The Certified Professional for Requirements Engineering (CPRE) is a personal certificate aimed at individuals working in Requirements Engineering, Business Analysis and Testing. It will expand your professional knowledge and help you to become more successful in your job.
The certification scheme is developed by the IREB, the contents are taught by independent training providers and the CPRE exam can be taken at approved certification bodies. The CPRE certificate has lifetime validity.
An overview of the three-tier concept:
The CPRE Foundation Level covers the fundamentals of the Requirements Engineering domain, methodology and available techniques.
There are no prerequisites to apply for it.
For further information see Foundation Level
The CPRE Advanced Level stands for mastering and using methods and techniques. There are four choices for achieving an Advanced Level certificate:
For prerequisites and further information see Advanced Level
The Expert Level stands for the highest level of expert knowledge, which comprises practical experience as well as outstanding knowledge and skills in Requirements Engineering.
For prerequisites and further information see Expert Level
The learning objectives for each level and module are defined in the respective syllabus. The contents covered in scripts which can be downloaded in download section.
The CPRE concept gives you maximum flexibility regarding your preparation. We recommend a classroom training course: alternatively you can prepare via online training or self-study.
The exam is usually taken subsequent to a classroom training course. It can also be taken in a test center - at a later time and independently of your choice of preparation.
For further information see training providers, literature and exams.
Major update of the CPRE Foundation Level syllabus
Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Persian, Polish, Portuguese (Brasil), Polish, Russian, Spanish and Swedish
Other languages are not yet available. For transition periods, please see the notes on the CPRE Foundation Level page
The CPRE Foundation Level syllabus states IREB's requirements for candidates to pass the Foundation Level exam and become a Certified Professional for Requirements Engineering. For this purpose the detailed content of each required training section is specified, as well as key words, learning targets and the recommended duration of the lessons. This document and the handbook are meant to serve as a concept for the training provider's course material as well as a means for candidates preparing for the exam individually.
The CPRE Advanced Level Requirements Elicitation syllabus states IREB's requirements for candidates to pass the related Advanced Level Practitioner and Specialist exam.
The syllabus details the content of each training section and specifies key words, learning targets and the recommended duration of the lessons.
This document is meant to serve as a concept for the training provider's course material as well as a means for candidates preparing for the exam individually.
The CPRE Advanced Level Requirements Management syllabus states IREB's requirements for candidates to pass the related Advanced Level Practitioner and Specialist exam.
The syllabus details the content of each training section and specifies key words, learning targets and the recommended duration of the lessons.
This document is meant to serve as a concept for the training provider's course material as well as a means for candidates preparing for the exam individually.
The CPRE Advanced Level Requirements Modeling syllabus states the IREB's requirements for candidates to pass the related Advanced Level Practitioner and Specialist exam.
The syllabus details the content of each training section and specifies key words, learning targets and the recommended duration of the lessons.
This document is meant to serve as a concept for the training provider's course material as well as a means for candidates preparing for the exam individually.
The CPRE Advanced Level Requirements RE@Agile syllabus states IREB's requirements for candidates to pass the related Practitioner and Specialist exam.
CAUTION: New syllabus 2.0.0 as of July 1, 2022. As the syllabus has changed, there is a transition period from July 1, 2022 until December 31, 2022, during which candidates can choose whether to take the exam (Practitioner and Specialist!) on the basis of syllabus version 1.0.3, or on the basis of syllabus version 2.0.0!
The syllabus details the content of each training section and specifies key words, learning targets and the recommended duration of the lessons.
This document is meant to serve as a concept for the training provider's course material as well as a means for candidates preparing for the exam individually.
The CPRE RE@Agile Primer syllabus and study guide states IREB's requirements for candidates to pass the RE@Agile Primer exam. For this purpose, the detailed content of each required training section is specified, as well as key words, learning targets and the recommended duration of the lessons. This document covers the complete content of the RE@Agile Primer topic and serves for the training provider's to prepare their course material as well as for candidates to prepare for the exam individually.
Aligned to the CPRE Foundation Level syllabus version 3.0
The CPRE glossary is available in Chinese, Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Persian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Spanish and Swedish.
