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:
To apply for the Advanced Level the CPRE Foundation Level must have been completed successfully.
For 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.
For the Foundation Level there is an official companion book Requirements Engineering Fundamentals which covers the content in detail.
The contents of the Advanced Level modules are covered in scripts which can be downloaded in English and German.
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.
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 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.
Dutch only valid until July 31, 2021!
French, Portuguese (Brazil) and Russian only valid until September 30, 2021!
Italian only valid until October 31, 2021!
Swedish only valid until December 31, 2021!
For transition periods, please see the notes on the CPRE Foundation Level page
Major update of the CPRE Foundation Level syllabus
English and German valid from October 1, 2020!
Dutch valid from February 1, 2021
French, Persian, Portuguese (Brasil) and Russian valid from April 1, 2021
Italian valid from May 1, 2021
Swedish valid from July 1, 2021
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 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 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 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 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 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 most recent edition of the book Requirements Engineering Fundamentals, the CPRE Glossary aims to collect existing knowledge on Requirements Engineering terminology and define core terminology carefully and consistently.
Aligned to the CPRE Foundation Level syllabus version 2.2 The glossary aligned to the CPRE Foundation Level syllabus version 3.0 will be published soon.
The CPRE glossary is available in English and Chinese (Mandarin).
The English document includes - in addition to the definition of terms in English - cross references in Dutch, French, German, Hungarian, Italian, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Spanish and Swedish.
Aligned to the CPRE Foundation Level syllabus version 3.0
The CPRE glossary is available in Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Persian, Portuguese (Brazil) and Russian. Additional translations are in preparation.
Languages other than 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.
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!
The handbook Requirements Management complements the syllabus for the Advanced Level Requirements Management.
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!
The handbook Requirements Modeling complements the syllabus for the Advanced Level Requirements Modeling.
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!
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 and Portuguese (Brazil).
The data sheet summarizes the main information of the CPRE Advanced Level Requirements Elicitation, such as target group, prerequisites and contents of the module.
It serves as an aid for decision-making as well as for use and distribution at events.
The data sheet summarizes the main information of the CPRE Advanced Level Requirements Management, such as target group, prerequisites and contents of the module.
It serves as an aid for decision-making as well as for use and distribution at events.
The data sheet summarizes the main information of the CPRE Advanced Level Requirements Modeling, such as target group, prerequisites and contents of the module.
It serves as an aid for decision-making as well as for use and distribution at events.
The data sheet summarizes the main information of the CPRE Advanced Level RE@Agile, such as target group, prerequisites and contents of the module.
It serves as an aid for decision-making as well as for use and distribution at events.
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 86 countries and over 56,000 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.
REQB® will be integrated into IREB® and all REQB® members are welcome to become members of the IREB® organization. REQB® members may become members of the existing IREB® working groups and an International Development group, consisting of IR IREB® and REQB® members, will be established to further internationalize and grow certification in Requirements Engineering.
There will be a single RE certification scheme, presented under the IREB® brand, based on the current IREB® CPRE certification scheme. Contents from the REQB® certifications will be integrated where appropriate.
After October 1st, 2017 only IREB® CPRE certificates will be issued.
All REQB certificates keep their validity.
Our partner GASQ has provided a form where you can request the change of your REQB certificate .
Please contact GASQ at info@gasq.org for further information on the conversion of certificates.
Conversion of the REQB® Foundation Level certificate to an IREB® CPRE Foundation Level certificate is required in order to be eligible for IREB® CPRE Advanced Level certification (see above).
For the IREB® CPRE Expert Level, the REQB® Advanced Level certificate will be accepted as one of the required prerequisites.
The following REQB® certificates can be registered after conversion to the corresponding IREB certificate:
Registration without previous conversion:
All REQB® training providers may offer IREB® CPRE training courses and become official training providers of IREB®.
Existing contracts between training providers and REQB® will be fulfilled by IREB®.
Please send a mail to info@gasq.org
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.