CERTIFIED PROFESSIONALS (CP)
and
CERTIFIED ASSESSORS (CA)
Provisional Assessor Program Opt-in Now Available!
C3PAO Details Coming Soon.
Benefits
Certified Professional
- Authorized to participate as an assessment team member under the supervision of a Certified Assessor
- Eligible to become a Certified Assessor
- Valuable credential as an employee with the training to understand the requirements of CMMC for a DoD supplier
- Authorized to use the CMMC-AB Certified Professional logo
- Listed in the CMMC-AB Marketplace
Certified CA-1 Assessor
- Credentialed to conduct CMMC ML-1 assessments
- Authorized to supervise Certified Professionals in the conduct of ML-1 assessments
- After completing 3 assessments
- Authorized to use the CMMC-AB Certified CA-1 Assessor logo
- Listed in the CMMC-AB Marketplace
Certified CA-3 Assessor
- Credentialed to conduct CMMC-AB ML-1, ML-2, and ML-3 assessments
- Authorized to supervise Certified Professionals and CA-1 Assessors in the conduct of ML-1, ML-2, and ML-3 assessments
- After completing 3 assessments
- Authorized to use the CMMC-AB Certified CA-3 Assessor logo
- Listed in the CMMC-AB Marketplace
- After completing 15 assessments
- Authorized to apply for the CMMC-AB CA-5 training and credential
Certified CA-5 Assessor
- Credentialed to conduct CMMC assessment at all maturity levels
- Authorized to supervise Certified Professionals in the conduct of any maturity level assessments
- Authorized to use the CMMC-AB Certified CA-5 Assessor logo
- Listed in the CMMC-AB Marketplace
A Note about Provisional Program Access
- Details of the Provisional Program will be released on or about 15 August 2020
- C3PAO and assessor candidates will need to have applications on file in order to be eligible for program consideration
REQUIREMENTS
Citizenship Requirements
Certified Professionals and CA-1 Assessors- U.S. Person (definition here).
- To participate as a team member on ML-2 assessments, U.S. citizenship is required.
- U.S. Citizenship
- Must be citizens of the country where the C3PAO is based
- Authorized only to assess contractors based in that country
- The U.S. Government must establish bi-lateral agreements with other countries with respect to CMMC prior to the issuance of any authorizations related to CMMC
Certified Professional*
- College degree in a technical field or other equivalent experience (including military)
- 2+ Years in cyber or other information technology field
- Gain CMMC-AB approval of submitted application as to education and experience requirements
- Complete CMMC-AB Certified Professional Class (CMMC model training) from an LTP (Licensed Training Provider)
- Be able to pass a commercial background check (details provided here).
- To participate on C3PAO assessment teams:
Have or gain a favorably adjudicated Tier 1 background check that results in no security clearance**
-or-
possess a NAC (National Agency Check), DHS Suitability credential or other DoD accepted clearance (required to participate on ML-2 or higher assessment teams).
Certified CA-1 Assessor*
- U.S. Person (Green card is acceptable). To participate as a team member on ML-2 assessments, U.S. citizenship is required.
- CMMC-AB Certified Professional Credential
- Complete the training and exam for the CMMC Certified CA-1 Assessor credential
- Have or gain a favorably adjudicated Tier 3 background check that results in no security clearance**
-or-
Possess a NAC (National Agency Check), DHS Suitability credential or other DoD accepted clearance (required to participate on ML-2 or higher assessment teams)
Certified CA-3 Assessor*
- CMMC-AB Certified Professional Credential
- CMMC-AB Certified CA-1 Credential
- 4+ years of cyber or other information technology experience
- Complete the training and exam for the CMMC Certified CA-3 Assessor credential
- Have or gain a favorably adjudicated Tier 3 background check that results in no security clearance**
-or-
Possess a NAC (National Agency Check), DHS Suitability credential or other DoD accepted clearance (required to participate on ML-2 or higher assessment teams)
Certified CA-5 Assessor*
- CMMC-AB Certified Professional Credential
- CMMC-AB Certified ML-1 Credential
- CMMC-AB Certified ML-3 Credential
- Complete the training and exam for the CMMC Certified CA-5 Assessor credential
- Successfully complete 15 CMMC ML-3 Assessments to be eligible for CA-5 training
- Have or gain a favorably adjudicated Tier 3 background check that results in no security clearance**
-or-
Possess a NAC (National Agency Check), DHS Suitability credential or other DoD accepted clearance (required to participate on ML-2 or higher assessment teams)
** Details on the path to obtaining Tier 1 and Tier 3 background checks through the AB will be available on cmmcab.org in the future.
