iSAQB® CPSA certification: what it is, who it is for and how to get it

• Certified Professional for Software Architecture (CPSA)
• Three levels: Foundation, Advanced, Expert
• You start with Foundation, with no prerequisites for the exam
• Online exam, in Italy through ITA-STQB

What iSAQB® is

• iSAQB®, the International Software Architecture Qualification Board, is the independent international body that sets the standards for training, exams and certification, including the CPSA programme for people working in software architecture. The programme is based on reference curricula and on courses delivered by accredited training providers. In Italy exam registration goes through ITA-STQB; Cube Academy has been an iSAQB®-accredited Training Provider since 2024.

The certification levels

• The programme follows the official iSAQB® CPSA-Foundation curriculum: read the curriculum (PDF).
• Foundation (CPSA-F): The starting point: the knowledge to design and document architectures of small and medium-sized systems, from quality requirements to evaluation. No prerequisites are needed to take the exam. It is the level our courses cover.
• Advanced (CPSA-A): The specialisation level: it requires the Foundation certification, accredited training modules and a certification task with an interview in front of iSAQB® examiners.
• Expert (CPSA-E): The highest level of the programme: it requires the Advanced certification.

Who it is for

• Software architects
• Senior developers and lead developers
• Project managers with a technical focus
• IT consultants and technical leaders
• Requirements experts and software engineers

What it certifies, and what it does not

• The certification attests basic knowledge of software architecture, but does not guarantee a job, a promotion or the professional title of Software Architect.

The path to the Foundation certification

• The course: 24 hours with an iSAQB®-accredited trainer, online or in the classroom in Rome. Discover the Software Architect course.
• The exam: taken separately, online, with the certification body. How the CPSA-F exam works.
• The certificate: if you pass the exam you receive it as a PDF by email, with unlimited validity.

Frequently asked questions about the iSAQB® certification