To achieve one of ICEAA’s certifications, individuals must:

• Complete the online exam application
• Receive an approval notification from ICEAA that they have met the requirements to take the desired exam
• Pay the appropriate exam fee. Pricing for the exams is provided at https://www.iceaaonline.com/certification/#examfees
• Pass your exam! PCEA^® candidates must pass the PCEA^® exam. CCEA^® candidates must pass both the PCEA^® and CCEA^® exams. SCEC candidates must pass the SCEC exam.

To sit for the PCEA^® exam, individuals must have a college degree in any discipline and be employed in a cost-estimating or cost-adjacent field (including accounting, estimating, scheduling, budgeting, finance, data analysis, or project/program management). Candidates may sit for the PCEA^® exam with less than a year of experience but will be designated PCEA-Eligible until the two-year experience requirement is met and they are upgraded to PCEA^® status.

Candidates for the CCEA^® certification must pass both the PCEA^® and CCEA^® exams.

In addition, CCEA^® candidates must have a college degree in any discipline and 5 or more total years of related experience (or without a degree have 8 years of experience) in a cost-estimating or cost-adjacent field (including accounting, estimating, scheduling, budgeting, finance, data analysis, or project/program management).

PCEA^® and CCEA^® exams may be purchased together for a discount. Candidates are not required to take the exams on the same day or at the same time, but both exams must be passed before the CCEA^® designation is awarded.

Should an individual pass the CCEA^® exam before the five-year experience requirement for certification is met, they will be designated CCEA-Eligible until the five-year experience requirement is met and they are upgraded to CCEA^® status.

To qualify to sit for the SCEC exam, applicants must have a college degree in any discipline, a minimum of two years of specific experience in software estimating, and must provide proof of purchase of ICEAA’s CEBoK-S^® training material.

Apply using our online application. Within approximately ten business days of sending your application, you will be notified whether or not you have been approved to sit for the exam and will receive instructions on how to pay your exam fee.

Pricing for the exams is provided at https://www.iceaaonline.com/certification/#examfees

ICEAA membership starts at $150/per year.  Learn more about the benefits of ICEAA membership https://www.iceaaonline.com/membership/

Once your exam application is approved, you will receive an email from us with instructions to log into your ICEAA profile (or create an account) and purchase your exam.

Note: if you order both your exam and a membership at the same time, the member price will be reflected in the final purchase confirmation page.

The Cost Estimating Body of Knowledge (CEBoK^®) is ICEAA’s official training material, available for FREE for all active ICEAA members.

CEBoK^® is a user-friendly cost estimating and analysis training resource, with information organized into 16 interactive modules within five general subject areas, designed to cover all of the topics that represent the body of knowledge that ICEAA promotes and tests for in the PCEA^® and CCEA^® exams. Each module contains an explanation of which topics you should focus your studies on, and at the bottom of the main page, you’ll find a link to download an Excel-based app with practice tests and study questions.

All active ICEAA members can access CEBoK^® after logging on to the ICEAA Portal. CEBoK^® is available via the ICEAA membership portal and is only accessible by current ICEAA members. It is not available as a book, on USB, or any other medium.

ICEAA membership starts at $150/per year.  Learn more about the benefits of ICEAA membership https://www.iceaaonline.com/membership/

Learn more about CEBoK^® at https://www.iceaaonline.com/cebok/#cebok

All candidates pursuing the SCEC Certification are required to purchase CEBoK-S^®, ICEAA’s specialized software cost estimating curriculum, and the foundation of the SCEC exam. CEBoK-S^® builds on the foundational knowledge in CEBoK^® with specialized guidance for estimating software development, sustainment, and maintenance. CEBoK-S^® is available for purchase on the ICEAA Portal and is available to members for $595 (non-members, $745).

