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®)
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 Foundation by Gernot Starke and Alexander Lorz; Van Haren Publishing, 2nd Edition, June 2023
- Software Architecture Fundamentals by Mahbouba Gharbi, Arne Koschel, and Andreas Rausch; dpunkt.verlag, 1st Edition, February 2019
Registration for the exam
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.
Additional Information
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
How can I find a certification body for the CPSA exam?
You can find all information about the certification bodies here.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.