Certification Levels Offered by ITEA
ITEA offers two levels of professional certification:
Associate Test & Evaluation Professional (ATEP): For T&E professionals in the early years of their T&E career journey (<5 yrs); ATEP represents a commitment to acquiring the knowledge and skills required by the modern T&E practitioner. Candidates are required to pass the ITEA Knowledge Exam, but don’t require any previous career experience to be awarded ATEP. The ITEA application fee for ATEP is USD$175 for members, which includes a USD$25 exam fee. Once awarded, the ATEP credential is valid for 5 years, at which time candidates will be required to apply for CTEP, or re-take the ITEA Knowledge Exam to re-validate their status as ATEP.
Certified Test & Evaluation Professional (CTEP): For T&E professionals who have acquired the skills, knowledge, and experience (>3 to 5+ years) across the T&E domains of Test Planning, Test Design, Test Execution, Analysis and Reporting. CTEP represents a commitment to T&E professional excellence, and is a credential that is recognised globally as the benchmark of T&E professional competence.
CTEP requires candidates to pass the ITEA Knowledge Exam, and demonstrate that they have acquired the prerequisite years of experience in each of the T&E domains. More information about tasks that map to the four domains is available on Form 2 – Individual Application for CTEP. The ITEA application fee for CTEP is USD$325 for members, which includes a USD$25 exam fee.
The prerequisite years of experience, and composition of required career history are as follows:
Option 1: Baccalaureate (Bachelors) degree and three (3) years experience
Option 2: Associate degree and five (5) years
Option 3: Ten (10) years relevant T&E experience (no degree)
| T&E Domain & Name | Career History | Minimum Experience Required (CTEP) | |||
| Option 1 (3 years) | Option 2 (5 years) | Option 3 (10 years) | |||
| I | Test and Evaluation Planning | 30% | 11 months | 18 months | 36 months |
| II | Test and Evaluation Design | 30% | 11 months | 18 months | 36 months |
| III | Test and Evaluation Execution | 20% | 7 months | 12 months | 24 months |
| IV | Test Data Analysis, Evaluation and Reporting | 20% | 7 months | 12 months | 24 months |
Once awarded, the CTEP credential is valid for 3 years, at which time candidates will be required to demonstrate their ongoing commitment to professional development using Form 3 – CTEP Recertification Form, or retake the ITEA Knowledge Exam and re-submit Form 2 Individual Application for CTEP.
How to Apply
Follow these easy steps:
Embark upon a rewarding T&E career!
STEP 1
Complete Form 1 and agree to follow our code of ethics.
You don’t need any T&E experience to apply!
Upload your form to ITEA when prompted when you complete Step 2 below.
STEP 2
Click on the button to be taken to our website and pay the ATEP application fee and upload your Form 1
US$ 175 ITEA Member
(US$ 325 Non-Member)
Hot tip! – become a member and get access to our amazing journal and a discounted ATEP application fee.
STEP 3
Take the ITEA Knowledge Exam!
(but first read our preparation instructions – it really helps!)
Click the button to be taken to our amazing online exam proctoring service. You can book a time to take the exam online from anywhere in the world.
STEP 4
We will send you a fantastic certificate, and add your name to our database of aspiring T&E professionals.
Your commitment to learning has now been recognised by the preeminent association for T&E professionals globally!!
Take your T&E career
to the next level!
STEP 1
Complete Form 2 and tell us about your T&E career experience, and agree to follow our code of ethics.
Upload your form to ITEA when prompted when you complete Step 2 below.
STEP 2
Click on the button to be taken to our website and pay the CTEP application fee and upload your Form 2.
US$325 ITEA Member
(US$475 Non-Member)
Hot tip! – become a member and get access to our amazing journal and a discounted CTEP application fee.
STEP 3
Take the ITEA Knowledge Exam!
(but first read our preparation Instructions – it really helps!)
Click the button to be taken to our amazing online exam proctoring service. You can book a time to take the exam online from anywhere in the world.
Alternatively: If you have already passed the exam for ATEP, just submit Form 2 at Step in the process.
STEP 4
We will send you a fantastic certificate, and add your name to our database of Certified T&E professionals.
Your skill, knowledge, and experience has now been recognised by the preeminent association for T&E professionals globally!!
Take your T&E career
to the next level!
STEP 1
Complete Form 3 and tell us about your ongoing commitment to professional Development and your T&E career experience in the time since your last Application.
Upload your form to ITEA when prompted when you complete Step 2 below.
STEP 2
Jump on our website and pay the CTEP re-certification fee and upload your Form 3.
US$50 ITEA Member
(US$150 Non-Member)
Hot tip! – become a member and get access to our amazing journal and a discounted CTEP application fee.
STEP 3
We will send you a new certificate, and update our database of Certified T&E professionals.
Your skill, knowledge, and experience has once again been recognised by the preeminent association for T&E professionals globally!!
ITEA Knowledge Exam Preparation Instructions
The ITEA Knowledge Exam requires candidates to answer 100 multi-choice questions in 150 minutes. Questions are selected at random from the ITEA question bank with a pass mark of 80%. The exam is conducted online, is strictly closed book, is available globally, and is delivered by our online proctoring partners at MonitorEdu. Candidates are required to book an exam session directly on the MonitorEdu webpage, with session times being available most days of the year, and in all time zones.