Learn more about CEBoK-S^® at https://www.iceaaonline.com/cebok/#cebok-s

ICEAA membership starts at $150/per year.  Learn more about the benefits of ICEAA membership https://www.iceaaonline.com/membership/

ICEAA’s official training material is the Cost Estimating Body of Knowledge (CEBoK^®), a user-friendly, browser-based, cost estimating and analysis training resource available for FREE for all current ICEAA members on the ICEAA Portal.

CEBoK^® is available via the ICEAA membership portal and is only accessible by current ICEAA members. It is not available as a book, on USB or any other medium.

Learn more about CEBoK^® at https://www.iceaaonline.com/cebok/#cebok

CEBoK-S^® is a series of PDFs that is available for purchase on the ICEAA Portal and is available to members for $595 (non-members, $745).

Learn more about CEBoK-S^® at https://www.iceaaonline.com/cebok/#cebok-s

ICEAA membership starts at $150/per year.  Learn more about the benefits of ICEAA membership https://www.iceaaonline.com/membership/

No. CEBoK^® is a user-friendly, browser-based, cost estimating and analysis training resource. CEBoK^® is available via the ICEAA membership portal and is only accessible by current members on the ICEAA Portal. It is not available as a book, on USB or any other medium.

Learn more about CEBoK^® at https://www.iceaaonline.com/cebok/#cebok

CEBoK^® is a user-friendly, browser-based, cost estimating and analysis training resource with information organized into 16 interactive modules within five general subject areas, designed to cover the core principles, techniques, analytical methods, specialized costing, and management applications that are tested in the PCEA^® and CCEA^® exams.

Learn more about CEBoK^® at https://www.iceaaonline.com/cebok/#cebok

ICEAA’s annual Professional Development & Training Workshop and other events throughout the year will often feature CEBoK^®-based training that can augment your study. Check the ICEAA Chapters page to see if there is an ICEAA Chapter in your area and contact that chapter for information about upcoming training sessions.

You do not need to schedule your exam with us. Once your application has been approved and your exam fee has been paid, you will receive a link for your exam. Exam links are valid for 6 months; you may take your exam(s) at any time within the six-month period.

ICEAA’s exams are administered online and AI proctored. You may take the exam from any desktop or laptop computer with a webcam and microphone at the time and place of your choosing. Exams cannot be completed on mobile devices, tablets, or smartphones.

You may take the exam from your home, office, or any other appropriate environment. We do not recommend taking the exam any place where you will be distracted by others or where people may walk into the AI proctor’s field of view.

ICEAA’s exams are administered online and AI proctored. You may take the exam from any desktop or laptop computer with a webcam and microphone at the time and place of your choosing. Exams cannot be completed on mobile devices, tablets, or smartphones.

Once your application has been approved and your exam fee has been paid, you will receive a link for your exam. You do not need to schedule your exam with us. Exam links are valid for 6 months; you may take your exam(s) at any time within the six-month period.

If you do not complete your exam in six months, the link will expire. You may re-activate an expired link by paying an exam retake fee (this will not count against the exam retake limit).

If you require special accommodations to take the exam, contact us to discuss your options. You will be asked to provide additional documentation to support your accommodation request. Any accommodations must be documented and completed before the exam fee is paid; accommodations will not be considered once an exam is administered. All information provided will be treated confidentially.

The PCEA Exam features 60 multiple-choice questions worth one point each, and the exam is 2 hours in length.

The CCEA Exam features 50 multiple-choice questions worth one point each, and the exam is 2 hours in length.

The SCEC Exam features 60 multiple-choice questions worth one point each, and the exam is 90 minutes in length.

ICEAA’s exams are administered online and AI proctored. You may take the exam from any desktop or laptop computer with a webcam and microphone at the time and place of your choosing. Exams cannot be completed on mobile devices, tablets, or smartphones.

Your desktop or laptop will need the latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, a working webcam and microphone, the ability to install the required browser extension, a reliable internet connection, and the ability to access the testing platform through your network.

Yes, but your organization may have limitations on the sites you are able to visit using their network or blocks on what you are able to download. Download the ICEAA Online Exam System Requirements and forward to your IT professional to find out if you can take the exam using your company’s network.

