Become an SEI-Certified TSP Coach

Prerequisites to Enter the TSP Coach Certification Program

• Complete either the PSP for Engineers I and PSP for Engineers II courses, or the PSP Fundamentals and PSP Advanced courses delivered by the SEI, an SEI-Authorized PSP Instructor, or an accredited university.
  Note: You must complete the actual PSP courses. Use of the self-study PSP for Engineers course materials does not satisfy the requirements for successful completion of the SEI PSP courses.
  
• Be recommended by your PSP course instructor.
• Hold a current SEI-Certified PSP Developer credential.
• Be proficient in written English.

Before you apply to become a TSP Coach, you are expected to have experience in the field to include:

• a basic understanding of software engineering processes
• a working knowledge of project management
• a working knowledge of software quality management
• the ability to work effectively on a team
• participation in a TSP team project launch (recommended)

Step 1: Entry Documentation

• Complete the application to participate in the TSP Coach mentor program as outlined in the TSP Coach Mentoring Program.
  
• Sign the Code of Professional Conduct for SEI Services.
• Sign the SEI Certification Agreement for Individuals.
• Be sponsored by an SEI Partner for the TSP product suite SEI Partner must submit an Application for Candidate Sponsorship form. 
• Submit PSP course data to the SEI for screening and receive notification that you have passed the screening.

Send all documentation via email to Certification-info@sei.cmu.edu.

Step 2: Training

Be accepted into the program as a candidate after submission of all documentation described above. Then successfully complete the SEI’s TSP Coach Training course. Upon graduation from the TSP Coach Training course, candidates must complete the mentoring program as detailed below.

Step3: Mentoring Program

Successfully complete the TSP Coach Mentoring program, which will guide you in completing the following activities under the guidance and observation of a qualified SEI TSP Mentor Coach (provided by the SEI). Candidates must lead a TSP team through a complete TSP cycle:

• TSP launch or relaunch
• TSP checkpoint
• TSP project or a cycle postmortem report

Candidates are asked to plan to complete the mentoring step no later than 18 months after  taking the TSP Coach Training course.  Please refer to the TSP Coach Mentoring Program Guidebook for activities and procedures about the program.

It is up to candidates to coordinate with their sponsoring Partners and SEI-approved Mentor Coach to establish a Mentoring Action Plan. Candidates who have not identified a potential SEI-approved Mentor Coach should contact the SEI Certification program.
 
Candidates who cannot complete the mentoring process within the 18-month post-training course completion date must coordinate with the SEI on mitigation requirements. Candidates who do not receive satisfactory mentoring reports must work with the SEI to develop a remediation plan. Please forward any questions regarding the TSP Coach Mentoring program to certification-info@sei.cmu.edu.
 

Step 4: Final Examination

Candidates, who have successfully completed the TSP mentoring phase, must pass a final examination to earn the TSP Coach certification. Candidates can register for the TSP Coach exam at http://www.webassessor.com/sei and take the exam at one of hundreds of testing locations throughout the world.

Examination fee: $250 USD (refundable for cancellations made 72 hours or more before the scheduled examination)

Candidates who take exams through our online testing services providers will be notified of their scores immediately. Candidates who take exams administered via paper and pencil will receive their scores in 7-10 business days.

Exam Retake Policy

Candidates who do not pass the examination on the first attempt may retake it once at no additional charge. The standard examination fee will apply in case a third attempt is needed. Permission to retake the exam a third time must be approved and scheduled by the SEI. Candidates who do not successfully complete the final exam step after three attempts must coordinate with the SEI on mitigation and remediation steps.

TSP Coach Exam Background and Specifications

The SEI developed the TSP Coach Examination to ensure that only qualified individuals are certified as TSP Coaches. The exam is based on information found in the TSP Body of Knowledge (BOK) and the TSP Coach Job Task Analysis.  To review the details about development of the examination and its specifications, please go to the TSP Coach examination development web page. 

Step 5: Certification

Upon successful completion of the certification process, TSP Coaches receive a two-year certification to deliver TSP product suite services and the SEI will provide access to the services and TSP product suite materials. Certified TSP Coaches will also receive a certificate and a welcome kit recognizing the accomplishment.   

SEI-Certified TSP Coaches may apply the SEI’s TSP materials only on behalf of an SEI Partner. TSP Coaches cannot use the materials to deliver TSP-based services independently or on behalf of organizations that are not licensed by CMU/SEI to use TSP materials.

Step 6: Maintenance/Renewal

To remain certified, TSP Coaches must meet the renewal requirements at the end of the TSP Coach Certification period.