Education & Training

Systems Planning, Research, Development and Engineering (SPRDE/PSE)—Program Systems Engineer Career Path Overview

The following overview provides highlights of the SPRDE-PSE career path certification criteria (education, experience, and required/desired courses) for DAWIA Levels I-III.

EDUCATION:  Undergraduate/graduate degree in technical or scientific field (e.g. engineering, physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, operations research, engineering management, computer science)

LEVEL I CERTIFICATION
2 YEARS OF TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE**

ACQ 101 Fundamentals of Systems Acquisition Management
(Self-paced, online)

SYS 101 Fundamentals of Systems Planning, Research, Development and Engineering (SPRDE)
(Self-paced, online)

Electives: Two 100 level courses* required

LEVEL II CERTIFICATION
4 YEARS OF TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE**

ACQ 201A Intermediate Systems Acquisition Management (Part A)
(Self-paced, online)

ACQ 201B Intermediate Systems Acquisition Management (Part B)
(Classroom, 5 days)

SYS 202 Intermediate SPRDE, Part I
(Self-paced, online)

CLE 003 Technical Reviews
(4-hour Continuous Learning Module)

SYS 203 Intermediate SPRDE, Part II
(Classroom, 5 days)

LOG 204 Configuration Management
(Self-paced, online)

Electives: One 100/200 level course* required

LEVEL III CERTIFICATION
8 YEARS OF TECHNICAL EXPERIENCE**

SYS 302 Technical Leadership in Systems Engineering
(Classroom, 10 days)

CLL 008 Designing for Supportability in DoD Systems
(3-hour Continuous Learning Module)

Electives: Two 200/300 level courses* required

* Select from the following career field curricula: SPRDE/SE; SPRDE/S&TM; T&E; PQM; LCL; FE; IT; PM; BCEFM; Contracting
** Experience from the following career fields/paths: SPRDE/SE; SPRDE/S&TM; T&E; PQM; LCL; FE; IT; PM (in an acquisition position, government or industry)