Systems Engineering Certification

Demonstrating knowledge and experience in the practice of Systems Engineering

Certification Agreements

Top Things to Know about Academic Equivalency​

  • It is for university courses that count toward degrees
  • Universities may continue using their existing textbooks
  • Universities may teach using any language or methods
  • Participating universities must be part INCOSE's Corporate Advisory Board* (CAB)
  • There is no cost to universities other than CAB membership
  • It gives students credit for the knowledge exam, which in the first step toward SAEP and CSEP certification
  • Students who pursue ASAP or CSEP must pay individual membership and application fees
  • Students may use Academic Equivalency without earning degrees
  • As of November 2024, twenty-five universities have Academic Equivalency
  • Learn more by emailing certification@incose.net or go to https://www.incose.org/certification/university-organizational-agreements
  • * There is an alternate path for universities that are affiliated with INCOSE MOA chapter outside the US

University Agreements 

INCOSE continues to expand the reach and influence of its certification program through the establishment of agreements and recognition of assessments performed at universities. If your university wants to investigate establishing an agreement related to INCOSE certification, please fill out our Interest Form. 

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University agreements are also called Academic Equivalencies. They are the result of INCOSE’s determination that a university’s coursework may serve as an alternative to the INCOSE knowledge exam. There is no cost to set up a university agreement, although membership in the Corporate Advisory Board (or local chapter equivalent, plus fee) is required. 

INCOSE also has agreements with other certification programs and with individual INCOSE chapters. In all cases, the goal is to reduce duplication of effort by INCOSE certification candidates and assessors. 

Academic Equivalency Programs

What are they?

An academic equivalency is an arrangement between INCOSE and a university that enables students to prove their knowledge of the INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook without taking the INCOSE knowledge exam. Students in approved programs may be able to bypass the knowledge exam on their path to becoming an Associate Systems Engineering Professional (ASEP) or Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP).

Academic Equivalencies require a university to show how it assesses student knowledge. These assessments may be offered in any language and in a variety of formats, including quizzes, projects, and oral presentations.

Academic Equivalency Overview

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Current Equivalency Programs

INCOSE has recognized more than 12 university programs. These universities have approved Academic Equivalency Programs for their coursework. Students who score well enough in the required courses, taken during the effective dates of the equivalency, may bypass the INCOSE knowledge exam when applying for ASEP or CSEP certification. Interested individuals should contact the universities directly to learn which courses are required and what minimum score in each course is required.  

 




 

University/Program

Course Location(s)

Effective Dates

Point of Contact

Website

SysEng-EN-csu-C357

Online and in-person

Fort Collins, CO, USA

August 2020 – PresentDr. Thomas Bradleywww.engr.colostate.edu/se/

Online and in-person

Ithaca, NY, USA

June 2018 - Present

Jessica Beebe

www.systemseng.cornell.edu/

Drexel-University

Online and in-person

Philadelphia, PA, USA

Fall 2019 - Present

Rick Grandrino

https://drexel.edu/syseng

FAMU-FSUlogosOnline and Panama City, FLJanuary 2024 - PresentDave Grosshttps://eng.famu.fsu.edu/msse
GeorgeMasonUniversity2CV Online and in-person

Fairfax, Virginia, USA
 January 2022 - Present John Shortlehttps://seor.gmu.edu/
    
gw_primary_2c_0 April 2024 - PresentReginald U. Bailey 
GTVertical_RGB

Atlanta, Georgia and online

April 2024 - PresentStephanie Jacksonhttp://pe.gatech.edu/degrees/pmase

Online

Baltimore, MD

August  2024 - PresentDavid Flaniganhttps://ep.jhu.edu/courses/645662-introduction-to-systems-engineering/
Loyola

In-person

Los Angeles, California, USA

August 2023 - PresentGustavo Vejaranohttps://www.lmu.edu/
MarquetteUniversitylogo March 2024 - Present https://www.marquette.edu/engineering/

Missouri-University-of-Science-&-Technology

Online and in-person

Rolla, MO, USA

August 2018 - Present

Dr. Cihan Dagli

https://emse.mst.edu/

Naval-Postgraduate-School

Online and in-person

Monterey, CA, USA

January 2020 - Present

Dr. Heidi Hahn

https://my.nps.edu/web/seet/nps-se-profile

PSUOnline and Malvern, PA, USAMarch 2024Nil Hande Ergin https://greatvalley.psu.edu/academics/masters-degrees/systems-engineering
 Online

