Become an SEI-Certified SOA-SMART Team Lead

SEI-Certified SOA-SMART Team Leads are experts in Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) and the SOA Migration, Adoption, and Reuse Technique (SMART), mechanisms that can help organizations achieve systems interoperability and make decisions about reusing legacy systems in SOA environments.

SEI-Certified SOA-SMART Team Leads conduct SEI-Authorized SMART workshops on behalf of SEI Partner organizations. At these workshops,

• participants gain insight into the challenges of reusing legacy systems within SOA environments

• participants apply SEI SMART processes to determine whether it makes sense to migrate legacy systems to an SOA environments

• the SEI-Certified SOA-SMART Team Lead works with organizations to identify candidate services, assess the changes needed in the legacy system to accomplish the migration, evaluate migration strategies, and identify a pilot project as a risk mitigation mechanism

Steps for earning your SOA-SMART Team Lead Certification

1. Meet prerequisite qualification criteria

Before applying to become an SEI-Certified SOA-SMART Team Lead, you must meet the following qualification criteria:

Obtain Sponsorship

• SEI Partner organizations provide SEI services through sponsored individuals who hold SEI Certifications. SEI Certification is the official confirmation mechanism confirming the skills of professionals applying SEI services. SOA-SMART Team Leads are required to be sponsored by an SEI Partner. (See Step 4)
  

Experience

• hands-on experience with SOA implementation technologies, products, and standards such as those supporting Web Services; knowledge of SOA trends, market analysis, and products; or proven software development and maintenance experience         
  

• at least 10 years of overall work experience and at least two years experience working in SOA implementation technologies and/or Web services 
  facilitation/instructor training and skills, including
  

  • basic skills such as timekeeping, following an agreed-upon agenda, and keeping clear records
  • a minimum of one team building, coaching, or consulting skills training course to establish the ability to work with customers by encouraging full participation, promoting mutual understanding and cultivating shared responsibility
  • BA or BS degree in Computer Science or related academic discipline
  • ability to speak and write fluent and clear English
    

   

2. Learn

• Attend
  
  • the SEI’s Migrating Legacy Systems to SOA Environments Course via eLearning
  
  or
  
  
  • Attend both of the following courses presented by the SEI
    - Service-Oriented Architecture: Best Practices for Successful Adoption
    - Service-Oriented Architecture: Legacy Systems Migration  
    
    
• Attend SOA Migration, Adoption, and Reuse Technique (SMART) Training  course
  
  

3. Commit to the SEI Code of Professional Conduct

Commit to the SEI Code of Professional Conduct for SEI Services by completing the Code of Professional Conduct Commitment form. Attach signed form to application upon submission.

4. Obtain Partner sponsorship

An SEI Partner organization must recommend you to the SEI for this role by submitting a Partner Candidate Sponsorship form.

5. Apply

Complete the application to become an SEI-Certified SOA-SMART Team Leader. A SOA-SMART Team Lead Review Board will review your application. Your application package must include the following items:

• Completed and signed SOA-SMART Team Lead application

• Signed Code of Professional Conduct for SEI Services

• Resume outlining educational and work experience to meet prerequisites

Submit your application package by mail, fax, or email to

Software Engineering Institute
Carnegie Mellon University
Room 2408
4500 Fifth Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Fax: 412-268-5758
Email: Certification-Info@sei.cmu.edu

6. Attend advanced training

After your application has been approved, you must attend a SOA-SMART Team Lead Simulation and Certification Exercise (1 ½ day). This 1 ½ day simulation uses a series of simulated situations commonly experienced by SOA-SMART Team Leads and is designed to assess skill levels in the application and facilitation of a SMART workshop essential for success as a Team Lead. If you have questions about the exercise, please contact Certification-Info@sei.cmu.edu. (Note: Participants will be utilizing the SEI SOA-SMART Tool during this training. Desktop computers are available. If participants bring a laptop, the application will be loaded onto the laptop during the 1st day of class.)

7. Final performance review

Candidates will be assigned a project to develop a migration strategy based on the Team Lead Training & Simulation Exercise. Candidates have 14 days to submit the project report to the SEI.

The migration strategy will be reviewed by the SEI’s SOA-SMART Team Lead Review Board. The Board may contact the candidate for clarification of evidence if necessary. If the Board does not approve a candidate's report, mitigation steps will be coordinated with the candidate.

8. Get your certification

After the Review Board approves your performance, you will receive a welcome kit that contains a certification diploma and other information about SEI Certification.

If at any time your performance during qualification is unsatisfactory, the SEI will provide you with feedback and, if necessary, steps for remediation. Any additional SEI support for remedial work will be billed in accordance with your sponsoring SEI Partner’s license agreement.

9. Maintenance/Renewal

Your SOA-SMART Team Lead certification is valid for a period of two years from the award date. After that time, the SEI requires that you renew your certification according to the SOA-SMART Team Lead Certification Renewal Requirements.