Your desktop or laptop will need the latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, a working webcam and microphone, the ability to install the required browser extension, a reliable internet connection, and the ability to access the testing platform through your network.

If you find you can’t take the online exam using your work computer, forward the IT Requirements for ICEAA Online Exam document to your organization’s IT department for assistance. If you are unable to use your employer’s network or company-issued computer, you may take the exam at home or elsewhere using a personal computer.

Your desktop or laptop will need the latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, a working webcam and microphone, the ability to install the required browser extension, a reliable internet connection, and the ability to access the testing platform through your network.

If you do not have access to a personal computer, contact the ICEAA Business Office for more information.

The webcam does not need to be integrated/built into the desktop or laptop.

Your desktop or laptop will also need the latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, the ability to install the required browser extension, a reliable internet connection, and the ability to access the testing platform through your network.

Your desktop or laptop will need the latest version of Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, a working webcam and microphone, the ability to install the required browser extension, a reliable internet connection, and the ability to access the testing platform through your network.

You should perform the system check as soon as you receive your exam link, ideally during business hours in case you need to contact ICEAA or your company’s IT department for assistance with any issues that are revealed during the check (URL/IP blocking, camera and microphone issues, etc.).

If your organization’s environment blocks certain IP addresses or has other measures in place to prevent your taking the exam at your office, it is recommended that you contact your IT department for an exception or consider taking the exam at home or other location where there will not be activity that may trigger the AI proctor.

You are not required to take your exam immediately after completing the system check (although you may).

If you choose to take the exam later, simply close your browser and return when you’re ready using the same link.

Do not begin the exam unless you are ready to complete it; once you start the exam, you must complete it in the time provided.

Once your application has been approved and your exam fee has been paid, you will be sent a link to the exam, which is the same link that will be used for your system check.

At least two business days before you plan to take the exam, click your link and follow the system check instructions. Perform your system check during business hours in case you need to contact ICEAA or your company’s IT department for assistance with any issues that are revealed during the check (URL/IP blocking, camera and microphone issues, etc.).

Once you complete the system check, you can take the exam immediately, or close your browser and return when you’re ready using the same link. Do not begin the exam unless you are ready to complete it; once you start the exam, you must complete it in the time provided.

You are not required to take your exam immediately after completing the system check (although you may).

If you choose to take the exam later, simply close your browser and return when you’re ready using the same link.

Do not begin the exam unless you are ready to complete it; once you start the exam, you must complete it in the time provided.

You will need a photo ID that shows your name and photo to scan and compare to your face. The system will guide you through taking a profile picture and a picture of your photo ID, and showing that your paper is blank, with no formulas or other documentation, before you begin the exam. Once you have started the exam you must complete it in the time limit provided.

You may use one sheet of paper for calculations during the exam. At the beginning of the exam, you will be required to show that your paper is blank on both sides, containing no writing, formulas, or notes.

Do not bring or use an external calculator during your exam. The exam software features a basic-function spreadsheet app called ScratchPad that users can access within the exam browser. ScratchPad functions similarly to Excel but does not include the Excel interface, VBA/macros, graphing, or user-defined functions. Use of keyboard short cuts such as the ctrl+f, alt+tab, or other similar commands will be flagged as web browsing and will shut down the exam.

For additional information about the functionality of the ScratchPad spreadsheet, please click the following links:

Features Supported: https://www.grapecity.com/spreadjs/docs/v14/online/features.html

Formulas Supported: https://www.grapecity.com/spreadjs/docs/versions/v14/online/formulareference.html

You will be sent a link to practice using ScratchPad in advance of the exams. We recommend familiarizing yourself with its functionality before starting your exam. When you receive your ScratchPad Practice Instructions link, click Start Test to move to the screens that follow. The ScratchPad can be opened by clicking the icon on the upper right-hand side of the screen.

