FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT CERTIFICATIONS
Do you have questions or curiosity about certifications for Requirements Engineering professionals? Here you can find a selection of the most frequently asked questions.
If the questions and answers listed here do not clear up your doubts, feel free to write to us at the email addresses found at the bottom of this page.
Yes, the CPRE certification from IREB® is recognized and accepted worldwide as a standard for professionals working in the field of Requirements Engineering. The CPRE Foundation Level exam has been conducted in many countries, and the number of certified professionals globally is substantial and steadily growing.
The certification is offered in an increasing number of languages and is becoming more frequently requested in CVs and tenders, highlighting the international importance and esteem that CPRE-certified professionals enjoy.
No, the certificate is valid indefinitely.
The contents of the CPRE certifications are based on the fundamental methods and techniques of Requirements Engineering, which evolve only slowly and gradually. Therefore, there is no need to retake a training course and/or certification after a certain period of time.
In the daily work of a certified professional, the CPRE training content is practically applied, so—much like the knowledge acquired for a driver's license—regular refresher courses should not be necessary. This also reflects the philosophy of IREB®: the decision to obtain the CPRE certification should not involve recurring costs for candidates.
A syllabus is a document that contains a summary of the topics that need to be covered during the certification exam for the various levels set by IREB®.
It is possible, by referring both to the CPRE Foundation Level syllabus and the recommended texts (see the section on study materials). It’s important to note that the syllabus does not delve into the practical application of the concepts and knowledge required to pass the exam: for this reason, a preparation course can be useful, especially if you have no prior experience in the subject.
You can assess your exam readiness by attempting the exam simulations provided by IREB®.
The concept of CPRE certification follows the DIN EN ISO / IEC 17024 standard, which mandates the strict separation between training and certification, thereby avoiding conflicts of interest. CPRE training providers and CPRE certification bodies are independent organizations.
However, this does not mean that an individual seeking the CPRE certificate must find both a training provider and a certification body that conducts the exam and issues the certificate. Through the ITA-STQB online booking platform, it is possible to both search for an accredited training course—if you prefer to take a preparation course—and register for the certification exam; the course is delivered by an independent trainer, while the exam is administered by ITA-STQB.
It is also possible to book just the certification exam, as attendance of a course is not mandatory to take the exam.
A certification body conducts the CPRE exams, evaluates the exams, declares the results, and issues the CPRE certificates on behalf of IREB®. In Italy, the certification body recognized by IREB® is ITA-STQB.
We invite you to review the "IREB® Exams" section of this website for information regarding exam costs.
It depends on the chosen Training Provider. The price can vary as the providers operate independently. We encourage you to contact accredited trainers to request information on course costs.
The identification of requirements generally marks the beginning of every project. Those who demonstrate their competence in creating and managing requirements at this early stage can quickly progress to take on a leading role throughout the project.
A CPRE certificate presented by a freelancer indicates that they are particularly qualified to take on a role in Requirements Engineering. From the company's perspective, this individual is prepared to contribute to the project's success. It is no coincidence that an increasing number of companies are requiring this certification when seeking candidates for roles in Requirements Engineering.
With a CPRE certification, a Service Provider can highlight the demonstrable qualifications of its employees. The reputation and acceptance of certified consultants are significantly higher compared to those without an appropriate certificate. Additionally, there is a clear trend towards requiring proper certification for consultants when participating in tender processes.
Another aspect is the increased motivation of employees when ongoing training and experience are complemented by certification. Employee certification is particularly significant for multinational companies, and in this regard, the international recognition of CPRE certificates is a clear advantage.
Registration can be completed directly on the ITA-STQB online booking website at https://ecomm.ita-stqb.org, where you can also register and pay online.
Participation in a training course is not mandatory, either before taking an exam or if it becomes necessary to retake the exam.
The exam can be retaken up to two times without a waiting period. If you do not pass the exam on the third attempt, you can only retake it one year after the date of the third failed attempt.
It might be helpful to take the CPRE exam immediately after completing a training course, but this is neither mandatory nor essential. If the course participant does not feel confident in taking the exam right away, they can opt to take the certification exam at a later time. This allows for more time to become familiar with the topics in which the participant feels they are still lacking, and to take the exam only once they have completed their preparation.
Yes, the fee for each exam includes participation in a single session of the exam for which you are registered. In the event of not passing, additional exams can be taken by paying the corresponding fee.
We encourage you to review the "IREB® Exams" section of this website for information regarding the structure of exam questions and the scoring mechanism.
IREB has published an exam simulation set for each certification level. You can download the simulation sets in Italian and English from the IREB website. The link to this download section is available on this site in the page dedicated to study materials.
We encourage you to review the "IREB® Exams" section of this website for information regarding the structure of exam questions and the scoring mechanism.
We encourage you to review the "IREB® Exams" section of this website for information regarding the delivery methods of certification exams.
The exams offered by ITA-STQB are conducted online in a Live Remote Proctored mode.
The CPRE Foundation and CPRE RE@Agile Primer exams have no prerequisites. It is recommended to prepare by studying the syllabus topics, either by attending a course provided by an accredited trainer or through self-study and practical experience.
To take the Advanced Practitioner level exams, you must have the CPRE Foundation certificate. Adequate practical experience or preparation through an accredited course is advised before taking these exams.
You will receive an email notification about whether you passed or failed the exam, along with your score. If you pass, you will be sent the corresponding certificate in electronic format.
Do you have any questions or curiosities about our certification activities in Italy? Would you like to know more about the exams and the online exam procedures?