Frequently Asked Questions

A personnel certification is a formal, independent confirmation that an individual possesses specific knowledge, skills, or competences in a defined professional area. Unlike self-declared expertise or a training attendance record, a certification is issued by an independent third party, a certification body, after the candidate has successfully demonstrated their competence, typically by passing an exam.

Personnel certifications are governed by internationally recognized standards and provide employers, clients, and peers with a trustworthy, verifiable proof of professional competence.

This is one of the most common sources of confusion, and it makes perfect sense. When most people say “I want to take an ISTQB exam,” what they are actually doing is pursuing a certification. Here is how the pieces fit together:

• The exam is the assessment itself: sitting down, answering questions, and demonstrating your knowledge. It is one step in the process.
• The certification is the formal recognition you receive when you pass. It means an independent certification body has verified that you meet defined competence requirements. Your certification status is what matters professionally.
• The certificate is the document, printed or digital, that serves as evidence of your certification.

So when you register with Certible, you are registering for a certification, which includes the exam. If you pass, you receive a certificate documenting your new certification.

These two terms are often used interchangeably in everyday language, but they mean different things:

A certification is a formally recognized status. It confirms that you have met the requirements of a certification program, typically by passing an exam, and that your competence has been verified by an independent body. Certifications may have a defined validity period or be valid for life, depending on the program.

A certificate, on the other hand, is simply a document. You might receive a certificate for completing a training course, attending a workshop, or finishing an online module. A certificate of attendance proves you were there, but it does not necessarily prove that your competence was independently assessed.

When you pass a certification exam with Certible, you receive both: the certification (your verified professional status) and a certificate (the official document proving it).

A certification body is the independent organization responsible for administering the entire certification process: managing candidate registrations, delivering exams, ensuring exam integrity, evaluating results, and issuing certificates.

Importantly, a certification body must be independent and impartial. It cannot have a vested interest in whether you pass or fail. This independence is a core requirement of ISO/IEC 17024 and is essential for the credibility of the certification.

Certible is an international certification body based in Vienna, Austria.

A scheme owner (also called a certification program owner or board) is the organization that defines what a certified professional in a given field should know and be able to do. Scheme owners:

• Develop the syllabus, the body of knowledge to be assessed
• Define the exam rules: format, duration, passing thresholds
• Maintain the quality and relevance of the certification program over time
• Own the intellectual property of the exam content

Examples of scheme owners include ISTQB (software testing), IREB (requirements engineering), iSAQB (software architecture), and UXQB (UX design).

A certification body like Certible is responsible for delivering the certification process on behalf of these scheme owners. We administer registrations, schedule and proctor exams, evaluate results, and issue certificates, all in accordance with the rules and standards set by the respective scheme owner.

Think of it this way: the scheme owner writes the rules and the exam content. The certification body ensures the rules are followed and the process is carried out fairly and securely.

Certible is a technology-driven, international certification body headquartered in Vienna, Austria. We develop our own software for the entire certification process, from candidate registration and exam delivery to digital credentialing and certificate verification.

We are ISO/IEC 27001 (information security), ISO 9001 (quality management), and ISO 14001 (environmental management) certified. Our certification processes are designed to conform with ISO/IEC 17024:2012; accreditation under that standard is currently under preparation.

Certible is a licensed certification body or exam provider for several internationally recognized certification programs, including:

• ISTQB — Certified Tester (software testing)
• IREB — Certified Professional for Requirements Engineering (CPRE)
• iSAQB — Certified Professional for Software Architecture (CPSA)
• UXQB — Certified Professional for Usability and User Experience (CPUX)
• TMMi — Test Maturity Model Integration
• itedas — Essential IT Service Management (ITSM)
• ICPMSB — International Certified Professional for Medical Software Board (CPMS)
• CDXP — Certified Data Excellence Professional

You can view all available certifications and their details on our Certifications page.

Yes. Independence and impartiality are foundational principles of our work as a certification body, as required by ISO/IEC 17024.

Certible does not offer training courses and has no commercial interest in whether a candidate passes or fails. All our processes are designed to identify and eliminate potential bias or conflicts of interest, and we are regularly audited on this by external bodies.

For more details, read our Impartiality Statement.

We have developed our own software for conducting remote exams, and this service is provided exclusively by Certible employees. There are several quality-related reasons for handling all aspects of certification ourselves instead of outsourcing to third parties:

• Flexibility: Since we don’t depend on the availability of an external provider, we can offer exam dates with maximum flexibility. Short-notice bookings, rescheduling appointments, and groups of any size are not a problem.
• Data Protection and Privacy: We ensure that no third party receives our customers’ data. Exam sessions are supervised exclusively by Certible employees, who all speak German and English.
• Adaptability and Extensibility: We can adapt our service to special requirements, for example a disability or a new type of examination introduced by a certification program.

