More FAQs (click on a question below)

1. Why get certified?
2. Why is the BPM certification different from other industry certifications?
3. What is the application process?
4. What about recertification?
5. What is the exam process?
6. Should I study?
7. Will there be vendors who provide training for the CBPP® Exam?
8. How much does the Exam cost?
9. What if I don't pass the Exam?
10. Are the CBPA and CBPP® accredited?
11. Certificate vs. Certification: What's the difference?
12. What languages are offered for the CBPP® Exam?
13. What are the experience qualification requirements for the CBPP®?
14. Are there sample questions available?
15. How does the CBPP® differ from OCEB (OMG Certified Expert in BPM) certification from the OMG?
16. Do you plan on having a junior level of certification for people who have less than 4 years of work experience?
17. Is there a practice test?
18. If I need to cancel or reschedule my exam, what is your CBPA and CBPP Exam Rescheduling Policy.
19. Exam Retake, Cancellation and Refund Policy
20. I need help registering for my online exam. Who do I contact?
21. Why am I required to pay a VAT tax when I sign up for a test?
22. Can I receive a refund on my online course purchase?

1. Why get certified?

The CBPA® and CBPP® are international standard that tests your multidisciplinary knowledge and breadth of experience as a BPM Practitioner. To read more about ABPMP and the BPM profession, click here.

2. Why is the BPM certification different from other industry certifications?

The BPM Certification Program is a professional certification program that requires experience, knowledge, and a commitment to professionalism, and is not a training program. The CBPP® is unique in our rapidly changing market place. This certification has been developed by and for BPM practitioners. It is the first independent professional examination and certification program in the area of BPM. The CBPA® and CBPP® have been designed to comply with international certification standards and is now the internationally recognized standard for BPM professionals.

3. What is the application process?

• Review qualifications and experience requirements (See below)
• Maintain an active Professional Membership with ABPMP.
• Start the online application process
  • Candidate submits online application.
  • ABPMP Certification Committee reviews and assesses the application (which may take up to 30 days)
  • ABPMP Certification Committee notifies the candidate of application assessment
    • If approved, Candidate receives a link to register and pay for exam.
      • Applicant takes exam within 6 months of registration
    • Applicant receives alternate notice (if determined not to be qualified)

• The ABPMP National Office will assist you with scheduling your online proctored exam. Click here to learn more about online proctoring.

4. What about recertification?

• Certificate is valid for 3 years
• To complete your CBPA/CBPP recertification, you must complete all of the following:
  • Maintain an ABPMP Professional Membership
  • Complete and log 60 hours of continuing professional education activities
  • Pay the non-refundable recertification fee
  • Update your current mailing address to include street address, city, state/province, postal code, and country
  • Upon certificate expiration, 60 hours have to be logged and the non-refundable recertification fee have to be completed within 6 months or re-take of the CBPA/CBPP exam is required
    
    • Or you may opt to re-take the CBPA/CBPP Exam in place of submitting CPE Activities

• Upon certificate expiration, 60 hours must be logged and the non-refundable recertification fee has to be paid within 6 months or re-take of the CBPA/CBPP Exam is required

• More information is available here.

5. What is the exam process?

• Vendor Hosted:
  • Option is available to take the exam online via the internet 
  • Candidate registers online at website
  • Candidate receives confirmation number
  • Confirmation number is used on event day to launch the exam (paired with password entered by the host proctor)
  • Candidate agrees to Code of Ethics as part of the logon/launch process
  • Exam takes 3 hours to complete
  • Candidate receives online feedback on passing the exam
  • Formal Certificate is mailed to newly certified individual within one month after successfully passing exam

• Chapter Hosted:
  • Trained Chapter officer is the proctor for the exam
  • Exam is offered at CBT classroom location or university setting with PCs
  • Chapter proctor downloads the applicant roster and manages the exam online
  • Candidate registers online at website
  • Candidate receives confirmation number
  • Confirmation number is used on event day to launch the exam (paired with password entered by the Chapter proctor)
  • Candidate agrees to Code of Ethics as part of the logon/launch process
  • Exam takes 3 hours to complete
  • For those passing:
    • Candidate receives online feedback
    • Candidate will learn whether he/she passed each topic and receive an overall pass/fail score
    • Formal Certificate is mailed to newly certified individual within one month after successfully passing exam

6. Should I study?

Yes, at a minimum, you should study the BPM CBOK®. However, the exam is not based on the content in the BPM CBOK® as much as it is based on the knowledge areas of the BPM CBOK®. The exam also tests your experience as a BPM Practitioner as much as your knowledge of BPM. The exam is quite rigorous; it is recommended that in addition to studying the BPM CBOK®, you also take refresher training and participate in a Chapter study group if applicable.

Join our online CBPP Prep study group on LinkedIn.

7. Will there be vendors who provide training for the CBPP® Exam?

No, no vendors will provide training to individuals for the sole purpose of taking and passing the exam. We understand the PMI does have vendors that will provide exam preparation courses to help individuals pass their exam; however, ABPMP will not do this, primarily because our exam is weighted heavily on experience and not memorization of the BPM CBOK®.