West Lafayette, Indiana, USA
 January 2022 - Present Kat Burkhart https://engineering.purdue.edu/online/courses/systems-engineering-processes-professional-competencies
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Online and in-personAugust 2023 - PresentHenri HuijbertsQMUL School of Engineering and Materials Science
SMUlogo June 2023 - PresentDr. Diana Eastonhttps://www.smu.edu/lyle/departments/orem
Stevens2022 October 2023 - PresentCarol Ruizhttps://www.stevens.edu/
University-of-Alabama-in-HuntsvilleOnline and in-person

Huntsville, AL, USA
January 2021 - PresentDale Thomashttps://www.uah.edu/eng/departments/iseem

University of Detroit Mercy

Online

Detroit, MI, USA

January 2019 - Present

Dr. Darrell Kleinke

https://eng-sci.udmercy.edu/academics/engineering/systems-engineering.php

UMDLogoCollege Park, Maryland, USA October 2021 - PresentRobert Adrian Herschbach
 UMBC-primary-logo-RGB Online and in-person

Baltimore, MD, USA
 January 2021 - PresentToby Gouker 

https://professionalprograms.umbc.edu/systems-engineering/

OnlineJanuary 2023 - PresentBarry Douglass
University-of-Michigan-Ann-ArborOnline and in-person

Ann Arbor, MI, USA
February 2020 - PresentDr. Bob Bordley

https://isd.engin.umich.edu/graduate-degree-programs/systems-engineering-design-program/

Ulogo_RGBOnline and in-personJuly 2024 - PresentPedro Huebnerhttps://systems.utah.edu 

 

University-of-New-South-Wales-The-Canberra

Online and in-person

Canberra, ACT, Australia

January 2019 - Present

Dr. Sondoss El Sawah

https://www.unsw.adfa.edu.au/degree/postgraduate-coursework/master-systems-engineering-8567

WeberstatelogoOnlineApril 2024 - PresentDr. Nicole Batty Falkenberghttps://www.weber.edu/msse

worcester-polytechnic-institute-wpi

Online and in-person

Worcester, MA, USA

June 2019 - Present

Dr. Donald Gelosh

https://www.wpi.edu/academics/departments/systems-engineering

 

 

 

 

Administrative Requirements

  • University submits interest in Academic Equivalency through interest form
  • University is an Academic member of the INCOSE Corporate Advisory Board or Chapter Affiliate Sponsor
  • INCOSE SE Handbook (SEH5E) is required material in course
  • Program has a current INCOSE CSEP or ESEP affiliated 
  • Students get high marks (definition varies by program) in all required courses 
  • Applies to students who start the required courses after the equivalency is granted to those courses 
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Technical Requirements

  • University documents their verification methods for student success against the INCOSE knowledge exam learning objectives 
  • Submit the completed learning objectives spreadsheet to certification@incose.net
  • Submit additional supporting information as requested by the Certification Advisory Group 
    • May include scoring rubrics and course syllabi 

How do I get one?


Universities interested in getting their programs recognized for future graduates should start by expressing interest through our Smartsheet interest form. They will need to meet the technical and administrative requirements described on this web page. Another presentation of this information is available through Articulate.

Related Certifications

OMG 

NAFEMS

  • https://www.nafems.org/professional-development/certification/
  • Individuals with either NAFEMS or INCOSE certification are eligible for a discount on application fees with the other certification.
  • POC: Ian Symington
  •  

    Country-Specific Programs 

    Germany (GfSE) 

    http://www.sezert.de/de/se-zert/incose.html 

    Individuals certified as SEZert Level C or Level B may be recognized as INCOSE ASEP or INCOSE CSEP, respectively. 

    POC: Stephan Stangl

    UK (INCOSE UK) 

    https://incoseuk.org

    Individuals in the UK who are interested in INCOSE certification may apply through the INCOSE UK chapter. 

    POC: Lynn Davis 

     

    Australia (SESA) 

    https://www.sesa.org.au/
    certifications

    Individuals in Australia who are chartered engineers have a streamlined path to become INCOSE CSEPs. 

    POC: certification@incose.net 

    

    USA (DoD Engineering / DAU)

    Individuals certified at DAU Engineering Level II or Level III may be recognized as INCOSE ASEP or CSEP through a streamlined process. Applicants with Engineering Level III should complete Form 1B to apply for CSEP.

    DAU certification streamlined path

    POC: certification@incose.net

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