©2005 CSM Slide 1

Certification for Systems Engineering Professionals

CSEP Preparation Program

©2005 CSM Slide 2

Table of contents

What is Certification? Realizing INCOSE’s Strategic Goals Current Certification Process Requirements for Systems Engineering Professionals Systems Engineering Experience Areas CSEP Exam Information The Opportunity Certification Presents INCOSE CSEP Potential Impact CSEP Challenges Value Propositions CSM’s Preparation Program

©2005 CSM Slide 3

What is Certification?

Certification is an occupational designation issued by an organization that provides confirmation of an individual's qualifications (specific knowledge and/or skill level) in a specified profession or occupational specialty.

CSEP Certification is voluntary. That means it is neither a barrier nor a gate to entering or exiting a job in today’s market. However, it may be used as a qualifier in placement and/or awarding of contracts

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Certification – an Instrument an Instrument for Realizing INCOSE Strategic Goals

Influence – increase awareness among SE professionals, employers, and educators

Advance – promulgate today’s “State of the Art” to broaden the foundation for advancement

Growth – certification should improve INCOSE membership retention and stimulate growth

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5. Implement the Systems Engineering Certification Program5. Implement the Systems Engineering Certification Program

INCOSE Top Five Priorities

1. Complete the classification of all existing INCOSE products and make them available to members on web.

2. Implement the Guide to the Systems Engineering Body of Knowledge and populate it.

3. Complete the INCOSE Technical Vision on the future of Systems Engineering.

4. Revise the Systems Engineering Handbook, Version 3

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Application Development

1. VerifiableEducation

2. VerifiableExperience

3. Applicant’sAdvocates (three

references knowledgeable about SE)

ISO 15288INCOSE SE Handbook

Version 2a

StudyINCOSEApplication

Center

INCOSEEvaluation

$

CompletedApplicationAnd Fee

Applicant’s own pace

Take Cert Exam(Prometrics Test Center)

Pay test fee

Pass

3 yearCertification

Four to six weeks

NotifyApplicant

Two weeks

Timeline

Applicant has up to one year to pass the test (three tries 3 months apart). Test is scheduled directly with Thompson-Prometrics.

Current Certification Process

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Requirements for CertifiedSystems Engineering Professional (CSEP)*

INCOSE membership not required to participate in programINCOSE membership not required to participate in program

SE Experience - 5 years minimum in multiple SE disciplinesEducation – Bachelor’s degree/equivalent in technical field(Additional experience must be substituted for non-technical degree)

5 more years of engineering for non-technical Bachelor’s (total 10 years) 10 more years of engineering if no Bachelor’s degree (total 15 years)

Recommendations from at least 3 Colleagues/Peers/Managers who are knowledgeable in Systems Engineering

Certification Exam * Application and Fee Submittals Required

Application requires copy of degree transcript or diploma Application fee is $400 – discounted to $300 for INCOSE members Test fee is $80 payable to Testing organization at time of exam.

©2005 CSM Slide 8

SE Experience Areas for CSEP Certification

In order to achieve successful application approval, professionals must show real-world experience in these 13 experience areas as

identified by INCOSE. 1. Requirements Engineering2. Risk and Opportunity Management3. Baseline Control4. Technical Planning5. Technical Effort Assessment6. Design Development7. Qualification, Verification, and Validation8. Process Definition9. Tool Support10. Training11. System Integration12. Quality Assurance13. Specialty Engineering

©2005 CSM Slide 9

CSEP Exam Information

The CSEP Exam is based on current INCOSE SE Handbook Version 2A which is available on INCOSE’s web site.

Exam cost is $80 per exam

Consists of 120 questions

2 hours in length

Pass/Fail results provided immediately upon exam completion

Candidates eligible for two re-tests within the year

SE Handbook version 3 is in development. Expected release is in 2006.

Exam will be updated for SE Handbook Version 3

Certification is good for 3 years

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The Opportunity

Based on the success experienced from PMI’s PMP certification program, CSEP can drive the same success for INCOSE, and our industry

Qualify the value proposition for the industry

We get to invent a NEW acronym! CSEP

INCOSE has an opportunity to advance the industry, increase memberships and create broad visibility through its certification program

The Bureau of Labor & Statistics (May 18, 2004), forecasts employment growth in the systems design and related service industry to be one of the

fastest growing occupations thru 2012.

