Discover Certifications
Source: http://computer.org/certification
Archived: 2026-04-23 14:52
Discover Certifications
Discover Certifications
Bridge the Gap Between Knowledge and Recognition
About the Certifications
Become a Certified Software Professional
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Certifications
We’re excited to offer the IEEE Computer Society Certified Software Professional program. Backed by industry experts and built on professional standards, these certifications validate your expertise on the entire software lifecycle.
In a field where professional roles vary widely across organizations, skill validation is your most reliable asset. This certification program provides an independent, comprehensive assessment of your expertise that confirms your readiness for the next stage of your career.
There are no required prerequisites. We offer
recommended guidelines
to help you choose the level that best matches your experience and goals.
*If you have recently purchased a certification that has been retired,
please click here
for more information.
How to Become a Certified Software Professional
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
What Certification Level is Right for Me?
Certified Software Professional Level 1
Recommended Education:
2+ years in Software Engineering, Computer Science, or related field
Recommended Work Experience:
None required
Expected Capabilities:
Contribute on a team with guidance
Example Role Fit:
Software Developer
Technology Knowledge Requirement:
Should know the stack used in the team/project
Certified Software Professional Level 2
Recommended Education:
4+ years in Software Engineering, Computer Science, or related field
Recommended Work Experience:
5+ years relevant software experience
Expected Capabilities:
Deliver complex projects or lead small teams
Example Role Fit:
Technical Lead, Senior Engineer, Independent Developer
Technology Knowledge Requirement:
Must be proficient in relevant stack/domain
Need something more advanced? The
Professional Software Engineering Master Certification (Advanced Management)
may be right for you.
[An IEEE Computer Society Certified Software Professional] has really learned the full cycle as an engineer. No other certification covers the same full spectrum of topics for software engineering.
Adil A., Software Engineer
15+ years experience
Certified Software Professional Level 1
Designed for those in the early stages of their software engineering career.
Capable of performing as a software developer
Can join a multi-person team and contribute under guidance
View Level 1
Certified Software Professional Level 2
Geared toward experienced professionals ready to lead and deliver complex software projects independently.
Capable of successfully delivering non-trivial software (e.g., 3–6 months of effort) by themselves
Qualified to be the technical lead on a small team (e.g., 4–6 developers).
Alert me when Level 2 is ready
→
Professional Software Engineering Master
Created for seasoned professionals who have already begun leading teams and projects who wish to showcase their professional proficiency in software.
View PSEM
Software Professional Certification Can Help You
Get
ahead of the competition
.
Prove you have the
skill to develop a product through its entire lifecycle
Have an
edge in the hiring process
Demonstrate
readiness for greater responsibility and leadership
.
Learn more about how a certification can be used in your career:
From Classroom to Career: Skills That Shape Your Path Beyond Coding
How to Prepare for Leadership Roles in Software Engineering
Adapting to Industry Changes in an AI-Driven Future
How to Stand Out in Today’s Competitive Software Engineering Job Market
What to Expect on Exam Day
Format, Scoring, and Timing Overview
Exams and courses are available for one year (twelve months) from the date of purchase. Membership and Student Membership discounts are available.
Level 1 Certification
Exam Format:
80 multiple-choice and scenario-based questions
Question Types:
Applied knowledge, logic, debugging, basic architecture
Exam Duration:
100 minutes
Delivery:
Online, Remotely proctored
Passing Score:
69%
Results:
Available Immediately
Certification:
Valid in perpetuity
The following materials are allowed during the exam: Calculator, Open Book, SWEBOK, and the
IEEE CS Level 1 Test Specifications
.
View Level 1 Pricing
Level 2 Certification
Exam Format:
180 multiple-choice, case studies, and design-based questions
Question Types:
Deep analysis, system design, leadership decisions
Exam Duration:
210 minutes
Delivery:
Online, Remotely proctored
Passing Score:
75%
Results:
Available Immediately
Certification:
Valid for 3 years, available for recertification
Alert me when Level 2 is ready
→
Professional Software Engineering Master
Exam Format:
160 Questions
Delivery:
Exams are 100% online and proctored remotely
Exam Duration:
3 hours
View PSEM Pricing
Contact Us
Have questions that aren’t answered here? Not sure which exam level fits your background?
