Certification Examinations

USPEC Certification Examinations

The examinations for all certification programs of the United States Private Equity Council are held in Pearson VUE test centers. Currently, almost 7000 locations across the world are covered by the USPEC-Pearson network. All examinations are computer-based, taken on computer-desktops in secure and examinee-friendly Pearson VUE test centers. Generally, examinees marking 65% of their answers correct qualify for the USPEC Credential award. However, since a complex multi-variable algorithm is used to take qualification decisions to nullify geographic and other environmental factors with potential to skew performance, the qualifying benchmark should not be expected to stay pegged exactly to 65%.

Fee for certification examinations is taken at the time of registering for a USPEC Certification. There is no separate charge for exams to be paid by examinees anywhere for any USPEC Certification. Registration is online, and can be done on the USPEC or Pearson VUE websites, and fee can be paid online using cards or internet-banking. Individuals who successfully register with USPEC are provided with the Official USPEC Certification Exam Kit to help them study for their examinations. Once ready, individuals can go to the Pearson VUE website to schedule the examination for their chosen USPEC Certification.

USPEC Pearson VUE Network

7000+

Locations

Spread over 178 countries.

USPEC EXAMINATIONS - SUMMARY

	CPEA^™	SPEA^™
How to Register & Pay Fee	Register on USPEC website at www.uspec.org
Duration of a typical Examination	100 Minutes	100 Minutes
Location/ venue of Certification Examinations	Your nearest Pearson VUE test center, which you can choose while registering for the program
Mode of Examination	Online
Total number of questions in a typical certification examination	75	75
Type of Questions	Multi-choice-Single-answer	Multi-choice-Single-answer
Standard Qualification benchmark for credential award	65% correct answers; though awards will actually be decided using an algorithm that accounts into scaling, relative scoring, and degree of difficulty parameters
Fee for the Examination (in US Dollars; Valid through April 30, 2017)	550	650

USPEC Certification Examination Policies

The certification examination system of the United States Private Equity Council (USPEC) is governed by an elaborate set of stringent norms and policies complying to the most rigorous standards of apex statutory and credentialing excellence bodies internationally.

To read these policies in detail, click here.

USPEC Examination Locations

USPEC Certification examinations are conducted in 7000+ test centers of Pearson VUE around the world across 178 countries. When you’re ready to take your certification exam, just visit www.pearsonvue.com to find an authorized test center near you to schedule your test. You’ll be able to select the test center of your choice when scheduling your exam.

Authorized test center tour

Take a walk through an authorized test center. The photo gallery below introduces you to the physical layout of a testing center as well as the check-in procedures.

What to expect at the test center

Tips for test takers

Schedule Your Certification Exam

01Click here if you do not have a myUSPEC account on www.uspec.org yet, and want to create one. You will be able to register for a USPEC Certification only from your myUSPEC account.
02Click here if you have not registered yet for the USPEC Credential of interest to you, and you want to access your myUSPEC account on www.uspec.org to go complete your registration. Remember, within 48 hours of your completing your registration on USPEC, you will receive the ATT (Authorization to Test) on your registered email from Pearson VUE, along with the Web Account login details.
03Check your emails on the USPEC-registered mailbox for a communication from Pearson VUE. These emails contains your Authorization-To-Test (ATT) and Web Account details, which will help you to create your Web Account. You would receive this email ONLY if you have successfully registered for your chosen USPEC Credential on the USPEC website.
04Click here if you have your Pearson Web Account login information and the ATT details, and want to schedule your exams now. If you want to schedule your exam later, you can go to www.pearsonvue.com, and conveniently schedule exam for the USPEC Credential you have registered for.

Please note:

That the payment once made is non-refundable and non-transferable.
That some spam filters may unintentionally block or forward electronic communications from USPEC to junk folders. The applicant is requested to add the following email addresses to the personal address book or to the safe senders list in the registered email account to avoid missing any important updates from USPEC.
- registration@uspec.org
- certification@uspec.org
- exam@uspec.org

Save your exam appointment confirmation

Once your exam date is scheduled, you’ll receive a confirmation email with registration information as well as additional information that you may need to provide to your testing center. Make sure to store this information in a safe place. Certain information that you provide during the registration process, such as your email address, will be required to sign in to your certification account once you’ve passed your certification exam.