Internationally recognized professional development for IT specialists
96%
of our CPSA® Foundation participants pass
the exam on their first attempt.
of our CPSA® Foundation participants pass
the exam on their first attempt.
The International Software Architecture Qualification Board, or iSAQB®, brings together experts from industry, consulting, and academia—many of the most respected names in software architecture. They all share one goal: to provide sound education and training that is globally recognized, standardized, certified, and always up to date. We are proud that many of us play a leading role as iSAQB curators in developing the curricula and exam questions.
You can find more information here: isaqb.org
With this certification, you demonstrate that you have mastered the fundamentals of software architecture and all the necessary tools. You are able to independently design and document a system's architecture, as well as ensure and evaluate its quality.
Attend the 3- or 4-day CPSA-F® training course to prepare for the exam (optional).
Take the approximately 75-minute multiple-choice exam (you need at least 60% of the total score to pass).
Obtained after passing the iSAQB® CPSA® Foundation Level certification.
The Advanced Level certification demonstrates a high level of professional expertise. It is modular in structure and divided into three competency areas: methodological, technical, and communicative. You will be able to solve complex tasks, take on technical responsibility, and communicate software architecture in a clear and convincing manner.
Collect credit points in CPSA-A® training courses (at least 70 credit points, with at least 10 in each competency area – technical, methodological, and communicative).
Register for the CPSA-A® exam with a certification provider.
Complete your written submission (approximately 80 working hours within three months, maximum 40 pages).
Complete an oral examination regarding your written submission (duration: 30–60 minutes).
Receive your CPSA-A® certification after passing.
You have at least 18 months of practical experience in software development (post-training).
You are proficient in at least one high-level programming language.
You have a foundational knowledge of modeling.
You have a foundational knowledge of UML.
You have practical experience in technical documentation.
You are iSAQB® CPSA-F® certified.
You have at least 3 years of full-time professional experience in IT and have participated in the design and development of at least two different IT systems.
You have collected all the necessary credit points* in CPSA-A® training courses.
As a rule of thumb for the calculation: 10 credit points are awarded for each training day. However, a maximum of 30 credit points can be earned for a single training course, even if it lasts longer than three days. Once awarded, credit points remain valid indefinitely.
You need a total of at least 70 credit points, of which you must have collected at least 10 credit points per competency area. When selecting your modules, you can focus on methodological competence, but you must also enroll in modules from the technology and communication areas.
As we are an accredited iSAQB® training provider, you will receive credit points for all iSAQB® CPSA-A® modules we offer.
Find more information here: isaqb.org
If you do not pass your iSAQB® CPSA® Foundation Level exam on your first attempt, you can retake it once free of charge.
First, you need to have successfully completed your CPSA training and certification.®-F (Certified Professional for Software Architecture – Foundation Level). In addition, you must be able to demonstrate at least three years of full-time professional experience in the IT industry. You should have participated in the design and development of at least two different IT systems (or similar, such as contributing to open-source projects).
Once you have collected the required 70 credit points, you can register for the exam. You can find more information here. <-- LINK MISSING!
You must successfully complete an examination task and answer questions from two independent examiners appointed by the iSAQB® appointed examiners. You can find an example of a potential task (PDF) and here the official examination regulations (PDF). <-- LINKS MISSING
If you have attended at least 75 percent of the Advanced Level training, that is not a problem. If you complete less than this amount of time, the designated credit points unfortunately cannot be awarded. You must retake the entire training or the missing portion to earn the credit points. This rule applies in all cases, even for reasons beyond your control (e.g., illness, accidents, traffic, etc.).
Yes! Even if you do not hold a Foundation Level certification and/or are not pursuing an Advanced Level certification, you can still attend Advanced Level trainings. You will gain valuable skills for your daily work in any case.
Yes. Simply contact the certification body that administered your exam or reach out to the iSAQB® directly to request your certificate. In general, you can request a copy of your certificate within 10 years of the exam date. We are happy to reissue certificates of attendance.
No, the points you earn during training do not expire.
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