Email us at
certification@computer.org
.
For institutional purchases, please contact our sales manager, Gillian Howcroft,
g.howcroft@computer.org
Search this page
Page Content:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be an IEEE Computer Society Certified Software Professional Level 1?
What does it mean to be an IEEE Computer Society Certified Software Professional Level 2?
How can I prepare for the exam?
Do I need a college or university degree to take the test?
How does this certification differ from a traditional degree or credential?
What sets this apart from programs like CS50 or basic computer training courses for beginners and adults?
How does the Software Professional Certification complement my formal university degree or work history?
How does this compare to other industry certifications and benchmarks?
How can this certification help software graduates entering the industry?
How can businesses benefit from hiring software engineers who are certified?
Our HR department is looking to implement this certification in the hiring process and/or company career development program. Do you offer bulk purchasing options?
How can I help promote this certification to my professional network, and what resources are available to support my outreach?
Is the IEEE CS Software Professional Certification affiliated with or sponsored by any academic institutions or industry organizations?
Something came up, and I can no longer take the exam. Can I get a refund?
I have recently purchased a certification that has been retired. Are they still valid?
When will the Level 2 Certification be available?
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be an IEEE Computer Society Certified Software Professional Level 1?
As a Level 1 Certified Software Professional, you show that you are ready for a position as a software engineer who can contribute to a multi-person team to deliver professional software under guidance. The exam tests your understanding of software engineering principles across the entire software lifecycle. Upon passing and attaining the certification, you now have a way of showing you understand procedural skills and, under supervision, can deliver sustainable, high-quality software, independent of technology stack or methodology.
What does it mean to be an IEEE Computer Society Certified Software Professional Level 2?
Getting this certification means you have demonstrated professional expertise and competency in software engineering practices such that you are able to independently execute projects or guide a team to develop a software product through its entire lifecycle. Built on a trusted professional framework, it validates your experience applying software engineering principles at a higher level and confirms your readiness to lead complex projects, take on greater responsibility, and advance in your professional path.
How can I prepare for the exam?
You can prepare by independently studying the Knowledge Areas (KAs) covered by the exam. Check the “Knowledge Areas” tab on the purchase pages for
Level 1
and Level 2 (
when available
) and read the corresponding material referenced in the
SWEBOK Guide
according to those KAs. Furthermore, you can choose to the bundle with the preparatory courses when purchasing.
Please be advised that these preparatory courses are only available as part of the initial bundle and cannot be purchased separately at a later date.
Do I need a college or university degree to take the test?
No, you do not need a college or university degree to take the certification exams. In fact, there are no prerequisites to take the IEEE CS Software Professional Certification – Level 1 or 2 exams, nor do you need to have the Level 1 certification in order to take the Level 2.
If you developed your software skills through on-the-job training or non-traditional paths, this certification provides an objective way to prove your competence to employers. It verifies that your knowledge aligns with the professional standards of software engineering and meets employer expectations.
How does this certification differ from a traditional degree or credential?
This certification shows that you understand how to effectively apply engineering principles in real-world environments. It serves as an independent validation of your skills based on established industry standards for sustainable software construction and professional integrity.
What sets this apart from programs like CS50 or basic computer training courses for beginners and adults?
While computer classes for beginners and adults or programs like Harvard’s CS50 and MIT’s OpenCourseWare are excellent places to start learning, they focus on an introduction to coding. The IEEE Computer Society Software Professional Certification is the next step for those wanting to advance in their software career. This certification validates your knowledge across the entire software lifecycle in a professional environment. Unlike platforms like HackerRank or Codecrafters, our certification proves to employers that you understand sustainable software processes and how to deliver complex software projects. Whether you are looking for your first software engineer job or moving into a leadership role, this credential bridges the gap between knowing how to code and knowing how to engineer software.
How does the Software Professional Certification complement my formal university degree or work history?