Visit our exam registration page and select your desired certification. During registration, you will:

1. Choose your certification program and exam level
2. Provide your personal details
3. Select your preferred exam date and time
4. Enter your billing information (personal or company)
5. Complete payment

After registration, you will receive a confirmation email with your personal access code to the Self-Service Portal, where you can manage your appointment, test your equipment, and launch your exam on the scheduled date.

Certible offers most exams online. You can get certified using your own computer from home or your office.

On request, for example by training providers, we also conduct exams on-premise at your location, either tablet-based (with instant evaluation) or in traditional paper-based format. Contact us to arrange an on-premise exam.

Yes. Certible offers maximum scheduling flexibility. During registration, you can select your preferred exam date and time within our business hours. This applies to both individual candidates and groups of any size.

There is no need to wait for fixed exam dates. We schedule exams to fit your calendar.

Yes. You can reschedule your exam appointment up to five times free of charge per booking, provided each change is made at least 24 hours before the scheduled appointment.

After the fifth rescheduling, a fee of EUR 35 (excl. VAT) applies per additional change.

All changes can be made through your personal Self-Service Portal, which you receive access to after registration.

Certible uses Stripe as our payment provider, which means you can choose from a wide range of payment methods, including:

• Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and more)
• Apple Pay and Google Pay
• Various national and region-specific payment methods supported by Stripe

Candidates from outside the EU and Switzerland are required to complete payment during registration via one of the payment methods available through Stripe.

Candidates within the EU and Switzerland can additionally choose to pay by SEPA bank transfer after receiving an invoice (see below).

The applicable certification fees can be found on our Certification Fees page, which also includes an interactive price calculator.

Yes, if you are based in the EU or Switzerland, you can opt to pay via SEPA bank transfer after receiving an invoice from Certible. This option is available during the registration process.

For candidates outside the EU and Switzerland, immediate payment via Stripe during registration is required.

Yes. During registration on our registration page, you can enter all relevant company billing details, including:

• Company name and address
• VAT identification number
• Purchase order (PO) number or internal reference
• A separate billing email address (e.g., your accounting department)

The invoice will be issued to the company and sent to the specified billing contact. No separate request or manual process is needed; everything is handled directly during registration.

If you need a formal quote or a collective invoice for multiple certifications, please contact us.

Yes, invoice corrections are easily possible. Please contact our Accounting.

The best way to prepare for a certification exam is to attend an officially accredited training course through the respective board.

All lists of official training providers can be found under Training.

You can find the passing threshold for each exam under Examination Regulations, as well as per exam on our subpages for the respective certificate.

Regardless of whether you attend training, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with all official literature regarding your upcoming exam, such as curriculum, glossary, and practice exams.

These and officially recommended textbooks can be found under Self-Study.

Yes, most certifications offered by Certible provide the possibility of extra time during the exam. This is regulated in the respective examination regulations, for example, if you are taking the exam in a language other than your native language.

You can request extra time by checking the corresponding checkbox during registration. Proof of your eligibility for extra time will be checked before the exam begins; please do not send us copies.

If you would like to request extra time for another reason, please contact us before the exam.

Your exam environment is inspected by the proctor via webcam before the exam begins. The following conditions must be met:

• Undisturbed, private workspace: You must be alone in the room for the entire duration of the exam. No other person may be present.
• Clean desk: Your desk must be completely clear of all materials, documents, and devices. Only your computer, keyboard, mouse, and the required identification document may be on the desk. If a two-camera setup is required by your certification program, the secondary device (e.g., smartphone) is also permitted on or near the desk, with its screen facing away from you.
• No reference materials visible: There must be no notes, posters, whiteboards, or any other reference materials visible in the room.
• All unauthorized devices removed: Mobile phones (unless used as secondary camera), tablets, smartwatches, fitness trackers, earbuds, headphones, and any other electronic devices must be removed from your workspace and out of your reach before the exam starts.
• Camera and microphone active: Your webcam and microphone must remain on for the entire duration of the exam, with you visible and audible to the proctor at all times.

During the exam, you may not leave your workspace for any reason (including bathroom breaks), except during a scheduled break for exams longer than 2.5 hours. Eating and smoking are not permitted. If any unauthorized material or device appears at any point during the exam, the exam will be immediately terminated.

