ASQ CQE Exam (Certified Quality Engineer) Detailed Information
Quality Engineer Certification -
CQE
The Certified Quality Engineer is a professional who understands the principles of product and service quality evaluation and control. This body of knowledge and applied technologies include, but are not limited to, development and operation of quality control systems, application and analysis of testing and inspection procedures, the ability to use metrology and statistical methods to diagnose and correct improper quality control practices, an understanding of human factors and motivation, familiarity with quality cost concepts and techniques, and the knowledge and ability to develop and administer management information systems and to audit quality systems for deficiency identification and correction.
1. Is this the right certification for you?
Understand the minimum expectations, requirements, experience and the exam specifics for a Quality Engineer.
2. Prepare for the exam.
Review the Body of Knowledge and references. Take advantage of the study guide and sample exams. See what training and books ASQ has to offer.
3. Choose an exam date.
Find the best date and location for you. (Note the application deadlines for each exam date.)
4. Apply for certification.
ASQ offers several ways to apply. Have your résumé and credit card ready.
5. Recertify.
ASQ requires that you recertify as a Quality Engineer every three years - either by documenting RU credits or by testing.
Is it right for you? Quality Engineer Certification -
CQE
STEP 1. IS THIS THE RIGHT CERTIFICATION FOR YOU?
Here are the minimum expectations, requirements, experience and exam specifics for a Quality Engineer. If you already know that this is the certification you want to pursue, move on to exam preparation.
Minimum Expectations of a Quality Engineer
Will have a fundamental understanding of quality philosophies, principles, systems, methods, tools, standards, organizational and team dynamics, customer expectations and satisfaction, supplier relations and performance, leadership, training, interpersonal relationships, improvement systems and professional ethics.
Will have a fundamental understanding of a quality system and its development, documentation and implementation to domestic and international standards or requirements.
Will have a basic understanding of the audit process including types of audits, planning, preparation, execution, reporting results and follow-up.
Will be able to develop and implement quality programs, including tracking, analyzing, reporting and problem solving.
Will be able to plan, control and assure product and process quality in accordance with quality principles, which include planning processes, material control, acceptance sampling and measurement systems.
Will have basic knowledge of reliability, maintainability, and risk management, including key terms and definitions, modeling, systems design, assessment tools and reporting.
Will have a thorough understanding of problem-solving and quality improvement tools and techniques. This includes knowledge of management and planning tools, quality tools, preventive and corrective actions, and how to overcome barriers to quality improvements.
Will be able to acquire and analyze data using appropriate standard quantitative methods across a spectrum of business environments to facilitate process analysis and improvements.
Education and/or Experience
You must have eight years of on-the-job experience in one or more of the areas of the Certified Quality Engineer Body of Knowledge.
A minimum of three years of this experience must be in a decision-making position. “Decision-making” is defined as the authority to define, execute, or control projects/processes and to be responsible for the outcome. This may or may not include management or supervisory positions.
Work experience must be in a full time, paid role. Paid intern, co-op or any other course work cannot be applied towards the work experience requirement.
If you were ever certified by ASQ as a Quality Auditor, Reliability Engineer, Software Quality Engineer or Quality Manager, experience used to qualify for certification in these fields applies to certification as a Quality Engineer.
If you have completed a degree* from a college, university or technical school with accreditation accepted by ASQ, part of the eight-year experience requirement will be waived, as follows (only one of these waivers may be claimed):
Diploma from a technical or trade school—one year will be waived.
Associate degree—two years waived.
Bachelor’s degree—four years waived.
Master’s or doctorate—five years waived.
*Degrees/diplomas from educational institutions outside the United States must be equivalent to degrees from U.S. educational institutions.
Examination
Each certification candidate is required to pass a written examination that consists of multiple-choice questions that measure comprehension of the Body of Knowledge. The Quality Engineer examination is a one-part, 160-question, five-hour exam. It is offered in English.
