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SCAMPI Lead Appraiser Certification to Replace Authorization in October
Who is a SCAMPI Lead Appraiser?
An SEI-Certified SCAMPI A Lead Appraiser uses the Standard CMMI® Appraisal Method for Process Improvement (SCAMPI) method V1.2.
The SCAMPI A method is a diagnostic tool that supports, enables, and encourages an organization's commitment to process improvement. The method helps organizations gain insight into their process capability or organizational maturity by identifying process strengths and weaknesses as related to the best practices of one or more CMMI models. SCAMPI A V1.2 is the method of choice for benchmarking.
Beginning in October 2008, the SEI will transition the process for becoming a SCAMPI Lead Appraiser (SCAMPI LA) from authorization to certification. As part of this transition, all currently authorized and candidate SCAMPI LAs must successfully complete a written examination. Ongoing renewal requirements for the LA certification will remain the same as they are under the authorization program.
The exam will be available to the community online and in written form at events and conferences around the globe. Examination development will follow certification standards in development, validation, and implementation. Development has already begun and will continue in May with question writing by members of the community and the SEI. Validation and analysis of the questions will be conducted with Alpha and Beta testing of the questions through the summer and fall of 2008. Launch of the exam is planned for October 2008 during the 6th Annual CMMI Workshop in Vancouver, Washington. All authorized SCAMPI Lead Appraisers have one year to successfully complete the Lead Appraiser certification exam. The open period to complete the examinations will be from October 13, 2008 to October 31, 2009. All authorized SCAMPI Lead Appraisers must complete this requirement within this testing window. All candidate SCAMPI Lead Appraisers will need to pass the certification test in order to complete their certification track.
Examination details concerning fees, pass point, format, content, Alpha and Beta testing, and other certification policies and procedures will be available soon. As always, please feel free to send your questions to us at SCAMPI-Certification@sei.cmu.edu.
About the Examination
The examination is designed to demonstrate that 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.
Background
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.