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Exam Information
Official specifications published by ASQ
Exam Format
318 min
175
Not publicly disclosed
Professional
Registration
$533 USD
Prometric or online proctoring
Validity
3 years
Obtain 18 recertification units (RUs) within a three-year recertification period; Retake the certification exam at the end of the 3-year recertification period
CQE Exam Topics and Domains
CQE is organized into 7 weighted domains.
1
Management and Leadership
10.625%
ASQ Code of Ethics for Professional ConductProfessional Ethics
Leadership Principles and TechniquesLeadership Skills
Communication SkillsEffective Communication
Customer RelationsCustomer Relationship Management
Barriers to Quality ImprovementOrganizational Barriers
Quality Philosophies and Foundations
Evolution of QualityContinuous Improvement Tools
The Quality Management System
Strategic PlanningDeployment TechniquesQuality Information System (QIS)
Facilitation Principles and Techniques
Roles and ResponsibilitiesFacilitation Tools
Supplier Management
Supplier Management TechniquesSupplier ImprovementSupplier Risk
2
The Quality System
11.25%
Quality Standards and Other GuidelinesQuality Standards
Cost of Quality (COQ)COQ Categories
Quality TrainingTraining Programs
Elements of the Quality System
Basic ElementsSystem Design
Documentation of the Quality System
Document ComponentsDocument Control
Quality Audits
Types of AuditsRoles and Responsibilities in AuditsAudit Planning and ImplementationAudit Reporting and Follow-up
3
Product, Process, and Service Design
13.125%
Classification of Quality CharacteristicsQuality Characteristics
Technical Drawings and SpecificationsEngineering Drawings
Design Verification and ValidationVerification and Validation
Risk Management ToolsDesign Risk Tools
Design Inputs and Review
Design InputsDesign Review
Reliability and Maintainability
Predictive and Preventive Maintenance ToolsReliability and Maintainability IndicesReliability Models
4
Product and Process Control
14.375%
Control MethodsProcess Control Tools
MetrologyMeasurement Science
Measurement System Analysis (MSA)Gage R&R
Material Control
Material Identification, Status, and TraceabilityMaterial SegregationMaterial ClassificationMaterial Review Board (MRB)
Acceptance Sampling
Sampling ConceptsSampling Standards and PlansSampling Integrity
Measurement and Test
Measurement ToolsDestructive and Non-Destructive Testing
5
Continuous Improvement
16.25%
Quality Control ToolsSeven Basic Quality Tools
Quality Management and Planning ToolsSeven Management Tools
Continuous Improvement MethodologiesImprovement Frameworks
Lean ToolsLean Manufacturing Tools
Corrective ActionCorrective Action Process
Preventive ActionPreventive Action Process
6
Quantitative Methods and Tools
21.25%
Collecting and Summarizing Data
Data Types and Measurement ScalesData Collection MethodsDescriptive StatisticsGraphical Methods
Probability (Quantitative Concepts)
Probability TerminologyDrawing Statistical ConclusionsProbability Terms and Concepts
Probability Distributions
Continuous DistributionsDiscrete Distributions
Statistical Decision-Making
Point Estimates and Confidence IntervalsHypothesis TestingPaired-Comparison TestingGoodness-of-Fit TestsAnalysis of Variance (ANOVA)Contingency Tables
Relationships Between Variables
Linear RegressionTime-Series Analysis
Statistical Process Control (SPC)
SPC Objectives and BenefitsCommon and Special CausesSelection of VariablesRational SubgroupingControl ChartsControl Chart AnalysisShort-Run SPC
Process and Performance Capability
Process Capability StudiesProcess Capability IndicesProcess Performance Indices
Design and Analysis of Experiments
DOE TerminologyPlanning and Organizing ExperimentsDesign PrinciplesOne-Factor ExperimentsFull-Factorial ExperimentsTwo-Level Fractional Factorial Experiments
7
Risk Management
13.125%
Risk Fundamentals
Risk TerminologyTypes of Risk Management
Risk Planning and Assessment
Risk Management PlanThe Risk Assessment Process
Risk Treatment, Control and Monitoring
Identification and DocumentationRisk Management System EvaluationRisk Treatment StrategiesRisk MonitoringMitigation Planning
How do I earn this certification?
Passing CQE earns the Certified Quality Engineer certification. It sits in the Quality Engineering track.
Next Level Options
- CMQ/OE - Certified Manager of Quality/Organizational ExcellenceAdvanced management-level certification for quality professionals
- CMBB - Certified Master Black BeltHighest level of Six Sigma certification for organizational transformation leaders
Alternative Paths
- CSSGB - Certified Six Sigma Green BeltComplementary process improvement methodology
- CPGP - Certified Pharmaceutical GMP ProfessionalIndustry-specific quality certification for pharmaceutical professionals
- CMDA - Certified Medical Device AuditorIndustry-specific quality certification for medical device professionals
- CFSQA - Certified Food Safety and Quality AuditorIndustry-specific quality certification for food safety professionals
Practice with Precision
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How to study for this exam?
The most effective way to prepare for CQE is by using the PlanetCert Simulator to practice questions and review detailed explanations.
What's changed on this exam?
Current Status
- ACTIVE
- Last content update: 2022-10
- Announcement date: 2022-08
Who should take this exam?
8 years of on-the-job experience in one or more of the areas of the Certified Quality Engineer Body of Knowledge
3 years of experience must be in a decision-making position
Full-time, paid role experience