FDE Certification Exam Levels: Foundations, Practitioner, Advanced
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Three FDE exam levels at 495, 595 and 695 USD: a 60-question Foundations exam, a Practitioner case plus live defense, and an Advanced multi-domain case plus defense. Planned sittings Dec 2026 to May 2027; booking is open.
The direct answer
Forward Engineer runs three FDE certification exam levels, each one fixed price for one proctored online attempt: Foundations (495 USD), Practitioner (595 USD) and Advanced (695 USD). Planned sittings run Dec 2026 to May 2027 at 13:00 London time in 15-seat online cohorts with virtual proctoring, and booking is open on the pricing page. Learning stays free; only the exam is paid.
The three levels side by side
| Level | Format | Price | Entry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 · Foundations | 90-minute, 60-question closed-book exam on the Foundations scope | 495 USD | None; start here |
| Level 2 · Practitioner | Case-based written section plus a 20-minute live technical defense | 595 USD | None; capstone briefs and rubrics are public for self-study |
| Level 3 · Advanced | Multi-domain case exam plus a 30-minute defense with a live twist | 695 USD | Level 1 and Level 2 |
How each level is scored
Foundations is graded against the published blueprint: discovery 16 percent, software and integration 20, data and AI 20, production and reliability 20, security 14, communication and handover 10. The pass rule has a floor: at least 70 percent in the security domain, whatever the total. Practitioner and Advanced add human-reviewed defense performance on top of the written work; the public capstone briefs show the intended standard.
Dates and booking
Level 1 sittings: 27 Dec 2026, 27 Feb 2027, 27 Apr 2027. Level 2: 3 Jan 2027, 3 Mar 2027, 3 May 2027. Level 3: from 10 Mar 2027 and 10 May 2027. When a 15-seat cohort fills, booking moves to the next date. Buy on the pricing page; prepare free through the courses and the practice tasks.
What the certificate is and is not
Every issued record carries a QR code opening its public verification page. It is an independent skills credential: no accreditation is claimed, no placement or salary outcome is promised, and the example records on the certifications page are fictional. A retake needs a new purchase; there is no retake product and nothing is charged automatically. The separate Build with AI completion record (15 USD, optional) is a course completion document, not an examined certification - see completion vs certification.
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Straight answers
Frequently asked questions
Which FDE exam level should I start with?
Level 1 Foundations: no entry requirement, 60 questions in 90 minutes, 495 USD. Practitioner adds a live defense; Advanced additionally requires Level 1 and Level 2.
How much does each FDE exam level cost?
Foundations 495 USD, Practitioner 595 USD, Advanced 695 USD. One fixed price covers one proctored online attempt; every customer pays USD.
What is the Foundations pass rule?
At least 70 percent in the security domain regardless of the total, graded against the published six-domain blueprint.
Do I need to buy the course to sit the exam?
No. Courses are free preparation, never a prerequisite; the exam is booked separately on the pricing page.
Is the FDE certificate accredited?
No accreditation is claimed. It is an independent skills credential with a published blueprint and QR-verified records.