Most built-in Excel functionalities are supported by ScratchPad, except Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) and user-defined functions and macros. The following links provide additional information about ScratchPad functionality:

Features Supported: https://www.grapecity.com/spreadjs/docs/versions/v14/online/features.html

Formulas Supported: https://www.grapecity.com/spreadjs/docs/versions/v14/online/formulareference.html

You will only receive credit for questions answered within the time provided. A countdown clock showing the time you have remaining will show in the upper right-hand corner of the screen during the entire exam. You will be given a warning when the exam time is almost up.

The testing software continuously saves your exam answers so no information will be lost due to internet connectivity issues or power outages. Once an issue is corrected, you will be able to restart the exam where you left off. If your technical issue extends beyond the time frame you have been given to take the exam, contact ICEAA for further instructions.

Completing the system check and compatibility test should eliminate most possible technical issues, but there is a phone number at the bottom of each screen of the exam that you can call for technical assistance with the exam software or connectivity problems.

The testing software uses advanced analytics for AI proctoring. The AI proctor will monitor you through your computer’s webcam and microphone to watch for distractions or instances where the test-taker may be cheating. The AI proctor will flag if another person is detected in your camera’s field of view, if the user is looking away from the screen for long periods of time, if additional devices (like mobile phones) are detected, or if any other websites or programs are launched during the exam.

If one of these flags is raised, you may receive one warning that possible cheating has been detected. On the second instance, the exam may be closed and locked. Flags noted in the exam reports will require further review by ICEAA prior to communicating your results.

Examples of behaviors flagged by the AI proctor:

For a detailed explanation and demonstration of the AI proctoring software, watch this video: https://mettl.com/downloads/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2020/05/Proctoring_203.mp4

If the monitoring software detects an additional person, device, or other violation you may be given a warning. If a second perceived violation occurs, the exam may shut down. You can request to challenge the AI proctor’s judgement and ICEAA will review your footage to consider allowing you to retake the exam.

Your exam results will be emailed to you within five business days after completing your exam(s).

Your exam results will be emailed to the address indicated on the exam application.

Answers to exam questions or information on which specific questions were answered correctly or incorrectly are not available. Should you not pass the exam, you will be provided with the three lowest-scoring topic areas to give extra attention to when preparing for your exam retake. You will not receive the specific questions answered incorrectly or the correct answers to them.

Your certificate will be emailed as a PDF and uploaded to your ICEAA Profile. If you lose it, we will be happy to email you another one.

CCEA^® and SCEC certifications are valid for five years and can be renewed with continuing education credit and other activities via a points system. (See Renewing my Certification).

PCEA^® Certification is valid for three years and may only be extended by retaking the PCEA^® exam.

A list of current ICEAA certified cost estimators and their expiration dates is featured on the ICEAA website. Once a certification expires, the name will be removed from the list. Anyone who has either passed the exam(s) or renewed their certification but has not paid the required exam or recertification fee will not be listed on the website.

A list of current ICEAA certified cost estimators and their expiration dates is featured on the ICEAA website. Once a certification expires, the name will be removed from the list. Anyone who has either passed the exam(s) or renewed their certification but has not paid the required exam or recertification fee will not be listed on the website.

Candidates may purchase retakes of the exam(s) they do not pass. For any given exam type, a candidate may not exceed a total of two attempts per exam type in a 6-month period or three attempts in a 12-month period.

Pricing for re-taking the exams is provided at https://www.iceaaonline.com/certification/#examfees

Pricing for re-taking the exams is provided at https://www.iceaaonline.com/certification/#examfees

For any given exam type, a candidate may not exceed a total of two attempts per exam type in a 6-month period or three attempts in a 12-month period.

Pricing for re-taking the exams is provided at https://www.iceaaonline.com/certification/#examfees

If you are only looking to achieve your PCEA^® certification, you only need to pass the PCEA^® exam. Candidates interested in the CCEA^® certification who only pass the PCEA^® will be granted the PCEA^® designation until they successfully re-take the CCEA^® exam (on the condition that all other requirements are met).