JOURNEY
More than a "Cert"...
A CMMC-AB Driven Career
Certified CMMC AB-Professional (CP) - Applications Available NOW
An entry-level Certification used as a pre-requisite for to become a Certified CMMC-AB Assessor or Instructor. Additionally required as an in-house employee assisting the organization with the buildout of CMMC maturity level capability.
Certified CMMC-AB Assessor (CA-1) - Applications Available NOW
Certified Professional is a Prerequisite
A professional authorized to conduct CMMC Assessments for ML1 and recommend Maturity Level certifications pending CMMC-AB Quality Assurance (QA) approval.
Certified CMMC-AB Assessor (CA-3) - Applications Available NOW
Certified Assessor ML-1 is a Prerequisite
A professional authorized to conduct CMMC Assessments up to Maturity Level 3 and recommend Maturity Level certifications pending CMMC-AB Quality Assurance (QA) approval.
Certified CMMC-AB Assessor (CA-5) - Future
Certified Assessor ML-3 is a Prerequisite
A professional authorized to conduct CMMC Assessments up to Maturity Level 5 and recommend Maturity Level certifications pending CMMC-AB Quality Assurance (QA) approval.
Certified Instructor (CI)- Future
Authorized to serve as an instructor to deliver CMMC Standard Training and CMMC Assessor Training at a Licensed Training Provider (LPP).
Certified Master Instructor (CMI) - Future
Authorized to train the instructors that work for LTPs (Licensed Training Providers) teaching CMMC–AB Professional and Assessor classes.
Certified Quality Auditor (QA)- Future
CMMC-AB Team Member authorized to review and approve assessments submitted by Certified Assessors using criteria and a baseline.
Registrations Are Now Open
Initial Fees
Registration and application fees are non-refundable.
- Application - $200
- Creates unique CMMC-AB registration number
Individual Exam Fees
Includes the first year of certification. Payable at the time of exam.
- Certified Professional - $275 per test
- Certified Assessor 1 - $325 per test
- Certified Assessor 3 - $450 per test
Observer travel and per diem not included. Payable at the time of observation engagement.
- The first assessment of a candidate assessor is observed by an AB credentialed individual. - $2500/day
Introductory Bundles (optional, select only one)*
The purchase of the bundle is non-refundable. Assessor certification requires the successful completion of preceding levels. For example, CA-3 assessor certification training is only available to CA-1 certified assessors who have successfully completed the Certified Professional and CA-1 training and examinations.
- Certified Professional Bundle - $425 (save $25) includes:
- Application Fee
- (1) Certified Professional Exam Fee
- First-year of certification (minimum through 12/31/2021)
- CA-1 Bundle - $700 (save $50) includes:
- Application Fee
- (1) Certified Professional Exam Fee
- (1) CA-1 Assessor Exam Fee
- First-year of certification
- CA-3 Bundle - $1000 (save $150) includes:
- Application Fee
- (1) Certified Professional Exam Fee
- (1) CA-1 Assessor Exam Fee
- (1) CA-3 Assessor Exam Fee
- First-year of certification
*Does not include training (provided by 3rd party institutions) and CA-1 observation fees (payable at the time of first assessment).
Annual Maintenance Fees (future)
These fees are published here to broadly set expectations for the future, and will not begin until at least one year after an individual is certified. Maintenance fees are subject to change.
Annual Certification Maintenance
- Certified Professional - $250
- Certified Assessor 1 - $250
- Certified Assessor 3 - $500
- Certified Assessor 5 (future) - TBD
Need help?
If you have questions (or suggestions!) regarding the CMMC-AB application process please contact us. Due to demand for applications, there may be a delay of several days before our team can respond.
