KCS v6 Practices Certification is an advanced certification, earned by taking a proctored exam, which demonstrates thorough, deep, and broad understanding of KCS.
The exam is based on material outlined in the KCS v6 Practices Study Guide and designed with the following question in mind: If you hired someone to manage or advise you on a KCS adoption, what would you expect them to know?
- Prerequisites: Attending a KCS v6 Practices Workshop is recommended but not required. Many KCS v6 Practices Workshops provide an option that includes the certification exam.
- Format: Proctored exam of about 65 scenario-based, multiple choice questions with a 2 hour time limit. The Consortium uses Webassessor to facilitate this exam. Online and in-person (at global Kryterion Test Centers) options are available.
- The KCS v6 Practices exam is currently only available in English. No supporting materials are allowed during the exam. Exam policies and procedures are provided on the testing center website after scheduling the exam.
- Pricing: $450. All fees are non-refundable.
- Sample test fee (optional): $85.
- Exam retake fee: $170.
- Digital Badge: Upon successfully passing the exam, you will be issued a digital badge through Credly.
Learning Objectives
The KCS v6 Practices Certification designates individuals who demonstrate a thorough understanding of:
- KCS Principles and Core Concepts
- KCS methodology including the Solve Loop, Evolve Loop, KCS roles, KCS measures, Content standard and workflow, and best practices for KCS adoption.
- KCS Practices and techniques, and the rationale behind them
- KCS benefits and how to communicate the value of KCS
- KCS measures and how they evolve over time
- How to adopt and sustain KCS as well as functional requirements for tools and tool integration
- Dealing with frequently asked questions and common objections
- Ability to identify critical success factors and measurements for KCS adoption
- How to engage champions and drive KCS adoption across the enterprise
Intended Audience
- Program and project managers for KCS adoption
- KCS adoption team members
- Supervisors and first- and second-line managers
- Trainers, Coaches, or Consultants
- Knowledge workers who aspire to be coaches or managers
- Product managers and architects for technology and tools that enable the KCS practices
- Anyone seeking a deeper understanding of KCS Principles, Concepts, and Techniques
The certification standards and exam are developed and maintained by a committee of Members from the Consortium for Service Innovation. No specific product or technology is covered in the exam. Specifics about individual company content standard, roles, workflow, and life cycle states that are unique to an organization are not included in the exam.
Exam Results
At the completion of the exam a Pass/Fail result will be displayed. No score is given after completing a KCS v6 Practices certification exam. The intent of the exam is not to teach, but to test if you have the minimum amount of knowledge to meet the requirements of the KCS certification you are seeking.
The pass line or cut score is not the same as an A-F grading scale. The pass line is set at the minimum amount of correct answers needed to demonstrate understanding based on the questions on the exam, and was determined using psychometric calculations and statistically sound sample testing results. The percentage of correct answers required to pass is not released in order to protect the integrity of the exam.
If the candidate’s exam registration was paid for by the candidate’s company, that company has the right to receive the Pass/Fail exam result. Registrations paid for by an individual candidate will be kept confidential.
Should you need to retake the exam, a fee of $170 will apply.
Certification Renewal
Certification begins on the date of passing the online exam and ends one year after the Consortium releases the next iteration of KCS Practices certification. KCS v6 certification was released on September 1, 2016.
KCS Community Rules of Conduct
Participation in Consortium for Service Innovation certification activities indicates that you have read and agree to the Consortium’s Member Rules of Conduct. Lack of adherence to these rules of conduct will be grounds for loss of certification status and exclusion from the KCS network at the Consortium’s discretion.
Self-Paced Training & Exams
- KCS v6 Fundamentals & Exam
- Digital Transformation Fundamentals
- Managing in a Digital Economy
- Intelligent Swarming Fundamentals & Exam
Instructor-Led Training & Exams
- KCS v6 Practices Workshop & Exam
- KCS v6 Coach Workshop
- Knowledge Domain Analysis Workshop
- KCS v6 Leadership Workshop
- KCS v6 Trainer Exam
The Only Certifying Body for KCS
The Consortium for Service Innovation, whose Members created and maintain the KCS methodology, is the only certifying body for KCS. We offer KCS certification for people and KCS designations for KCS Verified Tools, KCS Aligned Tools, and KCS Aligned Services.