Available On-Site CMTF Courses and Certification Programs

Start you training with CMTF programs and get a good foundation that will last

To add value to an enterprise an employee needs grounding in core values, the ability to multitask, think for themselves, stay focused on the mission and goals of the organization, and have the right skill sets for the job. When it comes to Configuration Management, it actually takes about five years of hands on experience to fully develop the core CM skills. I have actually had students with 25 years of experience come to my class and get value out of it. CM consultants, other CM speakers, and people developing courses go through our programs.

When you start with our training, students leave the class with the confidence they can work in any CM capacity because they have a grasp and understanding of the core elements and principles, not just book knowledge. And they will also get more out of any future training wherever that may be.

Here are our programs. I personally recommend you start with the Basic and Advanced Level I program. Only takes a week, will give you the equivalent of years of hands on experience. This should be followed by the Software Level II program, which is only a two day course. And those with a few years in CM should continue with the Enterprise Level III program, also just another two days of training. I also highly recommend the new Technical Data Management course. It is for everyone, and has no prerequisites.

Course Offeriings

Configuration Management

Code: CCM-601 Level I
CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT

A two-day course
Teaches the fundamentals of CM - "what and why"
Covers all elements, functions, and integrated processes
Includes an introduction to software
In class experience with CM planning and assessment tools
Covers principles of -649 and other standards
Give students a sound understanding of real CM
A Level I program course

The Basic Configuration Management course and the Advanced Configuration were designed to be taken together to prepare students for the Level I certification exam. It is our recommendation that these two courses should be taken on the same week, at the same location, to keep the information fresh in the students mind for the exam. The certification is optional, although highly beneficial in todays job market. Students will get what they need in class to prepare them for the exam, so don't pass up the opportunity.

Advanced Configuration Management

Code: ACM-602 Level I
ADVANCED CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT

A two-day course
Builds upon the fundaments
Goes beyond trends, covers inflection points
Students experience future immersion as applied to CM
Those wanting to try Google Glass, this is your chance
In class experience with CM planning and assessment tools
Continues extensive preparation and review for exam
Covers "how" to implement CM
A Level I program course

The Advanced Configuration Management course was designed to be taken together with the Basic Configuration Management course to prepare students for the Level I certification exam. It is our recommendation that these two courses should be taken on the same week, at the same location, to keep the information fresh in the students mind for the exam. The certification is optional, although highly beneficial in todays job market. Students will get what they need in class to prepare them for the exam, so why pass up the opportunity.

Software Configuration Management

Code: SCM-603 Level II
SOFTWARE CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT

A two-day course
Covers and builds upon the fundaments of CM
Extends material to the Software environment
Students learn the differences betweeen HW and SW CM.
Release, build, process maturity, and tools covered
In class experience with CM planning and assessment tools
Extensive preparation and review for the Level II exam
Covers "what, why and how" to implement SCM
A Level II program course

The Software Configuration Management course builds upon the Level I program courses but also stands on its own for students that only want to address software. All the material needed to prepare and take the Level II exam is covered in the class, with plenty of time spent on review and sample test questions. Obviously this class attracts students that already work and have experience in software, test, QA, and software engineering. But it also attracts students with a hardware and document control background. The course material has been carefully structured so as to not overwhelm non-software attendees, while at the same time covering the needs of build and release managers. In today’s environment, CM professionals need to augment their skills with a good understand of both hardware and software CM.

Enterprise Configuration Management

Code: ECM-605 Level III
ENTERPRISE CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT

A two-day course
Goes beyond the fundaments of CM
Extends material to the Enterprise CM environment
Students learn the differences betweeen Program and Enterprise CM.
Covers how CM is integrated into other processes.
In class experience with CM planning and assessment tools
Covers how to develop an Enterprise CM framework for implementation.
A Level III program course

The Enterprise Configuration Management course is more than a refresher course. It builds upon the fundamentals and program level CM and shows students how to implement CM across the whole enterprise. Extensive coverage of standards, initiatives, and principles and how to tailor them to build the framework for and Enterprise Configuration Management Plan. At this time grandfathering is still and option for those seeking the optional Level III certification. When grandfathering closes in the near future passing the optional certification exam will become the only way for student to achieve Level III certification. Students are encouraged to bring their plans and policies to class for inclusion in discussions and workshops.

