Software Engineering Institute Carnegie Mellon

Become an SEI-Certified SCAMPI High Maturity Lead Appraiser

  • Announcements
    - Applications submissions for the 2008/2009 credentialing cycle will open on October 1, 2008.
  • - The 2008/2009 HM LA Oral examination cycle will begin October 27, 2008 and conclude June 19, 2009.

View a presentation on SCAMPI HM LA Certification from the 2007 CMMI Workshop

Consistency, Quality, and Effectiveness: SCAMPI Appraisal Technology

The Class A Standard CMMI® Appraisal Method for Process Improvement (SCAMPISM) is designed to provide benchmark quality ratings relative to Capability Maturity Model® Integration (CMMI®) models. The SEI Appraisal Program oversees the quality and consistency of the SEI's SCAMPI appraisal technology and encourages its effective use.

SEI-Certified SCAMPI High Maturity Lead Appraisers (SCAMPI HM LAs) lead trained teams of professionals in the appraisal of one or more CMMI process areas (using information collected from presentations, documents, and interviews) to determine an organization's process capability and/or maturity level.

Are you ready to lead appraisal efforts for organizations seeking to achieve CMMI Level 4 or 5? Become an SEI-Certified SCAMPI High Maturity Lead Appraiser.

Steps to Earning Your SCAMPI HM LA Certification

1 Meet Qualification Criteria

Before applying to become a SCAMPI HM LA, you must

  • be an SEI-Authorized SCAMPI Lead Appraiser in good standing
  • have education, training, and experience in high maturity concepts and practices
  • have participated on high maturity appraisal teams (including a high maturity team or capability mini-team) as a team member or lead appraiser

2 Apply

Complete the application, and send it by email to certification-scampihmla@sei.cmu.edu. When your application is received, it will be reviewed for completeness, and you will receive a confirmation message. An administration and exam fee will be invoiced to your sponsoring organization.

3 Application Evaluation

A review board evaluates your application using established qualification criteria. If your application meets the qualification criteria, you will receive instructions for scheduling an oral examination.

4 Oral Examination

You must successfully pass an oral examination administered by two designated SCAMPI High Maturity Lead Appraiser examiners. The oral examination is an opportunity for you to demonstrate your knowledge of the required topics, discuss your professional experiences, and show your understanding of the roles and responsibilities of a High Maturity Lead Appraiser.

The oral examination usually requires 2-2.5 hours to complete. Candidates are allowed to take the exam once per exam cycle. The exam covers model and method areas, including

  • CMMI High Maturity concepts and practices
  • quantitative and statistical concepts
  • organizational business objectives and relation to CMMI
  • differences between OPP/QPM and PP/PMC/IPM, QPM and OPP, and OID and OPF
  • implications of high maturity practices for projects and organization
  • process performance baselines and models
  • elicitation of requirements from sponsor and education of sponsor regarding true weaknesses
  • case studies and scenarios

Oral exam grading is based on a weighting system that credits candidates with points based on answers provided. Exams use many types of questions, including short-answer, case-study, open-ended, and scenario-based questions.

5 Receive your Certification

If you pass the oral examination, your certification will be granted by the SEI. You will receive a certification diploma and will be listed in the SEI Partner Directory.

Applicants who do not pass the exam may submit an email request to certification-scampihmla@sei.cmu.edu to retake the exam in the next exam cycle.