Your most important questions answered

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.

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.

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.

Bleiben Sie informiert mit dem iSAQB®-Newsletter!