Knowledge is hard to demonstrate when summarized on a résumé because role titles may not accurately reflect all duties performed; and during an interview process, only a narrow scope of technical skills may be tested. Even with the current shift in Stanford CS placement trends, it is clear that a degree is only the start. Having the Software Professional Certification (Level 1 or Level 2) allows you to show potential employers that you understand core concepts necessary for a role in Software, whether you are finding new employment or seeking a promotion. IEEE Computer Society, the industry’s most trusted professional organization in computing, guarantees that those with this certification have demonstrated a given standard of knowledge and ability on the software lifecycle.
How does this compare to other industry certifications and benchmarks?
The IEEE CS Software Professional Certification evaluates fundamental software engineering principles that are applicable to
all
systems and teams, regardless of programming language or tech stack;
Other certifications may show that you understand how to perform within a proprietary system or for a specific product or your knowledge of a specific programming language.
The IEEE Computer Society built this certification on a globally recognized framework of software engineering principles. It tests Knowledge Areas required to build, secure, and manage professional-grade software, to provide a clear, objective benchmark for the entire industry.
How can this certification help software graduates entering the industry?
When you are first starting out, you are competing against peers who may have similar on-paper qualifications. Attaining this certification demonstrates that you possess a practical understanding of current best practices for software engineering. This includes requirements analysis, design, testing, and additional knowledge areas in the software lifecycle. This assures potential employers that you have the tools to function in professional production environments.
View all knowledge areas covered
here
.
How can businesses benefit from hiring software engineers who are certified?
IEEE Computer Society Certified Software Professionals have proven they have a solid foundational understanding of software engineering best practices and know how to apply them. When an entire team has a coherent understanding of the principles of software engineering, it reduces inefficiency, costs, and rework, and means teams deliver software products of higher quality from the start because they can communicate and operate around the same principles.
Our HR department is looking to implement this certification in the hiring process and/or company career development program. Do you offer bulk purchasing options?
Yes! For institutional purchases, please contact our sales manager, Gillian Howcroft (
g.howcroft@computer.org
).
How can I help promote this certification to my professional network, and what resources are available to support my outreach?
We appreciate your interest in getting the word out there! The certification is a great way for companies and academic institutions to achieve better job placement and talent retention and encourage excellence in the software industry overall. We have developed an advocacy toolkit that includes:
email templates
social media templates and imagery
presentation materials
printable items for in-person events
This toolkit provides ready-to-use resources to help you introduce the certification program to your employer, colleagues, students, and mentees. Advocacy can be as simple as a two-minute email to your HR department, a five-minute mention during a team sync, or printing a flyer and putting it on a bulletin board. You choose the level of involvement that fits your schedule.
DOWNLOAD THE TOOLKIT
Is the IEEE CS Software Professional Certification affiliated with or sponsored by any academic institutions or industry organizations?
No. These certifications are not affiliated or sponsored by academic or industry entities, and are entirely independent and applicable to
any
software environment. The program was developed, and will be continually updated, by a coalition of industry and technical leaders volunteering under the IEEE Computer Society. Therefore, the examination contents are based on an independent consensus between industry and academia of knowledge areas and skills necessary for success working on software.
Something came up, and I can no longer take the exam. Can I get a refund?
The exam and course fees are non-refundable, but rest-assured, you have 12 months from the date of purchase to complete the exam. If you need help rescheduling your exam date, contact us at
certification@computer.org
.
I have recently purchased a certification that has been retired. Are they still valid?
As of February 2026, the Associate Software Developer Certification (ASD) and Professional Software Developer Certification (PSD) have been discontinued. These certifications are still valid, recognized, and here to support your career advancement. You can still login to your profile to access your previously purchased materials.
Candidates actively preparing for ASD or PSD will receive clear guidance and sufficient time to complete their certification path. If you have registered for an exam within the past 12 months, please contact
certification@computer.org
for guidance.
The scope of the
Professional Software Engineering Master (PSEM)
certification exceeds the Software Professional Certification, and PSEM is still fully supported by the IEEE Computer Society.
When will the Level 2 Certification be available?
Level 2 is set to launch in Spring 2026. Sign up for more information and to get notified when it is available.
