SEI Certification Program Policies

Certification is the acknowledgement that an individual has attained a well-defined level of understanding or ability against a particular body of knowledge or skill set and is committed to maintain a high quality of professionalism while in the practice. 

SEI Certification has the overall authority and responsibility for developing and implementing policies and functions in all matters related to personnel certifications granted by the SEI. The SEI Certification program mission is to develop, maintain, evaluate, promote, and administer rigorous, examination-based, professional certification programs through application of the highest quality and best practices in the certification industry. 

The SEI Certification Program was established by Carnegie Mellon University Software Engineering Institute with the authority/oversight/responsibility to establish, implement, and administer to all SEI-Authorized and SEI-Certified professional programs. 

These responsibilities include

• candidate eligibility requirements
• examination development, requirements, content, administration, passing standard, and related policies
• agreements with testing service providers
• documentation processing
• renewal requirements and processing
• appeals and disciplinary actions
• communications
• utilize additional services and/or organizations as is necessary
• manage and administer to all related advisory boards 
• staffing and support personnel
• conformance to all applicable policies and procedures as required by the SEI, Carnegie Mellon University, and applicable local, state, and federal laws
  

Computer Security Incident Handler Program

Input and feedback for the CERT-Certified Computer Security Incident Handler (CSIH) program is sought from various sources such as Carnegie Mellon University, SEI, CERT, certificants, and the broader community of cyber security professionals. The community is further represented by an independent Advisory Board. The CSIH Advisory Board provides guidance and decisions for the program and SEI Certification implements those decisions.

Certification Agreement

Before the Software Engineering Institute can grant certification to you under any of its certification programs, you must agree and communicate in writing to the SEI that you agree to the terms and conditions of the Certification Agreement. This document is part of the application document. You can download a copy of the SEI Certification Agreement document [PDF] for reference.

Code of Professional Conduct

All professionals who are certified by the SEI recognize that such certification is a privilege that must be both earned and maintained. In support of this principle, all SEI-Authorized and -Certified professionals are required to commit to fully support the Code of Professional Conduct (the "COPC"). SEI-Certified or -Authorized professionals who intentionally or knowingly violate any provision of the COPC will be subject to action by a peer review panel, which may result in the revocation of certification.

Ethics Program

The SEI Partner Network Ethics Program is dedicated to upholding the SEI's standard of excellence by establishing high standards for the SEI's work with our Partners and our Authorized and Certified Professionals. All Authorized and Certified Professionals receive information about the web-based ethics and compliance training required to maintain their certifications. 

Ethics and compliance training is one of several initiatives the SEI uses to promote ethical awareness within our professional community, reinforce the Code of Professional Conduct, and ensure that the high standards associated with SEI services delivered by SEI Partners are maintained.

Conflict of Interest

A conflict of interest is defined in the Code of Professional Conduct for SEI Services as two or more competing priorities that may compromise an Authorized or Certified Professional, Candidate, or SEI Partner’s objectivity. When a situation involving a conflict of interest is inherent or cannot be avoided, use the Conflict of Interest Disclosure Form to disclose the conflict to the SEI.

Confidentiality and Privacy Statement for Data Collected

At the SEI, we value visitors to our website and take your personal privacy seriously. We have posted this privacy statement to inform you of our practices for handling the data the SEI collects online via the SEI website. The SEI website was created in the United States and does not necessarily comply with laws of any other country, so please review this statement before submitting any data through this site. This privacy statement is incorporated into and subject to the Terms of  Use. Please direct any questions or comments regarding this statement to privacy-info@sei.cmu.edu. 

Non-Discrimination and Accommodation Policy

Carnegie Mellon University does not discriminate in admission, employment, or administration of its programs on the basis of religion, creed, ancestry, belief, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Carnegie Mellon does not discriminate in violation of federal, state, or local laws or executive orders.

Carnegie Mellon University does not discriminate and Carnegie Mellon University is required not to discriminate in admission, employment, or administration of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, or handicap in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or other federal, state, or local laws or executive orders. Further information can be found at http://www.cmu.edu/policies/documents/SoA.html .

All requests for special accommodations during the certification process should be forwarded to certification-info@sei.cmu.edu .

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

Course participant records created at the SEI in connection with SEI education and training courses are strictly confidential, and their protection is mandated under federal legislation known as the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). more information about FERPA

Logos, Service marks, and Trademarks Polices

policies and procedures

Policy on Examination Irregularities

General

In accordance with the SEI’s Code of Professional Conduct and SEI Certification Agreements with Candidates, it is the policy of SEI Certification that that any candidate who possesses, receives, transmits examination materials, either before the examination, on-site during the examination, including examination questions and materials in any form, is a breach of SEI Certification policy and is strictly forbidden.

Use of SEI examination materials for the purpose of examination preparation or training is also strictly forbidden.

The SEI reserves the right to take whatever measures are necessary, with a candidate or SEI Proctor, to protect the integrity of its examinations. This could include, but would not necessarily be limited to, exclusion from a current examination or future examination, decertification, loss of examination proctoring status, and suit for recovery of damages.

Examination Validity

The validity of scores awarded candidates for their performance on an examination is protected by every means available. If SEI designees or staff observe or discover a candidate or Proctor engaging in any irregular activity as mentioned above, they are obligated to report the individual(s) to the SEI Certification office.  The SEI will not report a score for any candidate that it has determined to be invalid and may invalidate scores based on a determination of policy violations. The performance of all candidates is monitored and may be analyzed statistically for the purposes of detecting invalid scores.

If evidence by observation, discovery, or statistical analysis suggests that one or more candidate scores may be invalid because of irregular behavior, the SEI will withhold the scores pending further investigation, and affected candidates will be so notified.

Examples of irregularities affecting the validity of scores, which would necessitate the withholding of scores pending further investigation, would include, but not be limited to the following:

1. Copying of answers from another candidate;

2. Permitting one's questions or answers to be copied;

3. Discussing the specific content of the examination with one or more fellow candidates, before, during, or after the administration of an examination;

4. Unauthorized possession, reproduction, recording, transmission or disclosure of materials or other information regarding the content of an examination before, during, or after the administration of an examination;

5. Other evidence indicating that the security of an examination had been compromised.

Upon analysis of all available information in such circumstances, the SEI will determine the validity of the examination scores in question and will notify candidates. If it is determined that the scores in question are invalid, they will not be released.

Although in such circumstances the SEI will make every effort to withhold the scores of only those candidates directly implicated in the irregularity, in some instances the evidence of irregularity, though sufficiently strong to cause doubt on the validity of scores, may not enable the SEI to determine all of the candidates affected. If necessary, the SEI reserves the right to withhold the scores of all candidates, even those not directly implicated in the irregularity, and to require such candidates to take an additional examination at a later date under conditions which will ensure the validity of all scores.

Candidates, Proctors, or other persons who are directly implicated in an irregularity affecting the validity of examination scores are subject to additional sanctions, including barring the person(s) permanently from any future SEI examinations, terminating a candidate's participation in an ongoing examination, invalidating the results of the candidate's examination, withholding or revoking a certificate, terminating any existing relationship with SEI, or other appropriate action.

SEI Certification candidates or other persons subject to additional sanctions will be provided with a email and written notice of any charges and an opportunity to respond to such charges in accordance with the appeal procedures as established by SEI.

Comments, Questions, Complaints

Email

certification-info@sei.cmu.edu

Fax

412-268-6257

Postal Mail

Software Engineering Institute
Certifications - 2300A
4500 5th Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2612
USA