Candidates who pass the CCEA^® exam but do not pass the PCEA^® exam will receive neither the PCEA^® nor CCEA^® designation until the PCEA^® exam is passed.

Should a less-experienced candidate take and pass both the PCEA^® and CCEA^® exams, they will be awarded the PCEA^® designation until the 5-year experience mark is met. For example, if someone with 3 years of experience passed both the PCEA^® and CCEA^® exams in 2020, they would be designated PCEA^® (CCEA-Eligible) until 2022, at which point their designation would be upgraded to CCEA^® status.

Candidates may take the PCEA^® exam with less than a year of experience but will be designated PCEA-Eligible until the two-year experience requirement is met and they are upgraded to PCEA^® status.

During the five years that your CCEA^® or SCEC certification is active, keep a log of the continuing education courses, relevant seminars or workshops, ICEAA membership, and other qualifying activities listed on the ICEAA Recertification Application. We suggest keeping your records in an email folder, shared drive, or other safe place for ease of reference.

Starting six months before your certification is set to expire, ICEAA will remind you via the email address we have on file to record your points-earning activities on the ICEAA Recertification Application. Once your recertification application is approved, you will receive instructions via email on how to pay the recertification fee.

Recertification applications will be accepted up to six months (180 days) after your expiration date.

CCEA^® certificants who fail to accumulate the 30 required recertification points, or do not complete their recertification application in time may reinstate their CCEA^® certification by passing both the PCEA^® and CCEA^® exams again.

SCEC certificants who fail to accumulate the 30 required recertification points, or do not complete their recertification application in time may reinstate their SCEC certification by passing the SCEC exam again.

For those who hold both the CCEA^® and SCEC certifications, points that are applied to your CCEA^® recertification may also be applied to your SCEC certification.

The PCEA^® certification is not renewable via points, but can be extended beyond the three-year term by taking and passing the PCEA^® exam again.

Pricing for recertification is provided at https://www.iceaaonline.com/certification/#examfees

CCEA^® and SCEC certificants must achieve 30 points over five years to recertify. Allocation of points for qualifying activities is outlined on the ICEAA Recertification Application.

For those who hold both the CCEA^® and SCEC certifications, points that are applied to your CCEA^® recertification may also be applied to your SCEC certification.

CCEA^® and SCEC certificants can claim points for years worked in a cost profession, maintaining their ICEAA membership, participating in cost-related continuing education courses at universities, ICEAA events, or events held by other organizations providing relevant programs. Points will be awarded for volunteer contributions to ICEAA and our chapters, writing exam questions for inclusion in the exam question bank and more.

For those who hold both the CCEA^® and SCEC certifications, points that are applied to your CCEA^® recertification may also be applied to your SCEC certification.

Allocation of points for qualifying activities is outlined on the ICEAA Recertification Application. If you are unsure whether or not an activity will qualify for points, contact us with a description and supporting documentation and we will review for relevance.

No. Individuals are responsible for maintaining their own records of activities that qualify for points throughout their 5-year term. We suggest keeping all of your records in an email folder, shared drive, or other safe place for ease of reference.

Starting 6 months before your certification is set to expire, ICEAA will remind you via the email address we have on file. Log into your ICEAA profile to confirm and update your email as necessary. We strongly recommend maintaining a current email address with ICEAA, but ultimately you are responsible for remembering to renew your certification on time.

It is recommended that you submit your recertification application within the month that your certification expires. ICEAA offers a 6 month/180-day grace period in which to submit your paperwork; however, your certification listing on the website will not be updated until your application has been approved and your fee paid.

If you don’t believe you have enough points to recertify, take a closer look at the Recertification Application to see if there are any qualifying activities you may have left off. If you have some time before you need to recertify and are looking for ways to get more points, contact us for information on volunteering opportunities that will qualify, such as serving as a proctor for other exams, or participating in chapter or international events.

If you are unsure whether or not an activity will qualify for points, contact us with a description and supporting documentation and we will review for relevance.