Just Published: IREB CPRE – Foundation Level 3.0

We announced it before summer, and now it’s here – the IREB® has finally published the long-awaited CPRE Foundation Level 3.0. The new standard, released on October 1, 2020, promises a number of new features, especially with respect to the methods and techniques for which the IREB® provides training (keyword: agile methods).

The reworked standard is based on a survey carried out in the summer of 2017, which showed that although the CPRE FL 2.2 syllabus does still cover market needs for the most part, “some techniques are no longer used in practice, while the syllabus lacks others relevant to professionals seeking more iterative, more agile development. That feedback corresponded to the IREB’s perceived changes in the field of requirements engineering (RE).”

New Features in Syllabus

The survey resulted in a new syllabus for basic certification in the area of requirements engineering/requirements analysis, which now offers 7 educational units (EUs), instead of 9 as previously:

  • EU 1 establishes the RE framework and provides a brief overview on the what, why, where and how when it comes to requirements engineering. Although that EU corresponds to the previous EU 1, it has been completely reworked.
  • EU 2 is a new educational unit which introduces the nine basic principles of RE. The content of the previous EU 2 is covered to a certain extent in principle 4 of the new EU 2.
  • EU 3 is based on reworked content from four EUs of the previous syllabus (EU 2, EU 4, EU 5, and EU 6) and includes everything on the documentation process and documentation results (work products).
  • EU 4 brings together various sources for eliciting requirements, elicitation techniques, techniques for conflict resolution and for validation, which were previously distributed over the previous units EU 3 and EU 7.
  • EU 5 is a new educational unit which is required to shape and structure the RE work which needs to be carried out in a given context and on the basis of influencing factors and process aspects.
  • EU 6 provides the basic toolset for managing the RE process, and is a minor revision of the previous EU 8.
  • EU 7 presents a classification of RE tools and is a minor revision of the previous EU 9.

Be Ready for CPRE FL 3.0

The IREB has provided a six-month transitional period for exams during which certification based on either the old and new syllabus will be granted. FL 3.0 will first be offered in English and German, with other languages to be added on a continual basis over the course of 2021. Along with 3.0, the IREB will also be publishing a handbook for the FL and updating the related syllabus and glossary. As an accredited training provider, we’re optimally prepared for the change, and as soon as the 3.0 standard is released, we’ll immediately adapt the course appropriately as well as the preparation we offer for certification.

Training for Requirements Engineering by Spirit in Projects

CPRE Foundation Level 3.0 – Preview of the New Standard Coming in Fall 2020

Rumors have been floating around the industry for some time that the IREB would be revising its “Certified Professional for Requirements Engineering Foundation Level” certification, and the board has finally announced that it would be offering training and certification in CPRE Foundation Level 3.0 starting in the fall of 2020. Below, we present an initial preview of what to expect.

According to the IREB, the reasons they’re reworking the current 2.2 standard isn’t necessarily the body of relevant RE knowledge presented in it, as that is still solid and meets the needs of that market. However, surveys carried out in the summer of 2017 revealed that some of the methods and techniques they taught no longer corresponded to actual practice, in particular those related to agile methods.

IREB CPRE Foundation Level 3.0 to come in Fall 2020

The IREB is currently aiming to publish the new standard in October 2020, and will also provide a a six-month transition period within which candidates can choose whether they want to take the certification exam on the basis of syllabus 2.2 or 3.0. The transition period will begin when the new standard is published (in each exam language) and is intended to ensure continuity and seamless transition in training.

Foundation Level 3.0 will first be offered in English and German, with other languages added on a continual basis. Along with 3.0, the IREB will also be publishing a handbook for the Foundation Level, like the one already provided for individual CPRE Advanced Level modules. The handbook can be downloaded for free from the IREB website. In addition, the IREB will also offer a new version of the CPRE glossary together with the CPRE Foundation Level 3.0 syllabus, which will be coordinated with the new version of the syllabus and ISTQB glossary.

Stay Up-to-Date with Spirit in Projects

As an accredited provider of IREB CPRE training, we’re optimally prepared for the change, but will also continue to provide training based on the current 2.2 standard until the new version appears. These certifications are equivalent and remain valid for an unlimited period of time – meaning now’s a great time to get a start on your training in requirements engineering!

As soon as the 3.0 standard is released, we’ll immediately adapt the course appropriately as well as the preparation we offer for certification. And finally, we offer all course participants an update/refresher from 2.2 to 3.0, made available as a service on our learning platform.

Learn more about our trainings for requirements engineers: