Build Your Cost Estimating Expertise

From core cost estimating principles to specialized software cost estimation

Whether you are entering the cost estimating profession, preparing for an ICEAA certification, strengthening an existing estimating team, or developing expertise in software cost estimation, ICEAA’s Cost Estimating Body of Knowledge^® curricula provide a structured path for building and applying professional estimating knowledge.

CEBoK^® provides the foundation: a comprehensive body of knowledge covering the core principles, techniques, analytical methods, specialized costing, and management applications used by cost estimators.

CEBoK-S^® builds on that foundation with specialized guidance for estimating software development, sustainment, and maintenance.

Together, they provide a progression from fundamental cost estimating knowledge to specialized software estimating expertise.

One Foundation. One Specialized Path.

CEBoK^® and CEBoK-S^® are designed to work together.
CEBoK^® establishes the core knowledge of cost estimating and analysis, while CEBoK-S^® applies those principles specifically to software.

CEBoK^®

The Foundation for Cost Estimating & Analysis

ICEAA’s official training curriculum covering the broad body of knowledge used by cost estimators and analysts.

16 interactive modules
Five major subject areas
Browser-based and interactive
Designed for self-study, group study, or classroom use
Supports preparation for PCEA^® and CCEA^® examinations

CEBoK-S^®

The Software Cost Estimating Specialization

A specialized curriculum extending CEBoK^® principles to software cost estimating.

Software development effort and cost
Sustainment and maintenance
Software sizing considerations
Procured solutions and commercial off-the-shelf software
Reviewing software estimates developed by others
Preparation for the SCEC^® examination

CEBoK^®: The Foundation for Cost Estimating and Analysis

The Cost Estimating Body of Knowledge (CEBoK^®) is ICEAA’s official training curriculum. CEBoK^®2.0 is a user-friendly, browser-based cost estimating and analysis training resource organized into 16 interactive modules within five general subject areas.

The modules are designed for self-study, study in small groups, or use in a classroom environment.

(Click images below to enlarge examples in a new tab)

What Will You Learn?

Section 1: Cost Estimating

Cost Estimating Basics: introduction, overview, cost products, cost estimating process
Costing Techniques: using costing techniques, comparison of techniques
Parametric Estimating: basics of parametrics, parametric estimating process

Section 2: Cost Analysis Techniques

Data Collection and Normalization
Inflation and Index Numbers

Section 3: Analytical Methods

Basic Data Analysis Principles
Learning Curve
Regression Analysis
Cost and Schedule Risk Analysis
Probability and Statistics

Section 4: Specialized Costing

Manufacturing Cost Estimating
Software Cost Estimating

Section 5: Management Applications

Economic Analysis
Contract Pricing
Earned Value Management
Cost Management

Download the detailed CEBoK^® Syllabus (PDF)

CEBoK-S^®: The Software Cost Estimating Specialization

As software represents an increasingly significant portion of total systems cost, understanding software cost estimation is increasingly critical. ICEAA developed the Cost Estimating Body of Knowledge-Software, or CEBoK-S^®, to provide software estimating training that complements and enhances cost estimates and analyses.

CEBoK-S^® builds upon the cost estimating best practices outlined in CEBoK^®, tailoring lessons on core cost estimating principles such as maturity models, risk, uncertainty, data analysis, and data normalization to the specific uses and applications of software cost estimating.

What Is CEBoK-S^® Designed to Do?

CEBoK-S^® has been cultivated to provide guidance on the essential considerations in software cost estimating while factually and objectively presenting software sizing methods.

The curriculum is a how-to for undertaking software estimates involving:

Software development effort and cost
Software sustainment and maintenance
Comparing procured solutions with commercial off-the-shelf software
Reviewing another party’s software size
Reviewing software development costs
Reviewing sustainment and maintenance schedules

What CEBoK-S^® Does Not Do

It does not endorse any software sizing method as universally superior or inferior to another.
It does not introduce the basic concepts of cost estimating to an unfamiliar audience.
It does not prescribe a single approach. It provides guidance for the essential considerations involved in software cost estimating.

Why Invest in the CEBoK^® Curriculum?

