All currently Authorized SCAMPI Lead Appraisers must successfully pass the examination to migrate from an “Authorized” status to a “Certified” status by October 31, 2009.
In addition, effective October 31, 2008, all candidate SCAMPI Lead Appraisers who have completed their training requirements but are awaiting their observation must successfully pass this exam before the observation as part of their qualification track.
The examination is designed to demonstrate that authorized SCAMPI LAs or candidate SCAMPI LAs have sufficient knowledge and competence in key areas to successfully lead SCAMPI Appraisals. Content areas of the examination are defined in the SCAMPI Lead Appraiser Body of Knowledge (SLA BOK), which reflects expert judgment, appraisal experience, and extensive Lead Appraiser community input and review. Content is defined in two dimensions, Competency Clusters and Knowledge Areas, with specific competencies and associated skills defined for the cluster/area pairs.
The exam was developed in accordance with the testing guidelines set forth by the American Educational Research Association, the American Psychological Association, and the National Council on Measurement in Education as presented in Standards for Educational and Psychological Testing (1999).
The closed-book exam consists of 120 multiple choice questions:
The exam tests knowledge of the material in the content areas of the SCAMPI Lead Appraiser Body of Knowledge (SCAMPI BOK).
Recommended study materials:
The exam fee is $250. To register for the exam, follow these steps:
Please Note: This exam will occasionally be offered in a paper-based format at conferences and workshops. At such events, the price of the exam will be reduced to $150.
The transition to certification began in 2006 with the launch of the SEI-Certified SCAMPI High Maturity Lead Appraiser program. The examination requirement was introduced in 2006 with further details provided at the 2007 CMMI Workshop in St. Louis, Missouri.
The SEI hosted an LA Exam question writing workshop May 6-8, 2008 in order to produce items for the new exam. Authorized Lead Appraisers and High Maturity Lead Appraisers from around the world participated in the effort. Teams were formed to facilitate the item-writing process. Each day consisted of item-writing breakouts with scheduled convening sessions to discuss progress and share feedback. The items then proceeded through an internal validation stage to ensure the items met their intended specific requirements and met sufficient SLA BOK interrelationship requirements.
Subject matter experts were involved in each phase of exam development, from the development of the test specifications to the determination of the exam’s pass point. This involvement was especially valuable in the question writing process. These experts were trained in the development of clear, non-trivial questions that test the knowledge required to perform.
Upon completion of the question writing process, subject matter experts were asked to review the questions for clarity, correctness, and appropriateness. In such a review, questions were extensively critiqued, rewritten, and, if necessary, omitted. All questions in the question bank underwent this same rigorous review process by multiple reviewers.
As an additional measure to ensure that the high standards of the question writers and reviewers had been met, the entire bank was alpha tested by subject matter experts. This diverse group of men and women varied in terms of the amount of their Lead Appraiser experience, their employment background (both industry and academia were represented), and even their familiarity with the English language. The alpha testers answered all questions in the bank and submitted comments about the questions.
Drawing upon the suggestions of the alpha testers, additional revisions were made to the bank of questions. The exam was then ready to be beta tested. Nearly 50 beta testers sat for the exam, providing additional feedback on the individual questions, clarity of the exam instructions, and time needed to complete the 120-question exam.
An industry standard pass point determination process was used to determine the pass point—or passing score for the exam. The concept of the cut score process was introduced in 1971 by William Angoff, a measurement research statistician. A criterion-referenced technique, it is one of the most commonly used methods of determining a pass point for licensure and certification exams.
Once again, the input of subject matter experts was critical. By identifying the knowledge necessary to competently perform as a SCAMPI Lead Appraiser and estimating the difficulty that an individual possessing that knowledge would have in answering each question correctly, the subject matter experts arrived at the exam’s pass point.
The LA certification exam was launched in October 2008 at the 6th Annual CMMI Workshop in Vancouver, WA. The exam will be available to LAs through the SEI’s testing service, at selected SEI conferences, at workshops, and at SEI offices on selected dates.
You may register at http://www.webassessor.com/wa.do?page=publicHome&branding=SEI.
The examination tests your knowledge of the material in the content areas of the SCAMPI Lead Appraiser Body of Knowledge (SLA BOK). The SLA BOK reflects expert judgment, appraisal experience, and extensive Lead Appraiser community input and review. Content is defined in two dimensions, Competency Clusters and Knowledge Areas, with specific competencies and associated skills defined for the cluster/area pairs.
Yes. The certification examination is required for all authorized SCAMPI Lead Appraisers and candidate SCAMPI Lead Appraisers, including SCAMPI High Maturity LAs.
No, all authorized and candidate SCAMPI LAs must complete this requirement.
The LA exam is part of a qualification track to earn the SCAMPI Lead Appraiser certification. The SEI requires that candidate LAs take the LA certification exam after they complete the SCAMPI Lead Appraiser Training (SLAT) course but before the observation begins. Candidate LAs must complete this requirement before their observation can be conducted.
Candidate LAs have one year from the end of their SLAT course to complete all requirements before having to retake the SLAT course.
Yes, the examination will be available via our testing services provider to their global network.
The exam will be available at selected SEI conferences and workshops.
The SCAMPI LA Certification exam is in addition to the SLAT end-of-course exam.
No. Your SCAMPI LA Authorization will be renewed as usual. You have the requirement to complete the examination before October 31, 2009 to complete your migration from Authorization to Certification.
All SCAMPI LA’s will need to complete this step to successfully migrate from an Authorized status to a Certified Status by October 31, 2009.
Review the guidance in the SCAMPI LA Body of Knowledge (SLA BOK).
No, to perform SCAMPI class A appraisals you must complete the full SCAMPI LA qualification track.
You will be allowed a maximum of three attempts to successfully complete the exam before October 31, 2009. If you do not complete the exam in the specified time period or fail the exam after three attempts, you will be required to attend and successfully complete the SLAT course.
This exam is a requirement for all currently authorized and candidate LAs. If you do not successfully complete this requirement within the specified number of attempts, your SCAMPI Lead Appraiser authorization will be suspended and you will have to successfully complete the SEI SLAT course to have your authorization reinstated.
No, SCAMPI Lead Appraisers are still required to complete all renewal requirements for their certification by accruing three renewal credits within their authorization period of three years. View the current SCAMPI LA renewal requirements [PDF].
The CMMI v1.2 materials were provided in order to train and assess comprehension of the revisions made in the CMMI model. Content areas of the LA examination are defined in the SCAMPI Lead Appraiser Body of Knowledge (SLA BOK), which reflects expert judgment, appraisal experience, and extensive Lead Appraiser community input and review. Content is defined in two dimensions, Competency Clusters and Knowledge Areas, with specific competencies and associated skills defined for the cluster/area pairs. Supporting reference materials are already published and available to the community.
No, your annual LA renewal date will not change.
No, the certification exam is not required for LA certification renewal.
