The iSAQB® is the international standard for the training of software architects. At tecnovy you take the matching accredited training: online, on site or as in-house training.
All courses follow the official iSAQB curricula and conclude with the accredited certification. Choose your module, date and format: we organise the rest.
Foundation Level 1 module
Advanced Level 18 modules
ADOC
Architecture Documentation
Documenting and communicating software architectures effectively.
AGENTA
Architecture for Agentic Software Engineering Contexts NEW
Coding agents now write whole features, and they respect only the architectural decisions that were given to them and that something actually enforces.
AGILA
Agile Software Architecture
Designing and evolving software architectures on agile principles.
ARCEVAL
Architecture Assessment
Techniques and methods for evaluating software architectures.
CLOUDINFRA
Infrastructure, Container und Cloud-Native
Operating cloud-native architectures with containers, monitoring and alerting.
DDD
Domain Driven Design
Modeling the application domain with Domain-Driven Design concepts.
DSL
Domain-Specific Languages
Designing and implementing domain-specific languages for complex rules.
EAM
Enterprise Architecture Management
Enterprise IT architecture management across the entire IT landscape.
FLEX
Flexible Architecture Models
Designing flexible architectures like microservices and self-contained systems.
FM
Formal Methods
Specifying software requirements with mathematical precision and formal verification.
FUNAR
Functional Software Architecture
Functional software architecture with immutable data as an alternative to OO.
GREEN
Development of Resource-Efficient Applications
Energy-efficient software architectures that reduce CO2 emissions and energy use.
IMPROVE
Evolution and Improvement of Software Architectures
Optimizing software systems and architectures by economic and technical targets.
REQ4ARC
Requirements for Software Architects
Analyzing, prioritizing requirements and translating them into architecture.
SOFT
Advanced Level Soft Skills
Soft skills like empathy, moderation and effective communication in projects.
SWARC4AI
Software Architecture for AI Systems
Software architecture for AI systems: data pipelines, scaling, model deployment.
WEB
Web Based Software Architecture
Designing secure, reliable and high-performing web-based software architectures.
WEBSEC
Web Security
Web security: identifying risks and integrating protection into architecture.
Pick Advanced modules and see your CPSA-A exam eligibility in real time.
| Selection | Module | M | T | K | Total | Sessions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPSA-FFoundation Level (prerequisite) | Prerequisite, no Advanced CP | Prerequisite, no Advanced CP | Prerequisite, no Advanced CP | Prerequisite | Sessions → | |
| ADOCArchitecture Documentation Modul | 20 | 0 CP | 0 CP | 20 | Sessions → | |
| AGENTAArchitecture for Agentic Software Engineering Contexts | 20 | 10 | 0 CP | 30 | Sessions → | |
| AGILAAgile Software Architecture Modul | 20 | 0 CP | 10 | 30 | Sessions → | |
| ARCEVALArchitecture Evaluation Modul | 20 | 0 CP | 0 CP | 20 | Sessions → | |
| CLOUDINFRAInfrastruktur, Container und Cloud-Native | 10 | 20 | 0 CP | 30 | Sessions → | |
| DDDDomain Driven Design | 20 | 0 CP | 10 | 30 | Sessions → | |
| DSLDomain-Specific Languages | 20 | 10 | 0 CP | 30 | Sessions → | |
| EAMEnterprise Architecture Management | 30 | 0 CP | 0 CP | 30 | Sessions → | |
| FLEXFlexible Architecture Models | 10 | 20 | 0 CP | 30 | Sessions → | |
| FMFormal Methods | 10 | 20 | 0 CP | 30 | Sessions → | |
| FUNARFunctional Software Architecture | 10 | 20 | 0 CP | 30 | Sessions → | |
| GREENDevelopment of Resource-Efficient Applications | 10 | 10 | 0 CP | 20 | Sessions → | |
| IMPROVEEvolution and Improvement of Software Architectures | 20 | 10 | 0 CP | 30 | Sessions → | |
| REQ4ARCRequirements for Software Architects | 20 | 0 CP | 10 | 30 | Sessions → | |
| SOFTAdvanced Level - Soft Skills | 0 CP | 0 CP | 30 | 30 | Sessions → | |
| SWARC4AISoftware Architecture for AI Systems | 10 | 20 | 0 CP | 30 | Sessions → | |
| WEBWeb Based Software Architecture | 0 CP | 30 | 0 CP | 30 | Sessions → | |
| WEBSECWeb Security | 10 | 20 | 0 CP | 30 | Sessions → | |
| Your selection | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
Plan CPSA-A exam
We’ve lined up the next overlap-free session dates for your selection. Send us the inquiry and we’ll reserve your seats and answer any questions about the exam.