Build a Common Foundation: CEBoK^® provides a structured foundation covering the major areas of cost estimating and analysis.

Develop Specialized Expertise: CEBoK-S^® extends the core principles of cost estimating to the specialized challenges of software.

Support Certification: CEBoK^® supports preparation for the PCEA^® and CCEA^®, while CEBoK-S^® is required training material for the SCEC^®.

Strengthen Team Capability: Organizations can use the curricula to establish a common knowledge base across their estimating professionals.

Which Curriculum Is Right for You?

Choose CEBoK^® If You…

Are new to cost estimating and analysis
Need to strengthen your core estimating knowledge
Are preparing for the PCEA^® or CCEA^®
Want a comprehensive reference covering the broader cost estimating discipline
Need a common estimating foundation for a team

Choose CEBoK-S^® If You…

Already have a foundation in cost estimating and analysis
Need specialized software cost estimating knowledge
Estimate software development, sustainment, or maintenance
Review or assess software estimates produced by others
Are preparing for the SCEC^® examination

Choose Both If You…

Want comprehensive cost estimating knowledge plus software specialization
Are developing software cost estimating capability within an organization
Are building a professional development path from fundamental estimating through software estimating
Want both the broader CEBoK^® foundation and specialized CEBoK-S^® curriculum

How to Purchase

Choose the option that best matches your individual or organizational needs.

CEBoK^®2.0 Through ICEAA Membership

Starting at $150/year

CEBoK^®2.0 is available for FREE to all active ICEAA members.
Active members can access CEBoK^®2.0 after logging in to their ICEAA profile.

CEBoK-S^® Individual Curriculum

All ten CEBoK-S^® lessons are available through the ICEAA store as a full-curriculum package in PDF format.

ICEAA Members: $595

Non-Members: $745

CEBoK-S^® Team Packages

Prepare a group of software estimators for the SCEC^® examination with CEBoK-S^® packages.

Five CEBoK-S^® users + one year ICEAA Membership per user: $2,500

Ten CEBoK-S^®users + one year ICEAA Membership per user: $4,000

Designated individuals receive complimentary membership for one year
Participants receive access to CEBoK^®2.0 and CEBoK-S^®
Designated individuals qualify as having purchased CEBoK-S^® for purposes of SCEC^® eligibility
Exam fees are separate

Contact ICEAA to discuss team packages: [email protected]

CEBoK^®2.0 Enterprise Access

For organizations requiring CEBoK^®2.0 access for large numbers of individuals without purchasing individual ICEAA memberships for each user.

25–49 users: $5,000/year

50–99 users: $7,500/year

100+ users: $10,000/year

Contact ICEAA to discuss enterprise access: [email protected]

CEBoK^® Online Video Training

ICEAA offers official CEBoK^® training videos online in an on-demand streaming format. The videos are designed for candidates preparing for the PCEA^® or CCEA^®examinations, individuals new to cost estimating and analysis, and experienced professionals who want to refresh their skills.

The videos are designed to enhance and strengthen study of the CEBoK^® material and are not intended to provide sufficient preparation for the examinations by themselves.

Instruction Licenses

CEBoK^® is copyrighted by ICEAA. Instructors wishing to use CEBoK^® material in fee-based instructional courses must acquire a CEBoK^® Limited License Agreement for Third-Party Training before conducting the training.

All students attending training must be active ICEAA members with access to CEBoK^®2.0 or have purchased a copy of the CEBoK^®1.2 USB drive.

Trainers are responsible for submitting records to ICEAA regarding the training and attendees, as well as a stipend of $100/student in recognition of ICEAA’s copyrighted intellectual property.

Contact ICEAA to discuss training licenses: [email protected]

Invest in the Knowledge Behind Better Estimates

Cost estimating professionals need both a strong foundation and the ability to apply that foundation to increasingly specialized problems.

CEBoK^® provides the foundation.
CEBoK-S^® provides the software specialization.

Together, they provide a structured path for developing the knowledge needed to perform, understand, evaluate, and communicate cost estimates.

Questions?

For questions about CEBoK^®, CEBoK-S^®, team packages, enterprise access, or instructional licenses, contact [email protected].