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CSEP Potential Impact

PMI/PMP Growth Chart

0

50000

100000

150000

200000

1 3 5 7 9 11

Years

PM

I/PM

P's Year

Members

Certified

PMP Experience INCOSE Opportunity*

*Based on CSM’s projected forecast

Based on historical data provided by PMI, the number of PMP’s today exceeds more than 116,000 or 78% of total members. CSM’s CSEP forecast using current market indicators suggests similar success!

INCOSE/CSEP Growth Chart

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

1 3 5 7 9 11

Years

Mem

bers

/CS

EP

Year

Members

Certified

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INCOSE Growth

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

INCOSE - CSEPCertification

Starts

CSEP - 37

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PMI and INCOSE Growth

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

140000

160000

180000

1969 1974 1979 1984 1989 1994 1999 2004

PMI - PMPCertification

StartsINCOSE - CSEP

CertificationStarts

INCOSE = 5% of PMIINCOSE = 5% of PMI

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CSEP Certification Challenges

Increased communication of CSEP

Application review lead-time currently >60 days

Clarify the definition of systems engineering

Limited awareness among SE community

Need for preparation and training programs

In order to successfully achieve CSEP awareness and participation, several challenges need to be addressed

©2005 CSM Slide 15

CSEP Value Propositions

Business Value Propositions: Standardization drives predictable results that impact bottom line Reflects positive investment in staff--greater employee retention Increased competitiveness in pursuit of new business (key

differentiator)

Individual Value Propositions: Formal recognition of professional’s expertise and experience Higher compensation – PMP’s averaged more than 14% increase

in 2004 Enhanced employment prospects

Certification offers value to business and professionals!

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CSM’s CSEP Preparation Program

Three Point Program: One-day application workshop Two-day INCOSE handbook review Just-in-time support

Multiple Delivery Methods: Open enrollment On-site training CSM partners

Course Content: Guide professionals in organizing a strong application Handbook overview Assess individual strengths and weaknesses and together we

develop study guides with students Multiple practice tests

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CSM’s CSEP Preparation Program – Continued

Available Delivery Methods: On-site (dependent on class size) At CSM Headquarters (Vienna, VA)

Available Dates: September (20-22) October (3-5) November (8-10) December (12-14)

©2005 CSM Slide 18

Pg 79, ¶ 5

Practice Test Questions

What are two aspects of the definition of concurrent engineering? (Choose two.) 

A. All technical disciplines are involved as requirements are developed.

B. Products and their related processes are developed simultaneously.

C. All technical disciplines are co-located during definition.

D. Ensure that system engineering staff are available throughout the development.

This question IS NOT from the INCOSE Certification Exam. The format and content are similar (based on SEHv2a), however it was created for a CSM client by CSM and Prometric, and is used with permission.

©2005 CSM Slide 19

Pg 79, ¶ 5

Question 1-10

What is a best practice for concurrent engineering? A. Ensure monthly meetings of technical staff.

B. Ensure continuous integration of the entire product team.

C. Ensure that the team fully understands all the user requirements.

D. Ensure the availability of state-of-the-art systems engineering tools.

This question IS NOT from the INCOSE Certification Exam. The format and content are similar (based on SEHv2a), however it was created for a CSM client by CSM and Prometric, and is used with permission.

©2005 CSM Slide 20

Pg 81, ¶ 1

Pg 88, Fig 7-6

Question 1-11

Which two factors are critical for Integrated Project Teams (IPT) implementation? (Choose two.) 

A. The team is co-located.

B. To be effective, team members must maintain a constant level of involvement during development.

C. The team should be empowered with the authority to match its responsibility.

D. Each team has at least 5 full time equivalent members (SE, design engineering, manufacturing, SW development, system test).

E. The team has cost, schedule, and performance responsibility.

This question IS NOT from the INCOSE Certification Exam. The format and content are similar (based on SEHv2a), however it was created for a CSM client by CSM and Prometric, and is used with permission.

©2005 CSM Slide 21

© 2005 Center for Systems Management, Inc.1951 Kidwell Drive, Suite 750

Vienna, VA 22182(800) 486-8090www.csm.com

Thank You!