Certified Executive Compensation Professional™ l CECP™
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions are there on the exam?
There are approximately 160 questions on this exam.
How is CECP different from other WorldatWork Society designations?
The new CECP certification is a specialty designation, achieved by passing a comprehensive exam based on experience in the field of executive compensation and the overall executive compensation body of knowledge. It is not curriculum-based, like the CCP®, CBP, WLCP® and GRP® certification exams. Individuals interested in pursuing this designation should review the body of knowledge above to gain an understanding of the concepts that will be covered on the exam.
When will this new certification be available? The CECP is now available for purchase.
How much will the new certification cost? The new certification test will cost $995.
How was this certification developed?
It was developed based on the results of a practice analysis survey of executive compensation practitioners nationwide and focus groups with practitioners and subject matter experts.
What is the suggested experience someone should have in order to take the test?
WorldatWork recognizes that executive compensation professionals have a broad variety of experience and education. As this is a competency-based designation, it is recommended that candidates for the CECP have three or more years of experience in the design, management and administration of executive compensation programs.
In most cases, individuals with three years experience would benefit from additional preparation, such as taking courses, reviewing publications on the topic or additional professional experience. Although some individuals with more than three years of experience may be able to test without any additional preparation, many will find the additional preparation offered by WorldatWork and WorldatWork partners helpful. As this is a competency-based designation, the WorldatWork Society recommends that all individuals interested in pursuing a CECP review the Executive Compensation Body of Knowledge and take the available Practice Exam(s) to familiarize themselves with the types of questions asked in all knowledge areas within the exam.
If I register for a seminar to help prepare for the CECP, when should I purchase my CECP exam?
If you are planning on attending a traditional classroom seminar or purchasing a self-paced e-learning seminar, we recommend that you wait to purchase your CECP exam until you have completed the seminar. Your CECP exam purchase begins a 120-day period for testing eligibility. No extensions are available for the CECP exam. For this reason, you may want to postpone your purchase of the exam until you are ready to test to maximize your testing window.
What kinds of professionals should become certified?
CECP will be of value to anyone seeking to validate his or her expertise in the field of executive compensation. This designation is intended for professionals involved in multiple aspects of executive compensation. This includes individuals who specialize in executive compensation as an in-house practitioner or consultant. It is pertinent for any professional who works directly in the various aspects of executive compensation strategy or administration such as finance, legal and tax.
Individuals with job titles such as executive compensation consultant, executive compensation analyst or executive compensation manager may be likely candidates, however the CECP may also be of value to anyone seeking to validate his or her expertise in the field of executive compensation.
If I want to evaluate my readiness for this exam, or find out more about what is tested, where should I look?
The WorldatWork Web site has a description of the body of knowledge for this certification which is broken out by the four different knowledge domains that comprise it.
What courses do I need to take for this certification? The certification is competency-based so there are no particular courses you must or should take.
How can a candidate prepare for the CECP exam?
All candidates should review the body of knowledge online as it is an outline of the content found on the exam. With this tool you can self-assess your strengths and weaknesses and purchase products or obtain experience that may help fill in gaps where you would like additional knowledge. In support of your efforts and to meet a variety of learning styles, WorldatWork offers a number of educational offerings to assist in your preparation including seminars, Webinars and quality publications.
Do customers need to fill out an application in order to take the test?
No. As with other WorldatWork Society certifications, we will encourage the submission of an application to indicate a candidate’s interest in pursuing the designation in order to keep you apprised of any new tools and resources as they become available. Applications are also used to create a record for new customers not yet in our system.
Where do I take my exam?
The CECP exam is administered through our computer-based testing (CBT) partner, Pearson VUE. Pearson VUE has thousands of testing centers around the world.
Once I buy the exam how long do I have to take the test?
The eligibility for this exam will be 120 days from the time of purchase.
How many questions are there on the exam? There are approximately 140-150 questions on this exam.
What are the requirements for retakes of failed tests?
A certification candidate is allowed unlimited retakes. Although retakes for failed tests may be scheduled immediately, it is recommended that you look over your score report to help identify any specific knowledge domains you may need additional study and/or experience in before retesting. WorldatWork has a variety of educational offerings to assist you in areas you may need to strengthen through seminars, Webinars and quality publications. The retake fee is $320 USD.
When someone gains the Executive Compensation certification, do they become a member of the WorldatWork Society of Certified Professionals?
Yes, anyone with any Society designation becomes a member of the Society, which is a separate affiliate organization of WorldatWork for certified individuals. Society membership is not connected to paid WorldatWork Premier Membership.
How many recertification credits does a CECP need?
As with other WorldatWork Society designations, the CECP requires 12 recertification credits every three years. A minimum of three of the 12 credits must be related to executive compensation practice.
Does this certification have a different list of products for recertification?
WorldatWork offers a variety of seminars and Webinars that earn recertification credit specific to executive compensation.
Can the CECP recertification process be combined with other Society designations?
Yes. If you hold one or more WorldatWork Society designations, you only need to complete one recertification application every three years with 12 credits total to recertify. However, if you hold the CECP and would like to tie your recertification credits to this designation, three of the 12 credits must be related to executive compensation practice.
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