IS 2002 Exam
All MSIS students are required to take the Certified Computing Professional Core Examination developed by the Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals (ICCP) before graduation. It is a graduation requirement. ICCP developed a new certification based on the IS 2002 exam. Students will be eligible to apply for certification if they pass the exam at 50% or higher and pay the certification fee to ICCP.
The ICCP certification programs are intended to help establish recognized professional standards within the information systems and information technology industry. More information about the certification as a Information Systems Analyst (ISA) can be found at www.iccp.org.
The core examination is broad, testing the ability to recognize, differentiate, and understand the definition of concepts covered. The concepts or topics covered include Human and Organizational Framework, Systems Concepts, Data and Information, Systems Development, Technology, and Associated Disciplines (financial management and analysis, management science, information systems auditing, mathematics, and statistics).
The ICCP is acknowledged throughout the information and technology sectors as the most important source of professional certification. Certification shows you have met specific requirements and possess high levels of knowledge and skills.
MSIS students will be required to take the core exam to assess their Information Systems competency, not for certification.
When should you take it?
- We recommend taking it in your final semester. You may take it after you have completed all core courses. You should not take it prior to taking INFS 780.
- You cannot be certified for graduation until you have taken the exam.
- Your Application for Graduation will trigger a notification that you should plan to take the exam this semester (the semester in which you plan to graduate). The list of students who are on track for graduation is sent to the Assessment Office early in the semester. The Assessment Office will send you information about testing dates and procedures soon after the graduation list is received.
How do I take it?
- The Assessment Office will administer the exams, which are usually scheduled to be given over a weeklong period in mid-semester (around Assessment day). You will receive information on these dates and how to register for the exam.
- However, if there is a contingency that makes those dates impossible, you may make alternate arrangements.
- The exam is a web-based, 3-hour, 258 question exam, covering IS concepts and applications from the IS 2002 Model Curriculum. On-campus students will take the exam in Heston Hall on the date and at the time you schedule.
- If you are a student taking the program at a distance, and it is impractical for you to come to Madison for the exam, you will be asked to find a proctor, and the proctor will administer the exam.
Is there a cost?
- No. This exam is free of charge.
Will the exam affect my grades or graduation?
- Your grade on the exam will not affect your program grades, but students who do not take the exam cannot graduate. Please note that although there is no minimum score all students must obtaining a valid score on this exam to graduate which is determined by the ICCP representatives. Your score is not counted for any grade in a course or used in your GPA. However, scoring well on the exam will have a positive affect on your career potential. We use exam results to help us assess the MSIS program – what we are teaching and how we are teaching it.
- The results of the computerized exam are instant. You will know whether you are certified or not.
Should I study for the exam?
- The choice is yours. We do not require a specific grade for graduation. However, we do require a valid score and this is determined by the ICCP representatives. We have mapped the core exam areas to specific courses in the MSIS program.
- For more information on the IS 2002 examinations, you should visit the ICCP website at www.iccp.org.
Study guide topics
These study guide topics are to be used as a resource in preparation for the IS 2002 Exam.
