Certified Analytics Professional Certification brought to you by INFORMS

Preparing for the Exam

CAP certifications independently verify an individual’s knowledge of the entire analytics process. As such, all certificants must first take and pass a 100-question, multiple-choice exam designed to test professional fluency with data projects and related concepts. Each CAP certification level and exam version passing score is computed separately. More information regarding exam content and resources for exam preparation are available below.

What are CAP exams based on?

All Certified Analytics Professional examinations are based on the INFORMS Analytics Framework developed and validated by subject matter experts and practitioners. The INFORMS Analytics Framework consists of seven domains: business problem framing, analytics problem framing, data, methodology selection, model building, deployment, and lifecycle management. Each domain is broken into three levels of knowledge to correspond with the three levels of CAP certification: CAP-Expert, CAP-Pro, and CAP-Essentials. Each of the three levels is the basis of it's corresponding certification's exam blueprint. See Exam Resources page to download a copy of each exam blueprint.

How can I best prepare for the CAP exam?

Because the exams is based on analytics practice, there are no required courses. There are optional CAP Prep classes offered by INFORMS Professional Development. You can use our Exam Resources page for materials to help you study for the exam. These include the exam blueprints, candidate handbooks, INFORMS Analytics Glossary, and a free Study Guide which have sample questions and list several reference books that may be useful in your preparation.

Downloadable Resources

Are you planning to take a Certified Analytics Professional exam and earn your certification? Click on the button below to access free resources are available to help you prepare. In addition to these materials, INFORMS offers CAP Prep Online and CAP Prep Boot Camp courses to help boost your comfort with exam material before test day.

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Take a Sample Test

Although sample test questions will not appear on any actual CAP examination, they are intended to inform you of the types of questions that will be on the exam. Click below to access the sample test.

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CAP Prep Classes

The INFORMS CAP Preparation Course, or CAP Prep for short, is a class created by INFORMS Professional Development to help candidates prepare to take the CAP exam. It is an instructor-led online training, providing busy professionals with a flexible and affordable option to prepare for the next step in their career. We recognize that everyone has different learning styles. Some prefer the flexibility of the four-week, instructor-led online course. Others may prefer something more condensed with a shorter time commitment. CAP Prep is not required for obtaining your certification and taking a CAP Prep course does not guarantee that you will receive your certification, it is an available and optional tool like any other resource.

The CAP Prep and CAP Prep Premium course options run for four weeks and each week students participate in three, one-hour webinars. Each webinar is recorded and available in the online classroom for review as needed. The Premium option of the class provides participants with additional support to help them prepare for the CAP exam. Premium participants receive an electronic version of the INFORMS Analytics Body of Knowledge (ABOK), access to set “office hours” with their instructor, and learning boosters designed to help retain information learned in each module.

For those who would rather spend three half days focused on preparing for the CAP exam, INFORMS offers an intensive CAP Prep Boot Camp. This boot camp is a synchronous, instructor-led that covers the same content as the CAP Prep course, simply in a more concise format.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Preparing for Your Exam

What is the examination based on?

CAP certification exams are based on the exam blueprint and INFORMS Analytics Framework developed and validated by subject matter experts and practitioners. There are seven areas of responsibility: business problem (question) framing, analytics problem framing, data, methodology (approach) framing, analytics/model development, deployment, and analytics solution lifecycle management. See the Exam Resources page to download the exam blueprint of the certification exam you will be taking.

Are there sample questions?

Yes. In the Candidate Handbook there are 24 sample questions with rationale for both the correct and incorrect answers. These questions will not appear on any actual CAP examination; they are intended to inform you of the type of questions you will find on the exam. They should not be used as a self-assessment; performance on these questions does not indicate performance on the exam.

Are the exams open book?

No. No books or notes of any kind may be used for the exam.

Do I have to know a programming language?

No. The exam is software and vendor neutral and assesses only the analytics process contained in the exam blueprint.

Taking the Exam

Where and when is the examination offered?

The certification exam is offered on a continual basis at computer-based testing centers throughout the world, online via an online-proctored experience.

How do I schedule the exam?

To schedule the computer based exam: Apply and get approved. Pay for the exam using the payment within your Prolydian profile under My Applications. You will receive an "Authroization to Test" email instructing you how to schedule your exam. Schedule the exam at a convenient time for you.

How many questions are on the examination?

All level of CAP exams consist of 100 scored four-option, multiple-choice questions. There are also additional unscored questions that INFORMS is testing for use on future exam forms.

What's the passing score?

INFORMS uses a criterion-referenced methodology for determining the passing score for its examinations. There is no grading on a “curve,” and candidates are not competing with each other. The specific methodology used is the modified Angoff technique, which relies on the judgments of SMEs to determine an acceptable level of knowledge, skill, and ability in analytics. INFORMS may at times include pretest items in some examination forms. These items are used for developing future examinations and, accordingly, are not scored and have no impact on a candidate’s pass/fail status. Each candidate will receive an official digital score report within 48 hours after completing the exam. This will be the only official score report provided. Examination scores are confidential. INFORMS will not disclose examination scores to anyone unless INFORMS is required by court order or subpoena. Unless otherwise requested, INFORMS will publish the names of all individuals who have passed the examination and who maintain current certification status

Do I have to pass each knowledge area?

Pass/fail decisions are based on the total score only.

How many times can I take the examination?

Exam retake policies are based on the certification level. Please consult your certification’s candidate handbook for details on exam retake eligibility.