Become an SEI-Certified TSP Coach

The Team Software Process (TSP) is a disciplined and structured approach to product development that can be applied to many different types of projects. As a TSP Coach, you will have the knowledge, software skills, and team facilitation abilities to lead software-based product development teams. Leadership of a development team requires dedication, commitment, and energy to continually keep the team motivated, management informed, and tasking on track. TSP Coaches work with team leaders to monitor a team's progress using effective communication techniques.

1 Prerequisites

• Complete the PSP for Engineers I and II courses from either the SEI or from an SEI-Authorized PSP Instructor.
  
  Note: You must complete the actual course. Use of the self-study PSP for Engineers course materials available at http://www.sei.cmu.edu/tsp does not satisfy requirements for successful completion of the SEI course PSP for Engineers.
  
  
• Be recommended by at least one of the SEI-Authorized PSP Instructors who taught their PSP for Engineers course.
• Submit PSP for Engineers I and II data to SEI for screening and pass the screening.
• Become an SEI-Certified PSP Developer.
• Sign the Code of Professional Conduct for SEI Services.
• Be proficient in both spoken and written English.
• Be sponsored by an SEI Partner for the TSP Product Suite.

Before you apply to become a TSP Coach, you are expected to have

• a basic understanding of software engineering processes
• a basic awareness of the Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI^®) levels and Key Process Areas (KPAs)
• 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 launch (a TSP Product Suite Service) (recommended)

2 Training

Attend the SEI’s TSP Coach Training course.

3 Examination

Pass the qualification exam that is offered on the last day of the TSP Coach Training courses offered at the SEI. After passing the exam, you will have a Provisional certification that is required prior to being observed.

Exam Retake Policy
If you do not pass the examination, you may retake it at one of the SEI's many international testing centers. You may retake the examination one time within 3 months of the first attempt for a charge of $85. If you do not retake the examination within 3 months of your first attempt, the charge is $250.

Permission to retake the exam a second time must be approved and scheduled by the SEI. For more information, visit Web assessor. The exam is also offered at the annual TSP Symposium.

Please keep in mind that the exam must be successfully completed prior to the observation and that the observation must occur within 18 months from the last day of the month in which the TSP Coach course was completed.

4 Mentored Coaching

As a provisional coach, you will be mentored by an SEI-Approved  Mentor Coach prior to being evaluated by the SEI. Your Mentor Coach will

• guide you through the first team preparation, management briefings, team formation, TSP launch, team meetings, and team post-mortem as necessary
• provide advice, feedback, support, and assistance in completion of the successful TSP team implementation
• assist you in submission of your completed launch data and evaluation forms to the SEI
• provide recommendation for your final evaluation
  
  Note: An SEI-Approved TSP Mentor Coach may not mentor more than four Provisional Coaches  at any one time. You must notify the SEI in writing when you have identified an SEI-Approved Mentor Coach.

As a Provisional Coach, you will coach a TSP team under the supervision of your SEI-Approved TSP Mentor Coach at your sponsoring Partner’s expense within 18 months of completing TSP Coach training. During the mentoring phase, you will be guided through team preparation, formation, management briefings, team launch, meetings, and post mortem by your Mentor Coach. When you complete your mentored coaching phase, you will be recommended for your final evaluation.

5 Evaluation

You must submit the required team data before the expiration of your Provisional Coach period in order to receive a satisfactory final evaluation report. If you do not receive a satisfactory evaluation report, the SEI will coordinate with you to develop a remediation plan and extend your Provisional Coach period so that you can be re-evaluated. The maximum time for extension is 90 days.

6 Certification

Upon successful completion of the process, the SEI will grant you a two-year certification to deliver TSP Product Suite Services and will provide access to the services and materials listed at www.sei.cmu.edu/partners/tsp/materials. You will also receive a diploma and welcome kit recognizing your accomplishment.