649-B CM Principles, Tailoring & Implementation New Course!

Code: CM-649-B Level IV
649-B CM PRINCIPLES, TAILORING & IMPLEMENTATION

New Certified 649 Professional Certification
Complete coverage of the ANSI/EIA-649-B CM Standard
Map the 649 principles to CM requirements, processes, tasks & tools
Get hands-on experience with our planning workshop
Includes CM assessment, CM strategy development and process templates
Use the latest tools to analyze -649 for strategic planning
Learn the applicability of 649 principles to your environment
Discover how to integrated 649 with other CM standards and initiatives
Includes both Commercial and Defense implementation of 649
Class participation encouraged, an informative time will be had by all!
Covers SAE/EIA-649-1 CM Requirements for Defense Contracts
Examines and differentiates the acquirer and supplier roles in 649-1
Learn how requirements and CM tasks are derived from the CM Principles
Also includes tailored 649-B/649-1 requirements for Commercial application
Defense acquirers will learn how to tailor 649-1 for their contracts
You will learn how to review a CMP for contractual compliance
Suppliers will learn how to respond, comply, and write their CM Plan
Hands-on tailoring workshop with 649-1 ANNEX A TAILORING WORKSHEET
649 Certification upon completion of this course

At the start of the course attendees will receive our supplemental resource of CM information and application guide. These are used in class workshops and projects to reinforce concepts learned with practical examples and experience. These include everything you need to assess the maturity of your CM process, analyze the 649 CM Standard, and create your own unique tailored 649 compliant Configuration Management Strategic Planning Map. Attendees are encouraged to bring their laptops and handhelds to class for use in our workshops and projects. Everyone will benefit from completing our 649 Track and Certification. It doesn't matter if you are new to CM, already have CM certifications, work with hardware, software, documentation, government, defense or in a commercial industry, this track applies to everyone. This course includes hands-on interactive group experiences designed to facilitate long term retention of what you learn in the course.

Attendees will develop a CM Strategic Planning Map into a 649 compliant Configuration Management Requirements Document, CM Implementation Plan and CMP, specifically tailored to their environment, using the latest tools and techniques in class. For those with current CM plans, we recommend you bring them with you for analysis, validation and improvements in our workshops. You will not only learn how to write a 649 compliant CMP, but how to review one as well. In addition to presentations, team projects, and class workshops, attendees will receive individual mentoring by our internationally recognized speaker and SMEs. This is the only CM track in the world where attendees leave with certification and a roadmap for implementing a 649 CM program. Standards can be long and dry. Sitting for days listening to a speaker read slides or staring at a monitor can be painful ... the mind can only absorb as much as the rear can endure. That is why we teach 649 with the right proportion of lecture and hands-on interactive experiences. If you learn by doing, in a dynamic group environment, this 649 course is right for you.

Technical Data Management

Code: TDM-607 Level V
TECHNICAL DATA MANAGEMENT

A two-day course
Covers TDM requirements and data workflow
Students learn the new DM framwork
You will also learn how to write a Data Management Plan
Extensive coverage of CDRLs, DIDs, and deliverable data processes
In class experience with DM planning and assessment tools
Workshops for DM planning and a DM assessment
Covers "what, why and how" to implement TDM
TDM tools and the future of TDM

The Technical Data Management process has been around for a long time. The Statement of Work (S.O.W.) is the tasking part of a contract. But if you want something delivered, especially when dealing with government acquisition, another part of the contract is used, the Contract Data Requirements List (CDRL). The major function of DM is scheduling the creation, release, submittal, review, and archiving of CDRL deliverables. The organizational structure of DM has changed over the years. Originally a separate organization from CM, then placed under CM, and now many enterprises are once again creating a separate DM. The main reason for this is the military and government have recently gone from just a few dozen CDRLs on a typically contract to hundreds of CDRLs. This has created a dramatic increase in workload and importance on DM professonals. And performing DM today entails understanding digital data and new technology. For this reason we have created a new TDM course and certification which we think you will find very useful.