Before your exam begins, the proctor will conduct a thorough workspace inspection via your webcam. You should be prepared to show:

• A 360-degree view of the room, so the proctor can confirm there are no other people, reference materials, or unauthorized items
• Your desk surface, including the area behind your screen and beneath the desk
• The underside of your keyboard and, if using a laptop, the underside of the laptop
• The contents of your pockets (to confirm no notes or devices)
• A close-up of any glasses you are wearing, so the proctor can verify they are not smart glasses
• Your official photo identification

The proctor may also request additional checks during the exam at any time. Random checks may take place without prior notice. You must be able to show your entire workspace, including your computer screen, to the proctor at any time.

• Fast, stable internet connection
• Computer with a current version of a chromium based browser (e.g., Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge)
• High-resolution webcam and microphone
• A secondary device with camera (smartphone or tablet) for the two-camera setup required by certain certification programs
• For certain exam levels and certifications, the Safe Exam Browser (SEB) is required

For most exams, no additional installation is necessary. As long as you have a chromium based browser installed, ideally Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge, in a current version, you can take the exam.

However, certain exam levels and certifications require the Safe Exam Browser (SEB). If your exam requires SEB, you will be notified during registration and provided with installation instructions before your exam date. The Safe Exam Browser is compatible with Windows and macOS.

There are several suggested solutions that can resolve technical difficulties at the start of the exam:

• Ensure you are not using a restrictive network. Deactivate any VPN connections. If possible, switch to a different network, for example via mobile hotspot.
• Ensure no browser extensions (e.g., translators, ad-blockers) are active. Switch browsers, or try in a Private Browsing window.

Don’t worry, you won’t miss your exam appointment. First, in case of technical difficulties, we try to identify the cause of the problem together and find a solution.

It may be necessary for you to use a different device or network for the exam. We also understand that this is not always immediately possible.

If necessary, you can reschedule your exam appointment.

After receiving your registration, we will send you a confirmation email containing your personal link to the Self-Service Portal. Here you can run an automated test to ensure your equipment is compatible with our exam environment.

If you have difficulties completing the test run, please contact us - we’re happy to offer a personal appointment for a demo exam.

The Safe Exam Browser (SEB) provides a controlled browser environment that blocks access to unauthorized applications and websites only for the duration of your exam.

Certain system functions are temporarily limited to support a focused and compliant exam setting.

Once the exam is finished and SEB is closed, your computer returns completely to its normal state.

If your exam requires SEB, you will be notified during the registration process and receive detailed installation instructions before your exam date.

Important information about SEB:

• We only support SEB for Windows and macOS
• We do not support SEB on iOS (iPad/iPhone)
• There is no version available for Linux or Android devices

Please ensure you have access to a Windows or Mac computer if your exam requires SEB.

When taking an exam with the Safe Exam Browser (SEB), granting access to your camera, microphone, and screensharing works differently than in a regular browser.

Important: These permissions are not controlled through browser settings, but through your operating system’s application/software permissions.

For macOS:

1. Open System Preferences/System Settings
2. Go to Security & Privacy (or Privacy & Security)
3. Grant permissions for the Safe Exam Browser application for:
   • Camera
   • Microphone
   • Screen Recording

For Windows:

1. Open Windows Settings
2. Go to Privacy & Security
3. Grant permissions for the Safe Exam Browser application for:
   • Camera
   • Microphone
   • Screen Recording/Desktop

If you encounter permission issues during your exam, our support team will guide you through the process of adjusting these settings.

If you experience technical difficulties with SEB:

• Ensure you have the correct version of SEB installed for your operating system, which you can find in the installation instructions provided before your exam date
• Check that all required permissions (camera, microphone, screen recording) are granted in your operating system settings
• Close other applications that might interfere with SEB
• Disable VPN connections and antivirus software temporarily if they cause issues
• If problems persist, contact us before your exam date for assistance

Please remember: We only support SEB on Windows and macOS. If you only have access to iOS, Linux, or Android devices, you will need to arrange access to a Windows or Mac computer for exams that require SEB.

After completing your exam, you will first receive a preliminary exam result by email, including your score and the passing threshold. This is not yet the final certification decision.

Certible then conducts a standard review of proctoring and system logs to ensure the integrity of the certification process for all candidates. Upon successful completion of this review, you will receive the final certification decision by email, typically within 24 hours.

Your certificate will be attached to the certification decision email. You will also receive a digital certificate along with a link to your online certificate verification page. A printed certificate is included in the certification fee and will be sent in the days following your successful exam.

