FAQs
We've gathered answers to our most frequently asked questions, covering everything from when you will receive your exam results to how to become an approved trainer. For questions about a specific certification or product, please see the product tab.
FAQs per product
ISO/IEC 27001 Certification
Summaries of the structure of the ISO/IEC 27001 Foundation, Practitioner Information Security Officer and Auditor examinations are below:
Foundation
- Multiple choice format
- 50 questions per paper
- 25 marks or more required to pass (out of 50 available) – 50%
- 40 minute duration
- Closed book.
Practitioner Information Security Officer
- Objective Testing
- 4 questions per paper with 20 marks available per question
- 40 marks or more required to pass (out of 80 available) – 50%
- 2 ½ hour duration
- Open book.
- The exam is to be taken with the support of only the following British Standards,
ISO/IEC 27000:2018
ISO/IEC 27001:2022
ISO/IEC 27002:2022
ISO/IEC 27003:2017
ISO/IEC 27005:2022
Auditor
- Multiple choice exam, using mini scenario-based questions
- 40 question paper
- APMG ISO/IEC 27001 Supplementary Paper
- The pass mark for candidates is 50% (20/40)
- 120 minute duration
- Restricted open book.
- The following documents are allowed during the exam:
ISO/IEC 27001:2013
ISO/IEC 27002:2013
ISO 19011:2018
IT Asset Management (IAITAM) Certifications
The International Association of Information Technology Asset Managers, Inc. (IAITAM®) is the professional association for individuals and organizations involved in any aspect of IT Asset Management (ITAM), Software Asset Management (SAM), Hardware Asset Management, and the lifecycle processes supporting IT Asset Management in organizations of every size and industry across the globe.
There are eight different courses with certification examinations available:-
- ITAM Foundations
- CHAMP: Certified Hardware Asset Management Professional
- CITAD: Certification in IT Asset Disposition
- CITAM: Certified IT Asset Manager
- CMAM: Certified IT Asset Manager
- CSAM: Certified Software Asset Manager
- CAMSE: Certified Asset Management Security Expert
- CAIAM: Certified Artificial Intelligence Asset Manager
As part of the course package, your ATO will provide you with a manual and course workbook. These materials should be included in the course fee.
The examinations are available in Canadian French, English, Japanese, Polish and Spanish (Castilian).
The courses for Foundations, CAMP, CAMSE, CSAM, CHAMP, CITAD and CMAM are two days in duration. The CAIAM course is approximately 8 hours. The CITAM course is 4 days. Attendance at an accredited training course should be sufficient time to learn the material, however please check with your course provider as to whether any additional study is required before or during the course.
The certification examinations are all multiple choice with 100 questions to be answered within the 3 hour time period.
All individuals holding an IAITAM certificate must re-certify within 12 months of the date of the most recent certification held. The re-certification process is administered by IAITAM and they will contact you directly to give you notice that your certification is due to expire.
Certifications that have expired within the last six months can be renewed by taking that certification exam at the regular exam price. Certifications that have expired more than six months ago can only be renewed by taking the full course along with successfully passing the respective certification exam at the course and exam's regular price.
Candidates must achieve 85/100 (85%) to pass.
Candidates can use a designation after their name (e.g. John Smith CSAM).
Lean Green Belt Certification
The principles of lean are used to optimize processes and performance with the focus on speed, efficiency and the removal of waste. The Lean Green Belt certification has been developed in partnership with the Lean Six Sigma Academy (LSSA) and is based on the ‘Continuous Improvement Maturity Model’ (CIMM), a framework that guides an evolutionary staged approach for process improvement from an early stage.
The purpose of the Green Belt qualification is to confirm that a candidate has sufficient knowledge, understanding and application of the Lean process improvement methodology, practice and analytical tools to be able to work effectively as the team leader of Lean process improvement projects or as a member of a Black Belt process improvement project, within an environment supporting Lean.
Candidates can gain certification against either or both the Theory and Practical levels. The Theory level involves undertaking a multiple-choice format exam and is a pre-requisite for the Practical level. The Practical level involves submitting one practical Lean project for assessment.
Find out more at the ISSA website.
