advanced Level training courses without an existing CPSA Foundation Level certification and earn credit points for it?
Software architects who do not yet have a Foundation Level certification can also participate in the Advanced Level training courses. Successful participation in the Advanced Level courses earns credit points, which are required for a possible Advanced Level exam. However, a prerequisite for applying for an Advanced Level exam is always a successfully passed Foundation Level exam.
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.
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.
How much does the Advanced Level exam cost?
The examination fee for one participant is 2,550.00 EUR plus VAT, a repeat examination is 750.00 EUR plus VAT.
How do I receive proof of credit points?
Accredited training providers issue participants who attend an Advanced Level training course with a certificate of attendance with the credit points they have earned. The confirmation of participation is regarded as official proof for applying for an Advanced Level examination.
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.
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.
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.
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.
How is CPSA program different from TOGAF certification?
Alongside the TOGAF training, the CPSA program rates highly in companies internationally. Compared to the TOGAF training, the CPSA program generally places more emphasis on the practical implementation of IT systems.
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.
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.
What does the Advanced Level curriculum include?
For the purpose of CPSA-A training, the iSAQB has defined the three following areas of competence:
- Methodical competence: a systematic approach to architectural tasks, regardless of the technologies used
- Technological competence: knowledge and implementation of technology solutions used in design tasks
- Communicative competence: communication, presentation, argumentation, and moderation skills as well as the ability to cooperate productively with different stakeholders
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.
Who may offer and conduct CPSA-Advanced Level training?
Trainings at CPSA-Advanced Level may only be offered and conducted by training providers accredited by the iSAQB. Accredited training providers have proven the high quality of their CPSA training offers and are committed to the iSAQB accreditation conditions.
Who are the people behind the association, and what are its aims?
The association was founded in 2008 by about 20 volunteers. The iSAQB e. V. brings together various software architecture experts. Its members include professionals from industry, consulting, training, academia, and other organizations or associations. The purpose of the association is to standardize the training of software architects internationally.
Why become a financially supporting (sponsoring) member of the iSAQB?
We take care of the development and administration of standard curricula for software architects (CPSA Certified Professional for Software Architecture®). This includes the definition of exams for certification based on the CPSA curricula as well as guaranteeing the professional quality of further training for software architects. The iSAQB e. V. (registered non-profit association) itself does not provide trainings or exams, but determines examination rules and regulations, grants licenses to training course providers and certification bodies, and defines and supervises the necessary processes. All activities of the iSAQB e. V. are based on voluntary work – the active members do not receive any earnings or fees for their contribution.
As financially supporting member you become part of a broad network of experienced software architects. You benefit from the know-how of the members, who are often also training course providers. Make new contacts with industry experts and maybe even find new employees over the network.
Financially supporting members are presented on the iSAQB website. You can be presented with your company’s logo there, and show your membership of our well-respected association!
Financially supporting members are allowed to dispatch a member, who can contribute to the association’s working groups. Thus, own demands on the curricula can be introduced.
Will the assignment for the Advanced Level exam be subject to a plagiarism check?
All assignments by participants of the Advanced Level examination are first subjected to a plagiarism check by the certification bodies, which results in an examination report. This examination report is then forwarded to the responsible examiners for evaluation, along with the assignment.
Can I take a CPSA‑F exam without a preparatory training course?
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 Foundation by Gernot Starke and Alexander Lorz; Van Haren Publishing, 1st Edition, May 2021
- Software Architecture Fundamentals by Mahbouba Gharbi, Arne Koschel, and Andreas Rausch; dpunkt.verlag, 1st Edition, February 2019
Which different types of membership are there at the iSAQB?
All iSAQB members work on a voluntary basis. There are different types of membership at the International Software Architecture Qualification Board:
Active Board Members
Active members are elected by the general meeting and have a right to vote on all important decisions within the association. An active member can be an individual or a representative of a sponsoring company. In order to receive the status of an active member, one has to have worked actively and productively in one or more iSAQB working groups for a longer period of time.
Supporting Board Members
Supporting members are usually individuals. They can have the status of an active or passive member. Supporting members do not pay a membership fee.
Sponsoring Board Members
Sponsoring members are usually companies that wish to support the iSAQB and its goals with their membership fees. These can be training providers, but also end users or software development and consulting companies.
How can you become a member of the iSAQB?
You can apply for membership or sponsorship at any time (a corresponding application form is available here). As an active member, you should spend approximately ten days a year working for the iSAQB — in one or more working groups of your choice. Preference will be given to new members who have experience in training software architects.
Are participation certificates for Advanced Level training courses also issued if a training course has to be cancelled through no fault of one’s own, or if the participation is delayed?
For Advanced Level training courses, participation certificates with the designated credit points can only be issued if a participant has attended at least 75% of the training. If less than 75% have been completed, the intended credit points may not be awarded. It is necessary to repeat the entire training or to make up for the missing part in order to earn the credit points. In any case, this regulation also applies to reasons that are not the fault of the participant (e.g. illness, accidents, traffic jams, etc.).
Are credit points awarded for participation in online training courses at Advanced Level?
For online training courses at Advanced Level you will receive an official iSAQB participation certificate with the respective credit points.