Validate Your Expertise Today
Certified Software Professional – Level 1
Professional Software Engineering Master
Alert me when Level 2 is ready
→
Discover Certifications
Bridge the Gap Between Knowledge and Recognition
About the Certifications
Become a Certified Software Professional
Frequently Asked Questions
About the Certifications
We’re excited to offer the IEEE Computer Society Certified Software Professional program. Backed by industry experts and built on professional standards, these certifications validate your expertise on the entire software lifecycle.
In a field where professional roles vary widely across organizations, skill validation is your most reliable asset. This certification program provides an independent, comprehensive assessment of your expertise that confirms your readiness for the next stage of your career.
There are no required prerequisites. We offer
recommended guidelines
to help you choose the level that best matches your experience and goals.
*If you have recently purchased a certification that has been retired,
please click here
for more information.
How to Become a Certified Software Professional
Step 1
Step 2
Step 3
Step 4
Step 5
What Certification Level is Right for Me?
Certified Software Professional Level 1
Recommended Education:
2+ years in Software Engineering, Computer Science, or related field
Recommended Work Experience:
None required
Expected Capabilities:
Contribute on a team with guidance
Example Role Fit:
Software Developer
Technology Knowledge Requirement:
Should know the stack used in the team/project
Certified Software Professional Level 2
Recommended Education:
4+ years in Software Engineering, Computer Science, or related field
Recommended Work Experience:
5+ years relevant software experience
Expected Capabilities:
Deliver complex projects or lead small teams
Example Role Fit:
Technical Lead, Senior Engineer, Independent Developer
Technology Knowledge Requirement:
Must be proficient in relevant stack/domain
Need something more advanced? The
Professional Software Engineering Master Certification (Advanced Management)
may be right for you.
[An IEEE Computer Society Certified Software Professional] has really learned the full cycle as an engineer. No other certification covers the same full spectrum of topics for software engineering.
Adil A., Software Engineer
15+ years experience
Certified Software Professional Level 1
Designed for those in the early stages of their software engineering career.
Capable of performing as a software developer
Can join a multi-person team and contribute under guidance
View Level 1
Certified Software Professional Level 2
Geared toward experienced professionals ready to lead and deliver complex software projects independently.
Capable of successfully delivering non-trivial software (e.g., 3–6 months of effort) by themselves
Qualified to be the technical lead on a small team (e.g., 4–6 developers).
Alert me when Level 2 is ready
→
Professional Software Engineering Master
Created for seasoned professionals who have already begun leading teams and projects who wish to showcase their professional proficiency in software.
View PSEM
Software Professional Certification Can Help You
Get
ahead of the competition
.
Prove you have the
skill to develop a product through its entire lifecycle
Have an
edge in the hiring process
Demonstrate
readiness for greater responsibility and leadership
.
Learn more about how a certification can be used in your career:
From Classroom to Career: Skills That Shape Your Path Beyond Coding
How to Prepare for Leadership Roles in Software Engineering
Adapting to Industry Changes in an AI-Driven Future
How to Stand Out in Today’s Competitive Software Engineering Job Market
What to Expect on Exam Day
Format, Scoring, and Timing Overview
Exams and courses are available for one year (twelve months) from the date of purchase. Membership and Student Membership discounts are available.
Level 1 Certification
Exam Format:
80 multiple-choice and scenario-based questions
Question Types:
Applied knowledge, logic, debugging, basic architecture
Exam Duration:
100 minutes
Delivery:
Online, Remotely proctored
Passing Score:
69%
Results:
Available Immediately
Certification:
Valid in perpetuity
The following materials are allowed during the exam: Calculator, Open Book, SWEBOK, and the
IEEE CS Level 1 Test Specifications
.
View Level 1 Pricing
Level 2 Certification
Exam Format:
180 multiple-choice, case studies, and design-based questions
Question Types:
Deep analysis, system design, leadership decisions
Exam Duration:
210 minutes
Delivery:
Online, Remotely proctored
Passing Score:
75%
Results:
Available Immediately
Certification:
Valid for 3 years, available for recertification
Alert me when Level 2 is ready
→
Professional Software Engineering Master
Exam Format:
160 Questions
Delivery:
Exams are 100% online and proctored remotely
Exam Duration:
3 hours
View PSEM Pricing
Contact Us
Have questions that aren’t answered here? Not sure which exam level fits your background?