The examination is supported by either of the following books:
- Climbing the Mountain - Mindset, skill set and toolset for Lean Six Sigma Green Belts – (first 6 chapters only)
- Training is supported by the Lean Six Sigma Green & Black Belt Exercises book:
Candidates can study for the Lean Green Belt exam using either the 2021 editions of these books, or earlier versions.
The Lean Green Belt theory exam is available in English and Dutch.
Lean Green Belt Practical Assessments can be submitted in either English or Dutch – the templates are available to download in both languages.
The main publication Climbing the Mountain - Mindset, skill set and toolset for Lean Six Sigma Green is available in English only.
For individuals self-studying it is almost impossible to say. As all candidates have different experience and amount of time available for study, it varies from person to person. We suggest you buy the manual and have a look through for yourself before deciding how long you need to spend learning.
For those studying with an accredited training organization, Lean Green Belt courses are generally delivered over 5 days. It is well worth investigating with individual providers, as some will offer tailored, online or blended learning solutions.
Please see below for the structure of the Lean Green Belt certification:
Theory exam:
- 40 multiple choice questions.
- 25 marks (63%) or more required to pass.
- 120 minutes duration.
- Open-book (a maximum of any two books is permitted during the exam + statistical tables booklet (14 page PDF). Exercise books are NOT permitted during the exam.).
- Calculators and minitab are permitted.
Practical assessment:
- One successful project at CIMM level-III (or higher) must be submitted.
- The project has a financial impact of at least € 20,000 on an annual basis or another CTQ (like Lead Time) has been substantially improved.
- The project must follow the PDCA, DMAIC or DMADV roadmap.
- Projects should be signed off by the Champion. They hereby declare that the project has been carried out professionally and that objectives have been achieved and are sustainable.
- The language of the submitted project must be in English or Dutch.
- Practical assessments must be submitted no later than three years after passing the Lean Green Belt theoretical examination.
The project will be assessed by Master Black Belts assigned by the LSSA.
The result of the practical assessment will be either Pass or Fail. No score will be given.
In the event of a ‘Fail’ result, brief guidance will be given on those criteria that are deemed ‘Missing’ or ‘Incorrect’. Subsequently, a single retake resubmission is permitted.
Candidates are permitted a maximum of 2 books in the exam. Candidates are also permitted to use calculators. No other materials can be taken into the exam.
The Lean Green Belt theory exam does not expire. However, candidates must submit a practical assessment within 3 years of passing the theory exam so that they can be awarded the ‘full’ Lean Green Belt certificate.
The pass mark for the Lean Green Belt theory exam is 25 out of 40 (63%).
To upgrade from Lean Green Belt to Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, candidates will need to attend a Lean Six Sigma 5-day training course and then sit the Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Theory exam.
Lean Green Belt training equips you to drive efficiency and continuous improvement by identifying and eliminating waste. You'll gain practical skills in tools like 5S, Kaizen, and Value Stream Mapping to streamline processes effectively.
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt training takes it further by integrating Lean efficiency with Six Sigma’s rigorous quality analysis. You'll learn advanced statistical tools and the DMAIC framework to tackle complex problems and drive measurable improvement.
The Lean Green Belt theory exam does not expire.
After completing the Lean Green Belt theory exam and Practical Assessment, individuals will be recognised as a ‘Certified Lean Green Belt’. There are no re-certification requirements as the Lean Green Belt certified status does not expire.
Lean IT Certification
Lean IT is a way of thinking and acting, and applying Lean principles to IT service management practices. Its central premise is the delivery of value to customers, whereby the employees are the ones actually delivering the value on a daily basis and identifying roadblocks and solutions. Managers ensure that employees are facilitated and encouraged in their quest to deliver customer value.
Essentially, Lean IT is about building a customer and value-oriented culture in which managers and employees engage in removing waste, inflexibility and variability from the organization and its services. It is not focussed on technical aspects of IT.
Supporting publications, and any available supporting material, can be obtained from your Accredited Training Organisation (ATO) or from APMG International.
The APMG Lean IT Foundation examinations are available in English, European Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese and Japanese.
Kaizen is available in English, Spanish and Japanese.
Leadership is currently available in English only.
The 2011 version of the Lean IT Foundation examination is currently still available in French and Dutch.