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The Certified Manager of Software Quality (CMSQ) certification establishes a worldwide standard for the assessment of the capabilities and competencies of software quality assurance professionals that are working at, or soon will work at the software quality assurance management level.
Acquiring the designation of Certified Manager of Software Quality (CMSQ) indicates a level of professional competence in both the principles and practices of software quality assurance, demonstrating the skills and capabilities necessary to manage the software quality assurance function. CMSQ certification provides IT upper management a necessary tool to predict the likelihood of success of individuals applying for management level positions. The CMSQ certification provides the IT professional with an objective assessment of their management skills. |
| Examination Availability: (CMSQ) |
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With the move to Pearson VUE Testing Centers as its partner for the administration of certification examinations worldwide there will no longer be a fixed schedule posted with dates / locations as in previous year.
NOTE:
The CMSQ Certification exam is NOT currently available for scheduling / testing with Pearson VUE. It is slated to be added in the second quarter of 2013.
Exams are offered daily at Pearson VUE Testing Centers and seats for the exams are based on availability at each site which depends on when you are planning to schedule an exam. The farther out you attempt to schedule an exam the better the chances are of finding a seat so plan accordingly.
As a general rule most Pearson VUE Testing Centers are open Monday - Friday, however in some locations that may vary. The majority of test centers are open in the morning and late afternoon and a handful have opted to stay open on the weekends.
Waiting until the last minute to try and schedule an exam is not recommended, especially if your application is about to expire as there is no guarantee you will be able to find a seat at a center before the application does expires. If you are unsure of the application expiration status email certify@softwarecertifications.org
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| Applicant Prerequisites: (CMSQ) |
| To qualify for candidacy, each applicant must: |
- Currently hold an active CSQA Certification (recommended, not required).
- Be working in the field covered by the certification designation.
- Be prepared to take the required manager’s level examination.
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AND meet one of the following three prerequisites:
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- A bachelor’s degree from accredited college-level institution & 4 years experience in the software quality assurance field
- An associate degree & 6 years experience in the software quality assurance field
- Eight years of experience in the software quality assurance field.
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An applicant for certification must adhere to the Code of Ethics that outlines the ethical behaviors expected of all certified professionals by the ISCB.
Depending upon a compliance sample selected according to program criteria, the applicant may be required to provide upon request detailed education, employment, and reference documentation supporting the information entered in the Customer Portal during the application process. If selected the applicant must supply the required documentation and those who fail to provide the requested documentation may be subject to decertification. |
| Initial Application & Fee: (CMSQ) |
For those who qualify for the CMSQ certification and are prepared to establish candidacy must complete an online Certification Candidacy Application in the Customer Portal and pay the application fee.
The CMSQ application fee is: |
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| The application fee includes the following: |
- Instant access to a PDF file of the Software Quality CBOK (551 pages) which is a useful tool to help prepare for the exam. After payment go to the CBOK Manuals page of Customer Portal for access.
- The candidates Initial Exam which must be taken within one year from the date payment was processed or the application will expire (see Application Length).
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To apply for the CMSQ certification candidates must first login to their Customer Portal account. If new to the Portal then they will need to create one by clicking on the Register Now link, and then the Register as a New User tab.
IMPORTANT:
Make sure the first / last names entered when creating an account matches what is on your government issued photo ID (i.e. drivers license, passport). DO NOT abbreviate or use a nickname. If they do not match when presenting your ID at check-in you will NOT be granted entrance to the examination. |
| Examination Details: (CMSQ) |
| The exam itself is paper-based consisting of four parts - constructed response (essay) questions. The examination tests the candidate’s “practical” knowledge in the following four areas: |
- Quality Leadership
- The Quality Assurance Function
- Quality Planning and Execution
- Communications and Relationships
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The exam will take over 4 hours to complete which includes a 10 minute break after the first three parts. The passing mark is 75% which is the average score of both parts.
If you had an active CSQA certification at the time of applying for the CMSQ, once you become a CMSQ certificant then your CSQA will remain active and mirror the CMSQ as long it remains active. CSQA certifications are not subject to reactivation if expired prior to applying for the CMSQ certification. |
| Exam Scheduling: (CMSQ) |
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The CMSQ Examination is NOT currently available for scheduling / testing through |
Pearson VUE Testing Centers |
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The CMSQ Certification exam is NOT currently available for scheduling / testing with Pearson VUE. It is slated to be added in the second quarter of 2013.
IMPORTANT:
Let us assure you that anyone waiting to take their certification exam that may not be currently available and their applications may be expiring soon will have an opportunity to take their exam once it becomes available.
For those candidates who had applied for the CMSQ and were not able to take the exam because it was not available in their area (all locations EXCEPT Belarus, India, and Sri Lanka), and whose applications may be or has expired will also be given an opportunity to take their exam through Pearson VUE Testing Center when available.
We appreciate your patience as we work to get all exams available through Pearson VUE by the second quarter of 2013.
If you have any questions please feel free to email us at certify@softwarecertifications.org. |
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| To maintain the CMSQ certification, it is a requirement that the certified manager continue to mature their technical and managerial competencies. Certified managers must earn 30 CPE (continuing professional education) points in each of the following four categories every three years (120 CPE total in three years): |
- Management Skills (30 CPE / 3 years)
- Technical Skills (30 CPE / 3 years)
- Professional Development Activities in the Industry (30 CPE / 3 years)
- Additional activities in selected categories (30 CPE / 3 years)
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