Email us at
certification@computer.org
.
For institutional purchases, please contact our sales manager, Gillian Howcroft,
g.howcroft@computer.org
Search this page
Page Content:
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be an IEEE Computer Society Certified Software Professional Level 1?
What does it mean to be an IEEE Computer Society Certified Software Professional Level 2?
How can I prepare for the exam?
Do I need a college or university degree to take the test?
How does this certification differ from a traditional degree or credential?
What sets this apart from programs like CS50 or basic computer training courses for beginners and adults?
How does the Software Professional Certification complement my formal university degree or work history?
How does this compare to other industry certifications and benchmarks?
How can this certification help software graduates entering the industry?
How can businesses benefit from hiring software engineers who are certified?
Our HR department is looking to implement this certification in the hiring process and/or company career development program. Do you offer bulk purchasing options?
How can I help promote this certification to my professional network, and what resources are available to support my outreach?
Is the IEEE CS Software Professional Certification affiliated with or sponsored by any academic institutions or industry organizations?
Something came up, and I can no longer take the exam. Can I get a refund?
I have recently purchased a certification that has been retired. Are they still valid?
When will the Level 2 Certification be available?
Frequently Asked Questions
What does it mean to be an IEEE Computer Society Certified Software Professional Level 1?
As a Level 1 Certified Software Professional, you show that you are ready for a position as a software engineer who can contribute to a multi-person team to deliver professional software under guidance. The exam tests your understanding of software engineering principles across the entire software lifecycle. Upon passing and attaining the certification, you now have a way of showing you understand procedural skills and, under supervision, can deliver sustainable, high-quality software, independent of technology stack or methodology.
What does it mean to be an IEEE Computer Society Certified Software Professional Level 2?
Getting this certification means you have demonstrated professional expertise and competency in software engineering practices such that you are able to independently execute projects or guide a team to develop a software product through its entire lifecycle. Built on a trusted professional framework, it validates your experience applying software engineering principles at a higher level and confirms your readiness to lead complex projects, take on greater responsibility, and advance in your professional path.
How can I prepare for the exam?
You can prepare by independently studying the Knowledge Areas (KAs) covered by the exam. Check the “Knowledge Areas” tab on the purchase pages for
Level 1
and Level 2 (
when available
) and read the corresponding material referenced in the
SWEBOK Guide
according to those KAs. Furthermore, you can choose to the bundle with the preparatory courses when purchasing.
Please be advised that these preparatory courses are only available as part of the initial bundle and cannot be purchased separately at a later date.
Do I need a college or university degree to take the test?
No, you do not need a college or university degree to take the certification exams. In fact, there are no prerequisites to take the IEEE CS Software Professional Certification – Level 1 or 2 exams, nor do you need to have the Level 1 certification in order to take the Level 2.
If you developed your software skills through on-the-job training or non-traditional paths, this certification provides an objective way to prove your competence to employers. It verifies that your knowledge aligns with the professional standards of software engineering and meets employer expectations.
How does this certification differ from a traditional degree or credential?
This certification shows that you understand how to effectively apply engineering principles in real-world environments. It serves as an independent validation of your skills based on established industry standards for sustainable software construction and professional integrity.
What sets this apart from programs like CS50 or basic computer training courses for beginners and adults?
While computer classes for beginners and adults or programs like Harvard’s CS50 and MIT’s OpenCourseWare are excellent places to start learning, they focus on an introduction to coding. The IEEE Computer Society Software Professional Certification is the next step for those wanting to advance in their software career. This certification validates your knowledge across the entire software lifecycle in a professional environment. Unlike platforms like HackerRank or Codecrafters, our certification proves to employers that you understand sustainable software processes and how to deliver complex software projects. Whether you are looking for your first software engineer job or moving into a leadership role, this credential bridges the gap between knowing how to code and knowing how to engineer software.
How does the Software Professional Certification complement my formal university degree or work history?
