Earning the Certified Software Development Professional (CSDP) Certification -- Should I Go For It?

Presentation by Jim Albers, Software Consultant, FastPilot, Inc., and Leonard L. Tripp, Technical Fellow, The Boeing Company

The IEEE Seattle Section's Computer Society is proud to host a presentation entitled "Earning the Certified Software Development Professional (CSDP) Certification -- Should I go for it?" by Jim Albers, Software Consultant, FastPilot, Inc., and Leonard L. Tripp, Technical Fellow, The Boeing Company

Presentation Notes and Discussion Forum

• Presentation Notes
• IEEE CSDP Discussion Group

Abstract

After beta testing in 2001, the Computer Society CSDP program enters its second full year. (Note: Deadline for 2003 application is April 1, 2003 with testing from April 1st through June 30th). CSDP details are fully covered on the CSDP site: http://www.computer.org/certification.

In our presentation, we'll review the highlights, and review pros and cons of certification, then, with the help of CSDP participants, evaluate the benefits offered by CSDP certification.

Attendees should leave the presentation with a good understanding of the 2003 CSDP program and how participating in the 2003 testing cycle could benefit their careers, their employers, and their customers.

Some of the questions you can expect to get answered are:

• What are some of the benefits that can come from studying for and earning the CSDP certificate?
• Have CSDP participants so far realized these benefits?
• Has CSDP status made a difference in participants' careers?
• Has the industry recognized the value of a CSDP?
• Where is the CSDP headed from here?
• Is the CSDP something that would be valuable to my team members and to my company?
• Should I introduce it internally as part of our company's software professional career path?

If we have a core of Seattle chapter members interested in pursuing the CSDP exam, we will explore how the chapter can support them: arrange discussions of study groups, reference sharing, review sessions, etc.

We expect to have results from the first CSDP participant survey, and to have participants join us for a Q&A session. Expect a lively discussion!

About Jim Albers

Jim Albers is a developer and software team lead in embedded, medical, and mobile personal computing. In the last few years, Jim had to build and lead several software teams on aggressive development schedules, and struggled with the lack of a common base of software knowledge among team members. Now consulting for FastPilot, Inc., Jim is considering using the CSDP process as a way to update and advance his career as a software professional. The presentation results from his inquiries into the value of the CSDP.

About Leonard L. Tripp

Leonard L. Tripp is a Technical Fellow at The Boeing Company involved in software engineering processes, standards, and certification. He is also an IEEE Fellow. He is the chair of the Professional Practices Committee of the IEEE Computer Society. He was the program manager for the IEEE Certified Software Development Professional certification program. He was the project sponsor for the IEEE Guide to the Software Engineering Body of Knowledge. Leonard was the 1999 President for IEEE Computer Society. He has developed software engineering standards since 1982 including being chair of the IEEE software engineering standards committee from 1992 to 1998. He served as the US Head of Delegation to the ISO committee on software engineering standards from 1993 to 1998. He is the author of three books and 45 technical papers.