The ITEA Knowledge Exam examines candidates knowledge of technical management tasks and associated knowledge areas that have been identified by ITEA’s most experienced T&E professionals as being essential for modern T&E practitioners. The table below lists the technical management tasks that are examinable, with a cross reference to an article from the ITEA Journal that provides educational and peer-reviewed coverage of the topic. Candidates are highly recommended to study each of the listed articles before attempting the ITEA Knowledge Exam. The exam questions DO NOT focus on the specific case studies presented in the articles, but rather aim to examine the candidates more general knowledge of the methods and knowledge areas described in the articles. An example exam question is shown below.
| ITEA Journal Article + Keywords
(Source of Examinable Content) |
Technical Management Tasks |
| A Case Study-based Assessment of a Model-driven Testing Methodology
Keywords: Model Driven Test Design, MBSE, test planning, operational effectiveness & operational suitability, critical operational issues |
MBSE / Digital Engineering / Requirements Definition and Analysis |
| Digital Twin: A Quick Overview
Keywords: Digital model, digital twin, digital thread, acquisition program lifecycle |
|
| Model Based Test and Evaluation Master Plan Technical Introduction
Keywords: Decision Support, TEMP, Model Based Systems Engineering, Reference Architecture |
|
| Advancing the Test Science of LLM-enabled Systems
Keywords: STAT, Large Language Models, Artificial Intelligence, Designed Experiments |
Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Autonomy, Big Data and Predictive Analytics |
| Dodging Pitfalls in Packages for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Keywords: ML, AI, software packages, software bugs, deep learning, reinforcement learning, regression, classification, overfitting, neural networks |
|
| Applying Scientific Test and Analysis Techniques to Defense Business Systems
Keywords: STAT, DOE, System Performance, Statistical Methods, Statistical Analysis, Deterministic Process, Descriptive Statistics, Inferential Statistics, Automated Software Testing |
Scientific Test and Analysis Techniques
(STAT) |
| Know the SCOR for Multifactor Strategy of Experimentation: Screening, Characterization, Optimization, and Ruggedness Testing
keywords: STAT, DOE, System Performance, Statistical Methods, Statistical Analysis, Experimental Designs, Screening, Characterisation, Optimisation |
|
| Model-Based Systems Engineering to Support Test-Driven Development
Keyword: DOE, test planning, MBSE, Statistical Analysis, test objectives, response surface methods, hypothesis testing, regression models |
|
| Statistical Methods Development Work for M&S Validation
Keywords: M&S; Space-filling designs; statistical modelling; data generation |
|
| The Value of Scientific Test and Analysis Techniques in Test and Evaluation
Keywords: STAT, DOE, Statistics, Sample Sizes, Test Execution, Test Planning, Test Evaluation |
|
| Balancing Structure and Flexibility: Evaluating Agile, Waterfall, and Hybrid
Keywords: Waterfall, Agile, MBSE implementation, project management, requirements traceability, systems engineering, Aerospace. |
T&E in support of Agile |
| Exploring Agile Acquisition Principles and Practices for FAA Complex System
Keywords: Agile, Traditional T&E, Complex Systems, Agile Acquisition Framework |
|
| Development of a Digital Engineering Testing Framework for CUBESAT Applications
Keywords: Digital Engineering (DE), Digital Twin (DT), Simulation, Environmental Testing |
T&E Process Improvement |
| Reimagining T&E for the Modern Joint Environment: The Joint Test Concept
Keywords: Joint Test, Joint Test Concept, System of Systems, Capability Lifecycle, Capability Portfolio Management, Joint All-Domain, DOT&E, Mission Thread, Mission Web, Test and Evaluation (T&E), Reimagined T&E, Joint Force, Joint Capability, Leading Change, Mission Engineering, Digital Engineering, LVC, Multi-Domain Operations Testing |
|
| Test and Evaluation as a Continuum
Keywords: Test and Evaluation Continuum; Mission Engineering; Digital Engineering; Capability Based Test and Evaluation; Model Based Systems Engineering; Digital Workforce |
|
| Digital Test and Evaluation: Validation of System Models as a Key Enabler
Keywords: Model-based Systems Engineering, Model Requirements, Digital System Models, Validation, Rapid Acquisition, Test and Evaluation |
Modelling and Simulation / VV&A |
| Risk-Based VV&A A Systematic Approach
Keywords: VV&A, Risk Based Approach, Modelling & Simulation, VV&A Process |
|
| Incorporating Test and Evaluation into Acquisition Contracts
Keywords: T&E Planning, TEMP, T&E Scope of Work, T&E Resourcing |
Coordination of T&E Activities and Events, Test Infrastructure |
| Mission Engineering
Keywords: systems engineering, mission engineering, systems of systems, digital engineering, operational analysis |
Mission Engineering |
| The Robust Classical MTBF Test
Keywords: Reliability, Mean Time Between Failure, MTBF Test |
Reliability and Failure Definition and Scoring Criteria |
| Information Technology (IT) System Reliability and Availability Testing
Keywords: Software Reliability test; Software MTBF test; IT System Reliability test; Beta-Binomial Test; MTBF50 Test; Bayesian Test; IT System Acceptance Test; IT System Availability |
Software Development and Testing |
Example question from the ITEA Knowledge Exam:
What does Operational Effectiveness measure in an Operational Test and
Evaluation construct?
A. The system’s compatibility with legacy documentation systems.
B. The system’s performance in laboratory conditions with simulated
personnel.
C. The system’s capability to accomplish a mission task when used by
representative personnel in the expected operational environment.
D. The system’s ability to be transported and maintained in the operational
environment.
Correct Answer: C