Knowledge is hard to demonstrate when summarized on a résumé because role titles may not accurately reflect all duties performed; and during an interview process, only a narrow scope of technical skills may be tested. Even with the current shift in Stanford CS placement trends, it is clear that a degree is only the start. Having the Software Professional Certification (Level 1 or Level 2) allows you to show potential employers that you understand core concepts necessary for a role in Software, whether you are finding new employment or seeking a promotion. IEEE Computer Society, the industry’s most trusted professional organization in computing, guarantees that those with this certification have demonstrated a given standard of knowledge and ability on the software lifecycle.
How does this compare to other industry certifications and benchmarks?
The IEEE CS Software Professional Certification evaluates fundamental software engineering principles that are applicable to
all
systems and teams, regardless of programming language or tech stack;
Other certifications may show that you understand how to perform within a proprietary system or for a specific product or your knowledge of a specific programming language.
The IEEE Computer Society built this certification on a globally recognized framework of software engineering principles. It tests Knowledge Areas required to build, secure, and manage professional-grade software, to provide a clear, objective benchmark for the entire industry.
How can this certification help software graduates entering the industry?
When you are first starting out, you are competing against peers who may have similar on-paper qualifications. Attaining this certification demonstrates that you possess a practical understanding of current best practices for software engineering. This includes requirements analysis, design, testing, and additional knowledge areas in the software lifecycle. This assures potential employers that you have the tools to function in professional production environments.
View all knowledge areas covered
here
.
How can businesses benefit from hiring software engineers who are certified?
IEEE Computer Society Certified Software Professionals have proven they have a solid foundational understanding of software engineering best practices and know how to apply them. When an entire team has a coherent understanding of the principles of software engineering, it reduces inefficiency, costs, and rework, and means teams deliver software products of higher quality from the start because they can communicate and operate around the same principles.
Our HR department is looking to implement this certification in the hiring process and/or company career development program. Do you offer bulk purchasing options?
Yes! For institutional purchases, please contact our sales manager, Gillian Howcroft (
g.howcroft@computer.org
).
How can I help promote this certification to my professional network, and what resources are available to support my outreach?
We appreciate your interest in getting the word out there! The certification is a great way for companies and academic institutions to achieve better job placement and talent retention and encourage excellence in the software industry overall. We have developed an advocacy toolkit that includes:
email templates
social media templates and imagery
presentation materials
printable items for in-person events
This toolkit provides ready-to-use resources to help you introduce the certification program to your employer, colleagues, students, and mentees. Advocacy can be as simple as a two-minute email to your HR department, a five-minute mention during a team sync, or printing a flyer and putting it on a bulletin board. You choose the level of involvement that fits your schedule.
DOWNLOAD THE TOOLKIT
Is the IEEE CS Software Professional Certification affiliated with or sponsored by any academic institutions or industry organizations?
No. These certifications are not affiliated or sponsored by academic or industry entities, and are entirely independent and applicable to
any
software environment. The program was developed, and will be continually updated, by a coalition of industry and technical leaders volunteering under the IEEE Computer Society. Therefore, the examination contents are based on an independent consensus between industry and academia of knowledge areas and skills necessary for success working on software.
Something came up, and I can no longer take the exam. Can I get a refund?
The exam and course fees are non-refundable, but rest-assured, you have 12 months from the date of purchase to complete the exam. If you need help rescheduling your exam date, contact us at
certification@computer.org
.
I have recently purchased a certification that has been retired. Are they still valid?
As of February 2026, the Associate Software Developer Certification (ASD) and Professional Software Developer Certification (PSD) have been discontinued. These certifications are still valid, recognized, and here to support your career advancement. You can still login to your profile to access your previously purchased materials.
Candidates actively preparing for ASD or PSD will receive clear guidance and sufficient time to complete their certification path. If you have registered for an exam within the past 12 months, please contact
certification@computer.org
for guidance.
The scope of the
Professional Software Engineering Master (PSEM)
certification exceeds the Software Professional Certification, and PSEM is still fully supported by the IEEE Computer Society.
When will the Level 2 Certification be available?
Level 2 is set to launch in Spring 2026. Sign up for more information and to get notified when it is available.
Validate Your Expertise Today
Certified Software Professional – Level 1
Professional Software Engineering Master
Alert me when Level 2 is ready
→