Opportunities to participate in study groups are available through ABPMP local Chapters where applicable, and ABPMP will experiment with online collaboration using GoToWebinar. Please visit our Linkedin page for more information.

8. How much does the Exam cost?

There is a non-refundable application fee of $75.00 (USD) for the CBPP® and $40.00 (USD) for the CBPA®.

Pricing for the exam provides incentive to become an ABPMP International member:

• CBPA®
  • Members: $400
  • Non-Members: $550
• CBPP®
  • Members: $500
  • Non-Members: $650 

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9. What if I don't pass the Exam?

• You must wait at least 30 days before retaking the exam to allow sufficient time to prepare.
• If you fail the certification exam, test takers are eligible for a 50% discount when they retake the exam within 45 days of their original test date. 
• You must not wait more than 6 months to re-take the exam without paying the application fee.
• After six months, you must re-apply for the exam on the ABPMP website.
• Your exam scores will provide an indication of how much additional preparation is needed.
• To register to retake the exam, use the exam registration link you originally received. If you need the link and log in credentials resent to you, contact the ABPMP International Office at 850-474-0995.

10. Are the CBPA and CBPP® accredited?

ABPMP International follows the procedural guidelines to meet the accreditation standard.

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11. Certificate vs. Certification: What's the difference?

From the Institute for Credentialing Excellence (formerly the National Organization for Competency Assurance),

Professional or personnel certification is a voluntary process by which individuals are evaluated against predetermined standards for knowledge, skills, or competencies. Participants who demonstrate that they meet the standards by successfully completing the assessment process are granted the certification.

An assessment-based certificate program is a non-degree-granting program that:

1. provides instruction and training to aid participants in acquiring specific knowledge, skills, and/or competencies associated with intended learning outcomes;
2. evaluates participants’ achievement of the intended learning outcomes; and
3. awards a certificate only to those participants who meet the performance, proficiency or passing standard for the assessment(s).

An assessment-based certificate is not a certificate of attendance or participation, which are provided to individuals (participants) who have attended or participated in classes, courses, or other education/training programs or events but did not have to demonstrate accomplishment of the intended learning outcomes.

Whereas the focus of an assessment-based certificate program is on education/training, the focus of professional/personnel certification is on the assessment of participants. Moreover, the assessment is independent of a specific class, course or other education/training program and also independent of any provider of classes, courses, or programs. Additional features and details about each program are outlined in the defining features document.

A much more extensive document is available for your reference:

National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA)

12. What languages are offered for the CBPP® Exam?

The CBPA® and CBPP® exams are available in English, German, Portuguese, and Russian.

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13. What are the experience qualification requirements for the CBPP®?

Experience Qualification Requirements

• 4 Years of BPM experience
• Process management, process improvement, or process transformation experience
• Documented experience and qualifications
• References

Education Requirements

• Undergraduate degrees may not be substituted for experience – no additional credit is provided.
• Approved graduate degrees may be substituted for up to 6 months of BPM experience.

Other Professional Certifications, e.g., PMP, CPIM

• Approved certifications may be substituted for up to 6 months of BPM experience.

Recertification

• Recertification is required every 3 years
• 60 hours of continuing professional education activities required
• Or retake exam
• Some example activities:
• Courses, training, seminars
• Professional association events
• Writing, presenting, teaching

14. Are there sample questions available?

Yes! Click here to review our current sample questions.

We are developing a study guide and are looking into providing a few sample questions in that guide.

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15. How does the CBPP® differ from OCEB (OMG Certified Expert in BPM) certification from the OMG?

OMG – Organizational focus

OMG is a not-for-profit computer industry consortium; the majority of the membership consists of IT vendor related companies. That sets a certain focus, orientation and perspective for their approach to BPM, whereby all of OMG’s products are heavily influenced by the vendor rather than the practitioner community.

OMG BPM Certification

The purpose of the OMG standards is to create interoperability between software and hardware products, not to validate practitioner competencies. The OMG certifications are very highly oriented to BPM as packaged software and one-off projects rather than a management discipline and enterprise-wide approach. Therefore, examinations based on OMG standards are not oriented toward improving the quality or ensuring the competency of the BPM practice.

The OMG certification was developed by BPM vendors and not BPM practitioners, and by default most of the content appears to be IT-centric in nature – even the Business related track – so the differences between their Technical and Business tracks is slight; from some perspectives it is just a matter of how deep in the IT stack it takes you.

Lastly, the OCEB validates knowledge of the OMG "standards” around BPM, several of which have not been accepted by the practitioner community – BPMN is an excellent example.

ABPMP International – Organizational focus

The Association of Business Process Management Professionals International is a non-profit, vendor-independent professional organization dedicated to the advancement of business process management concepts and practices.

ABPMP International is practitioner-oriented and practitioner-led. Our program is run by and for the practitioner community and not run by and for a vendor consortium. Therein lies the major difference from OMG.