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| Attribute | Entry level CPSA-F Foundation Prerequisite for Advanced | Specialisation CPSA-A Advanced Method, technique, communication |
|---|---|---|
| Entry | No prior knowledge required | CPSA-F is a prerequisite |
| Content | Fundamentals: designing, documenting, evaluating | Methodology, technology and communication across 17 elective modules |
| Scope | 1 course and 1 exam | 70 credit points from the Advanced modules |
| Exam | Multiple-choice exam at an accredited body | Written assignment and oral exam |
| Goal | Getting started in software architecture | Certified software architect with depth |
iSAQB® stands for International Software Architecture Qualification Board. The board defines the internationally recognised standard for educating software architects and sets the curricula. Its certification programme is called CPSA® (Certified Professional for Software Architecture) and has three stages: CPSA-F (Foundation) as the entry point, CPSA-A (Advanced) for specialisation via credit points, and Expert Level as the third stage.
Important: the iSAQB does not train or examine anyone itself. It designs the curricula, accredits providers such as tecnovy and safeguards quality. You sit the exam at an independent examination body accredited by the iSAQB. tecnovy trains to these official curricula.
The standard is backed by a vendor-neutral international association: started in 2001 as the German Software Architecture Board and registered since 2008 as the International Software Architecture Qualification Board e. V., today counting over 190 members who continuously maintain the curricula. CPSA certification is internationally recognised.
CPSA learning path: Preparation, Foundation exam (CPSA-F), Advanced training, 70 Credit Points across three competence areas (Methodical, Technical, Communicative), Advanced exam (CPSA-A).
01
Foundation-Level training
3–4 DAYS · TRAINING
02
Multiple-Choice Exam with Partners
75 MIN → CPSA-F
03
Choose from 17+ modules
17+ MODULES · TRAINING
04
Three competence areas
70 CP · M · T · K
05
Hands-on practical exam
~40 HRS → CPSA-A
01
And if you do not pass first time, we cover the second exam attempt.
02
Official iSAQB® partner, every course taught to the official curriculum.
03
Real architecture work on real cases, in small groups.
04
Change your date at no extra cost.
05
Verifiable in the Certificate Showroom.
06
Our trainers are top-qualified in didactics and methodology, bringing knowledge from real project practice straight into the training.
Dr. Gernot Starke
iSAQB founding member, ADOC module curator, arc42 co-founder
Courses
Dr. Peter Hruschka
Founding member of iSAQB and IREB, co-founder of arc42 and req42
Courses
Dr. Michael Sperber
FUNAR & DSL module curator, iSAQB Strategy Council
Courses
Dr. Carola Lilienthal
DDD module curator, WPS managing director
Courses
The entire planning of the course ran smoothly. Our in-house DDD training was delivered remotely with excellent organisation and structure.
The courses (iSAQB EAM and CLOUDINFRA) were delivered by very competent trainers. My expectations were fully met.
The remote training was really interactive and nicely run. It was a genuinely great experience!
tecnovy is a Swiss company headquartered in Lenzburg (AG). Your iSAQB certification comes from a locally rooted, accredited provider. We train in Zurich and online, in German, with prices in CHF: typically CHF 1,700 to 2,100 online and CHF 2,600 to 3,200 in Zurich (depending on the current promotion). Swiss contact: +41 43 557 28 28, Ammerswilerstrasse 19a, CH-5600 Lenzburg.
Our training runs online across the DACH region, as in-house training in Switzerland, Germany and Austria, and on request in English internationally.
Request in-house training
In short: the body behind the CPSA certification programme for software architecture. It sets the curricula and accredits providers, but does not examine anyone itself.
More on this: the association, its bodies and curricula in detail.
Online CPSA-F courses cost between roughly €1,800 and €2,200 excl. VAT, depending on the current promotion. Up-to-date prices are shown with the sessions above.
The independent examination body charges its exam fee on top. Advanced modules are booked and billed individually.
The CPSA-F exam is a multiple-choice exam that you sit at an independent examination body accredited by the iSAQB; it follows the course. The CPSA-A exam consists of a written assignment and an oral exam. List of examination bodies at the iSAQB.
No. Foundation Level is the entry point and requires no prior certification.
You collect at least 70 credit points from the Advanced modules, including a minimum of 10 in each of the three competence areas: methodology, technology and communication. The CPSA-A exam follows.
Through the accredited tecnovy course, which follows the official iSAQB curriculum, plus the freely available iSAQB curricula as supplementary material.
Indefinitely. No renewal is required.
Yes, particularly for developers, tech leads and architects who want to make, document and communicate architecture decisions more rigorously. IT consultants, QA professionals and systems analysts benefit as well; companies gain uniformly trained teams.
TOGAF is a framework for enterprise architecture (the organisational and IT-landscape level). iSAQB/CPSA qualifies you for software architecture at system and application level. They complement each other but address different levels.
The iSAQB is a non-profit association (e.V.). It is supported by member companies and individual members from the software architecture community, who maintain the curricula. Founded in 2001 as the German Software Architecture Board, it became the International Software Architecture Qualification Board e. V. in 2008 and today counts over 190 members. Details at the iSAQB.
Yes. Accredited iSAQB® partner since 2019, publicly listed.
The curricula cover five core areas:
Get the full curriculum as a PDF or let the AI Suggester match you based on your role, prior knowledge, and availability.
Get the full curriculum as a PDF or browse all modules directly.
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