After a first failed attempt, all exams offered by Certible can currently be retaken without a waiting period. Some certification programs impose a waiting period after repeated unsuccessful attempts. Please check the specific exam regulations for your certification program for details.

In most cases, once an exam has been passed, it cannot be retaken.

If you’ve recently passed a certification, your exam result email should contain a button that allows you to add your certificate to your LinkedIn profile.

LinkedIn has described online how you can add certificates to your LinkedIn profile and manage them afterward. ⤴

The name of your certificate appears both on the certificate itself and in the email with your exam result. Under “Issued by” you can enter Certible. The issue date is usually on your certificate and is the day the certification was achieved, normally after passing the exam.

A digital badge is a visual, verifiable representation of your certification that you can share online. Similar to a physical badge, it recognizes your achievement, but it is designed to be displayed on the web: on social media profiles, personal portfolio websites, in email signatures, or on your CV.

Each badge contains embedded metadata that links back to the issuing organization (Certible) and allows anyone viewing the badge to verify that you genuinely hold the associated credential. Certible’s digital badges follow the Open Badges v2.0 ⤴ standard, ensuring interoperability with other badge systems and platforms.

For more details, see our dedicated About Digital Badges page.

After passing your certification, you will receive an email with instructions to claim your digital badge. Claiming requires your explicit consent because the badge and its credential page contain some of your personal information (such as your name).

Digital badges are optional and complement your certificate. They are provided free of charge to all certificate holders, regardless of when the certificate was issued.

If you held a certification issued by Certible prior to 2023 and did not receive a badge, you can contact us to retroactively request one.

You can share your digital badge in many ways:

• On LinkedIn, Twitter/X, and other social media profiles
• On your CV or personal portfolio website
• In your email signature
• In a badge backpack (a repository for collecting and displaying badges from multiple issuers)

Since Certible badges follow the Open Badges v2.0 standard, they can also be imported into third-party credential platforms such as Credly or validated using services like badgecheck.io ⤴.

Yes. After your badge has been claimed, it can be deleted using the same password with which you initially accepted the badge.

If you delete your badge, it cannot be reclaimed. However, you can request a new badge at any time, free of charge. Note that if you have shared the badge elsewhere (e.g., on social media or a website), the previously shared version will no longer be verifiable.

If your badge has not yet been claimed, it cannot be viewed or accessed by anyone without the claiming password, so no action is needed on your part.

We are happy to reserve a simultaneous group appointment for any number of people, such as your colleagues or training participants, without obligation.

We also offer our standard, fully flexible service: exams can be booked for individually preferred dates. Rescheduling or cancellations are possible with Certible, subject to certain conditions and potential additional fees.

Find out more about our service for groups.

Yes, we are always interested in partnering with additional certification schemes, both new and existing.

Deliver your certification program through Certible - more information.

In addition to our direct support for candidates, Certible offers a range of benefits for training providers and companies ordering multiple certification exams.

Easily organize group appointments and order vouchers to streamline the billing process in the background. We can contact your participants directly with a voucher code, registration link, and all relevant exam information, significantly reducing your administrative workload.

Receive detailed, anonymized reports on completed exams to help you identify opportunities for optimizing your training programs.

Find out more about our offerings for trainers and training providers.

Yes, Certible has been externally audited as GDPR compliant.

Data protection and privacy are extremely important to Certible, which is why we do much more than our legal obligation to protect our customers’ privacy.

We only collect the most necessary data for the certification process and use it exclusively for the necessary purposes. Your contact or personal data will never be shared with third parties or used for marketing purposes.

We conduct all exams ourselves using exclusively our own software for the management, administration, and evaluation of certification exams. This allows us to ensure the best possible quality, reliability, and data protection. This applies to both online and on-site exams.

For candidates within the EU, exam supervision is performed by Certible GmbH employees based in the EU. For candidates outside the EU, exam supervision may be provided by our subsidiary Certible Inc. (Mountain View, USA).

Out of respect for your privacy, we don’t use any cookies for tracking, optimization, or marketing purposes.

We also don’t use our customers’ and candidates’ data for marketing or other purposes, and never share it with third parties.

By default, no. Without your explicit consent, no one will receive your certification result by name.

There is one exception: if your employer or another third party is paying for your certification, you may be asked during registration to consent to sharing your exam result with them. This consent is always voluntary, specific, and transparent — you will see exactly what you are agreeing to before you submit your registration. If you do not consent, you can still register and pay for the certification yourself.

If your certification was booked through a training provider using a voucher, they will be informed anonymously about the exam result (i.e., whether the voucher holder passed or failed, without identifying you by name).