ABPMP International first developed the BPM Common Body of Knowledge (BPM CBOK®) to clearly identify all the knowledge areas that are required for developing the skills and competencies required for practicing BPM as a management discipline with an enterprise-wide approach. We then developed the CBPP® exam utilizing the BPM CBOK® knowledge areas as a foundation, but more importantly, we place even higher importance on experience as a major factor and incorporated it into the exam content.

Second, we had a team of top BPM practitioners, each with more than 10 years experience in BPM, develop the exam. We intentionally want people to have experience before taking the exam, rather than studying or memorizing content and answering questions on that content. Our exam is not structured to test for one’s ability to memorize content, but rather on one’s experience as a BPM practitioner. The focus on IT is as an enabler of the management discipline and enterprise-wide approach — and nothing more.

Lastly, we adhered to an official standards body such as the ISO/ANSI 17024 and we plan to seek accreditation for our CBPP® exam.

Our respective certifications serve very different but sometimes intersecting or even overlapping populations/markets.

ABPMP believes that there are clear distinctions between our members, our domains of influence and our certifications. There are some overlapping interests and potential synergies to be gained from identifying exactly how they are different and where they intersect. It would make sense at some point to work together to remove confusion and make clear the differences and perhaps alignment between our organizations as well as our certifications.

16. Do you offer a junior level of certification for people who have less than 4 years of work experience?

Yes! ABPMP now offers two levels of certification for business process management and transformation professionals. The first level is for individuals who may be fairly new to the business transformation profession. This is the Certified Business Process Associate (CBPA®) certification. It is meant to recognize broad-based foundation level skills and understanding.

These professionals have a solid understanding of BPM concepts and may have some work experience the field, but do not have the full four years of hands-on experience required for the second level of certification – the Certified Business Process Professional (CBPP®). In this way, the CBPA® is the foundation and through additional training and experience in live business improvement/transformation projects the CBPA® holder will become eligible to sit for the CBPP® certification. 

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17. Is there a practice test for the CBPA?

Yes, there is a set of sample examination questions for the new CBPA® certification. As the CBPP® exam is based on practical experience in the BPM field, there is not a practice exam available. Through study of the terminology and disciplines contained in the BPM-CBOK® is essential for both exams.

Click here to view sample questions.

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18. What if I cancel or reschedule my exam?

Due to the cost increases for our national testing centers and the number of cancellations,  the retake and cancellation policies have changed. Starting on June 1, 2018, there will be a fee for cancelling your exam within 72 hours of your scheduled testing date. The cancellation fees are now $105.00, which covers the testing center costs and administration fees.  If you reschedule your exam 72 hours prior to the exam date, there will be no fee. 

19. Exam Retake, Cancellation and Refund Policies

20. I need help registering for my online exam. Who do I contact?

21. VAT Tax Issue in European Union (EU) Countries

Background:
When a test taker in Portugal (or other EU countries) tries to pay for a test they may find that in addition to the testing fee, a substantial VAT tax payment is required. The issue is this: In the EU, companies are exempt from paying VAT taxes, but individuals are not. If the individual has an employer that is willing to pay for the test, the company can provide Kryterion with its VAT tax number, which will be verified against EU VAT tax records. Once the VAT number is verified, the test taker will be marked as exempt from collection of the VAT tax in Kryterion’s records and no tax will be collected when the test is paid for.

Process:
The test taker needs to sign on to Kryterion and fill out their profile completely. The company needs to send an email to tax@kryteriononline.com stating its intention to pay for this test taker’s testing fee and providing the company’s VAT tax number. Kryterion will verify the VAT number and notify the test taker that the Kryterion system has been updated with the VAT tax exemption status. The test taker or the company can then pay for the test without having the VAT tax amount collected.

Second Chance Process:
If the test taker pays for the test and the VAT tax and only then looks to ABPMP for help (and the test taker also has a company willing to pay for the test), we should direct them to send an email to tax@kryteriononline.com describing this and asking for their help. If the test taker and their company act quickly it may be possible for Kryterion to verify the VAT tax number and refund the VAT tax amount that was collected. The EU taxing authority allows only 45 days to completely resolve this kind of issue. After that window closes nothing more can be done with regard to refunding the tax, so the test taker must move quickly in order to complete the process within the prescribed window.

Other Tax Issues:
If someone calls or emails about some other tax that Kryterion is collecting, have them email tax@kryteriononline.com and explain their issue. If there is a legally permissible way to avoid the tax Kryterion will explain what must be done. If there is no acceptable way to avoid the tax, the test taker will need to pay the tax or not take the exam. ABPMP has no control over taxes that Kryterion is required to collect under the laws of various countries.

22. Can I receive a refund on my online course purchase?

There is a 30-day refund policy in place for the purchase of online courses. Refunds on course purchases will only be processed if the learner has not started or watched any of the course material within the 30-day period. Courses purchased at the discounted promotional rate are also not eligible for a refund.

For additional questions not answered here, please send an email with your request(s) to: certificationfaqs(a)abpmp.org