Languages other than Chinese and English contain cross references for the terms plus the definition of terms in English
This handbook complements the syllabus for the Foundation Level 3.0
The handbook addresses training providers who want to offer training courses for the Foundation Level according to the IREB standard, as well as trainees and interested practitioners who want to get a detailed insight into the content of the Foundation Level.
This handbook does not replace a training course!
The handbook Requirements Elicitation complements the syllabus for the Advanced Level Requirements Elicitation, Practitioner and Specialist.
The handbook addresses training providers who want to offer training courses for Requirements Elicitation according to the IREB standard, as well as trainees and interested practitioners who want to get a detailed insight into the content of the Advanced Level Requirements Elicitation.
This handbook does not replace a training course!
This download contains the task defintion, the cover page and a template for the written assignment for CPRE Advanced Level Requirements Elicitation - Specialist -
The handbook Requirements Management complements the syllabus for the Advanced Level Requirements Management, Practitioner and Specialist.
The handbook addresses training providers who want to offer training courses for Requirements Management according to the IREB standard, as well as trainees and interested practitioners who want to get a detailed insight into the content of the Advanced Level Requirements Management.
This handbook does not replace a training course!
This download contains the task defintion, the cover page and a template for the written assignment for CPRE Advanced Level Requirements Management - Specialist -
The handbook Requirements Modeling complements the syllabus for the Advanced Level Requirements Modeling, Practitioner and Specialist.
The handbook addresses training providers who want to offer training courses for Requirements Modeling according to the IREB standard, as well as trainees and interested practitioners who want to get a detailed insight into the content of the Advanced Level Requirements Modeling.
This handbook does not replace a training course!
This download contains the task defintion, the cover page and a template for the written assignment for CPRE Advanced Level Requirements Modeling - Specialist -
This download contains the task defintion, the cover page and a template for the written assignment for CPRE Advanced Level RE@Agile- Specialist -
Flyer with information related to IREB and the CPRE; for use at fairs, lectures etc.
This glossary defines the terms which are relevant in the context of the RE@Agile.
The RE@Agile glossary is available in English and Chinese (Mandarin).
The English document includes - in addition to the definition of terms in English - cross references in French, German, Italian, Persian and Portuguese (Brazil).
No, the CPRE certificate has lifetime validity.
The contents of the CPRE-certificates are based on the fundamental methods and approaches of Requirements Engineering, and these alter only slowly. Therefore we see no need to repeat a training course and/or a certification after a certain time.
In the everyday work of a business analyst the contents of the CPRE training will, in any case, find practical application, so - as with the knowledge acquired for a driver's license – there should be no need for regular refresher courses.
This also reflects the philosophy of IREB: the decision to take the CPRE certification should not entail recurring costs for the candidates.
Yes, the certification is internationally accepted! CPRE Foundation Level exams have been conducted in 91 countries and over 62,000 candidates have been certified in the CPRE Foundation Level. See the detailed statistics!
The certification itself is offered in more and more languages which underlines the international importance and acceptance of the CPRE certificates.
The elicitation of requirements generally forms the beginning of each project. Individuals who demonstrate their competence in eliciting and managing requirements at this early stage can quickly progress to playing a leading role in the entire project.
Even in advance a freelancer’s CPRE certificate indicates, that she/he is especially well-qualified for such a role. From a company’s point of view this person is very well prepared to contribute to the project's success.
With a certification for a CPRE in Foundation Level and a following certification for a CPRE in Advanced Level service providers can emphasize the demonstrable qualification of their employees. The reputation and acceptance of certified consultants is significantly higher market value compared to those consultants without an adequate certificate. Furthermore there is a clear trend to require an adequate certification for consultants when making a call for tenders.
A further aspect is the motivation of the employees due to incentive systems created by their continuing education and certification.
Certification of employees is of particular importance to companies operating globally as the international acceptance of CPRE certificates facilitates a trans-national deployment of employees.
The certification of Requirements Engineering skills also supports the interchangeability of employees in this role, reducing the dependency on a particular skilled individual.