Certification Programs

LEVEL I - CICM Certified International Configuration Manager

LEVEL I - CICM
Certified International Configuration Manager

Configuration Management (course completion required)
Advanced Configuration Management (course completion required)
No other prerequisites
Three hour exam
164 questions, true false, multiple choice, fill in, essay
Requires 75% correct to pass
Acronym list and two pages of notes allowed during test.

The Level I CICM Exam is optional. Interested parties can register to take the exam which is typically offered on the day following the Advanced CM course. Testing typically starts at 8:00 AM and concludes by 11:00. Most students finish in under two hours, but a full three hours are allotted. Significant review time is provide in both the CCM and ACM courses, including sample test questions.

LEVEL II - CISCM Certified International SW Configuration Manager

LEVEL II - CISCM
Certified International SW Configuration Manager

Software Configuration Management (course completion required)
No other prerequisites
Two hour exam
84 questions, true false, multiple choice, fill in, essay
Requires 75% correct to pass
Acronym list and two pages of notes allowed during test.

The Level II CICM Exam is optional. Interested parties can register to take the exam which is typically offered on the day following the Software CM course. Testing typically starts at 8:00 AM and concludes by 10:00. Most students finish in under one hour, but a full two hours are allotted. Significant review time is provide in the SCM course, including sample test questions. At some locations the test if offered late afternoon on the second day of the SCM class.

LEVEL III - CCMP Certified Configuration Management Professional

LEVEL III - CCMP
Certified Configuration Management Professional

Enterprise Configuration Management (course completion required)
The top-tier certification
Four years minimum CM experience (required)
Level I and Level II (required)
Grandfather program open
Grandfathering will close fouth quarter of 2015

The Level III CDMP Exam is optional. This certification program is widely accepted as the gold standard for CM certification. It is not a rubber stamp given at course completion, and it is not an exercise in memorizing out of date standards. Our certifications are earned, and they confirm the student has an understanding of CM, not just knowledge. Organizations that hire our certified students can rest assured that they have the skill to implement CM. Our certified students are capable of writing CM Plans and performing all the functions of the single point of contract for all matters relating to CM on any program in any organization.

LEVEL IV - C649P Certified 649 Professional New Certification!

LEVEL IV - C649P
Certified 649 Professional

CM-649-B CM Principles (course completion required)
No other prerequisites
Exams after major course sections
20 questions each, true false, multiple choice
Participation in course workshops required
Completion and presentation of course project

The new 649 Certification is included free of charge as part of the 649 Track ... one course, three days. two courses, two days each, a total of four days of training. Certification is granted on the third day after successful completion of CM-649-B. Completion entails participation in the course workshops, exams, and finishing the group project. Graduates receive a completion certificate and their name will be entered into the ISCM registry showing they have achieved 649 certification.

LEVEL V - CTDMP Certified Technical DM Professional

DM Cert - CTDMP
Certified Technical DM Professional

Technical Data Management (course completion required)
A new certification for DM professionals
No other prerequisites
Grandfathering open - four years hands on DM experience required to qualify
2 hour test
84 questions, true false, multiple choice, fill in, essay
Requires 75% correct to pass
Acronym list and two pages of notes allowed during test.

The CTDMP Exam is optional. Interested parties can register to take the exam which is typically offered at the end of the day of the TDM course. Most students finish in under one hour, but a full two hours are allotted. Significant review time is provide in the TDM course, including sample test questions.