What Is Systems Engineering Certification? 4 Popular Certifications to Consider
Systems engineering certifications are a good way to learn new skills and enhance your resume to work as a systems engineer. Discover what to expect from a systems engineer does job and four systems engineering certifications to enhance your resume.
![[Feature Image] An aspiring systems engineer studies at home on their laptop as they prepare for a systems engineering certification.](https://d3njjcbhbojbot.cloudfront.net/api/utilities/v1/imageproxy/https://images.ctfassets.net/wp1lcwdav1p1/7usIY3H1oiGGi3S58toCTD/d940e31f5d900fcd3bc9535be07d1395/GettyImages-1415184347.jpg?w=1500&h=680&q=60&fit=fill&f=faces&fm=jpg&fl=progressive&auto=format%2Ccompress&dpr=1&w=1000)
Earning a certification as a systems engineer may demonstrate that you have the knowledge and skills for success in your field. You can also use certification programs to learn new skills and make progress toward your career goals. If you want to learn skills to help you take on more responsibility or move to a different field, a systems engineering certification might be the tool you need.
Learn more about a career as a systems engineer and four popular options to demonstrate that you have the skills needed to be successful. Additionally, explore options to help you prepare for your systems engineering certifications.
What is a systems engineer?
Systems engineering uses systems thinking to analyze the parts of systems that fit within the whole system, a process that requires examining the bigger picture of how systems fit together and function in the real world. As a system engineer, you help test, optimize, and integrate new systems while optimizing existing systems. You can work in industries like manufacturing, telecommunications, aerospace, civil engineering, IT, health care, and more.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, systems engineers will grow by 17 percent from 2023 to 2033 [1]. Additionally, Glassdoor estimates the average salary for systems engineers in the US as $140,660, which includes an average base pay of $114,389 and an average additional pay of $26,271 [2]. Additional pay can include items like profit-sharing, cash bonuses, or commissions.
Systems engineering certifications
You can explore general systems engineering certifications relevant to the entire field of systems engineering, or you can find specialized certifications to help you learn skills relevant to the industry where you work. For example, you can find certifications relevant for systems engineers working in information technology or in a specialized field, like engineers working in space systems engineering. Certification comes from professional and nonprofit organizations or educational institutions and sets a standard for measuring an engineer’s knowledge and skills.
Four systems engineering certifications for you to consider include:
Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP)
Associate Systems Engineering Professional (ASEP)
IEEE Professional Software Engineering Master Certification
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).
Explore each certification in more detail below.
1. ASEP certification (Associate Systems Engineering Professional)
The International Council on Systems Engineering, a professional organization for systems engineers, offers the Associate Systems Engineering Professional (ASEP). This certification demonstrates that you have a suitable level of skill and knowledge to work as a junior systems engineer. To earn your ASEP, you will need to pass the INCOSE knowledge exam.
Requirements: You don’t need prior education or experience for this exam, but you will need to hold an individual membership with INCOSE.
Cost (US): Application fee: $180; Exam fee: $80; Annual INCOSE membership fee: $175; Renewal fee (every 5 years): $100 [3,4]
What’s on the exam? The exam features multiple-choice questions from the INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook, which covers best practices in systems engineering for various types of projects.
How to prepare: INCOSE does not endorse or recommend any specific preparation course or program, but you can find additional resources in the INCOSE Professional Development Portal.
2. CSEP certification (Certified Systems Engineering Professional)
The Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP) is the next step up for certification from INCOSE. This certification builds on the skills you’ll need to pass the ASEP but also requires you to have at least five years of experience in the systems engineering field. To earn your CSEP certification, you need to pass the INCOSE Knowledge exam.
Requirements: You do not need any prior education to take the CSEP exam, but you will need at least five years of professional experience spanning at least three areas of systems engineering.
Cost (US): Application fee: $350; Exam fee: $80; INCOSE membership fee: $175; Renewal fee (every 3 years): $100 [3,4]
What’s on the exam? The exam will feature multiple-choice questions from the INCOSE Systems Engineering Handbook, which covers different types of best practices in systems engineering for multiple types of projects.
How to prepare: INCOSE does not endorse or recommend any specific preparation course or program, but you can find additional resources in the INCOSE Professional Development Portal.
3. IEEE Professional Software Engineering Master Certification
The Professional Software Engineering Master Certification offered by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) is a credential for software systems engineers to demonstrate competency in key software engineering principles. To earn this credential, you must pass the IEEE CS Online Exam.
Requirements: To qualify for this certification, you should have a bachelor's degree in computer science or a related field and four years of relevant professional experience.
Cost (US): Members: $690; Non-members: $865 [5]
What’s on the exam? The IEEE CS Online Exam covers topics ranging from software requirements to design, testing, and maintenance to engineering management and engineering economics.
How to prepare: You can find resources to help you prepare for this certification in the Software Engineering Body of Knowledge (SWEBOK).
4. CISSP certification
The Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification is for systems engineers working in computer security systems. This certification demonstrates that you have the skills to lead a security team. To earn your CISSP certification, you need to pass the CISSP exam. After passing the exam, you can begin the online application certification process that confirms your work experience and standing within the cybersecurity industry. You also need to abide by the ISC2 code of ethics.
Requirements: To qualify for this certification, you will need five or more years of work experience spanning at least two of the eight domains covered by the CISSP exam.
Cost (US): Exam: $749, ICS2 certified membership yearly maintenance fee: $135 [6,7]
What’s on the exam? The CISSP exam covers topics in eight domains of software security systems: security and risk management, asset security, security architecture and engineering, communication and network security, identity and access management, security assessment and testing, security operations, and software development security.
How to prepare: To prepare for the CISSP certification, you can enroll in a preparatory course like CISSP Certified Information Systems Security Professional offered by PACKT on Coursera.
What jobs can you get with systems engineering certification?
A systems engineering certification can help you prepare to work as a systems engineer, but you can also qualify for roles with other job titles. Three potential choices include systems integration engineer, systems analyst, and project engineer. Explore these roles, along with their average annual base pay.
Systems integration engineer
Average salary in the US (Glassdoor): $104,402 [8]
Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 17 percent [1]
As a systems integration engineer, you will integrate computer systems. In this role, you will help determine what software integrations your organization should do, educate staff and team members about software integration procedures, and use best practices to design and implement the integration strategy.
Systems analyst
Average salary in the US (Glassdoor): $108,526 [9]
Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 11 percent [10]
As a systems analyst, you will help companies and organizations determine how they can improve their systems and better reach company goals. In this role, you may work with IT systems, but you may also provide recommendations to companies about other kinds of organizational systems.
Project engineer
Average salary in the US (Glassdoor): $98,039 [11]
Job outlook (projected growth from 2023 to 2033): 7 percent [12]
As a project engineer, you will plan and oversee technical projects and make sure the project is compliant, on budget, and on schedule. You may work with a project manager, and you will provide support for the technical aspects of project planning that occur in the field.
Prepare for systems engineering certification on Coursera
Earning a systems engineering certification may help you learn new skills and prepare you for a new position in your field. If you want to prepare to earn your certification and build relevant skills, you can find resources to help you on Coursera.
Article sources
US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Software Developers, Quality Assurance Analysts, and Testers, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm.” Accessed February 28, 2025.
Keep reading
Coursera Staff
Editorial Team
Coursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...
This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.