To ensure and improve the quality, the candidate must meet certain educational and professional experience criteria to be eligible for the CPEP™ program. For more information visit www.uspec.org/chartered-private-equity-professional.
The selection of an application for audit is random. You may be required to submit documents of the required professional work experience and/or educational degrees officially. The electronic audit notification provides detailed information on how to comply with the terms of the audit. Please download and fill the ‘Candidature Review Form’ and email it at along with the additional documents at info@uspec.org.
In response to our disapproval of applicant’s candidature on eligibility grounds, applicant must fill in the ‘Exam Candidacy Reconsideration Request Form’ for reconsidering the eligibility for the CPEP™ program. Along with this form, the candidate must submit a letter stating the exact reason for reconsideration. The form and the letter must be submitted together within 5 working days after candidature disapproval notification. Attach the required documents along with the form and email it to info@uspec.org.
Visit USPECs’ official website www.uspec.org.
Note**Payment can be made with a Visa, American Express or MasterCard credit card. The payment amount will be automatically prompted by the system according.
Yes, you have to completely fill and submit the application form in one go and there is no option to save the half-filled application form.
From the day of payment, USPEC earmarks a 120 days immersion period for candidates to help them orient completely and build their conceptual foundations in Private Equity. You can schedule your exam any time after the 120 days immersion period is over. In fact, you also get an additional 245 days to plan for and take your USPEC exam. If you are not able to take the exam in 365 days exam window, you can reschedule your exam by paying a nominal fee of USD 100.
The learning resources will be available in printed formats which includes- the Mastering Private Equity Handbook and the Private Equity Casebook. These are the flagship learning and exam preparation resources containing exclusive content written for easy comprehension covering all dimensions of private equity knowledge. It also includes an e-Copy of the Exam Preparation Guidelines.
No, the learning resources are given complimentary to all participants of the CPEP™ program.
Description | CPEP™ |
How to Register & Pay the Fees | Register on USPEC website at www.uspec.org. |
Duration of a typical Examination | 90 Minutes |
Location/ venue of the Exam | All USPEC exams are completely online and digitally proctored. You can take the exam anywhere, even at home or in your office. You'll need your computer ExamStrong™ compliant prior to taking the exam. |
Mode of Examination | Online |
Total number of questions in a typical exam | 50 |
Type of Questions | Multi-choice-Single-answer |
Standard Qualification benchmark for the award | 65% correct answers; though awards will actually be decided using an algorithm that accounts into scaling, relative scoring, and degree of difficulty parameters |
Fee for the Examination (in US Dollars; Valid through 31st January 2020) | 775 |
System Requirements |
Must Have |
Operating System |
Windows 10 Windows 8.1 (32-bit and 64-bit) Windows 7 SP1 (32-bit and 64-bit) |
Display (Resolution) |
1024 x 768 [Recommended] |
Network Connection |
Strongly recommend using a wired network rather than a wireless network as it provides better exam delivery performance |
Internet Connection Speed |
Minimum 1 Mbps |
Web Browser(s) |
Latest Version of Google Chrome Only |
Webcam |
Internal or an External Webcam must be connected to the computer |
Firewall(s) |
Corporate Firewalls (including VPNs) often cause this Exam Delivery method to fail. Please take your Exam in a setting without these Firewalls |
Admin Rights |
Should have Admin Rights on your Laptop/Computer |
The results can be seen immediately after a candidate successfully completes and submits the online exam. Successful candidates will receive a printed certificate which will be mailed to the mailing address, as mentioned in the applicant’s profile. Please note that the packet will be shipped within three to four weeks. For more information, visit www.uspec.org.
In most parts of the world, however, USPEC exams are real-time proctored, and delivered in the private mode keeping the convenience of examinees in mind. Which means you can now take your exam in the convenience of your personal spaces – like your home or your office – after getting your computer machine and exam room ExamStrong™ verified for exam readiness.
USPEC exams are completely digital/ computer-based and are handled by ExamStrong™ experts teams under the aegis of global credentialing services leader CredForce. For more information, kindly visit www.uspec.org/uspec-certification-examinations.
Program | CPEP™ |
Validity | 3 Years |
USPEC has a ‘zero-tolerance’ policy for any misconduct in its ecosystem. During examination, the test manager (or proctor) has all rights to dismiss a candidate from the exam session for any of the following reasons:
Please be informed that USPEC will take legal action against anybody who violates copyright laws such as reproducing and distributing examination content or materials. The data bank of questions, the exam form and all exam-related materials have copyrights and are the legal property of USPEC.
Any communication – be it verbal, written or electronic, is strictly prohibited. Any such act will be punishable by law.
Please note that, if any examinee is caught in any of the above forms of misconduct, there will be no evaluation of their exam and no refund of their fees. Also, there will be a six-month bar to retake the exam. Furthermore, USPEC shall review the acts of misconduct, which may lead to :
The candidate must have two valid IDs from the list below, one primary ID with photo and signature and one secondary ID with signature.
All IDs required must be issued by the country in which the candidate is testing. If the candidate does not have a qualifying primary ID issued from the country they are testing in, an International Travel Passport from their country of citizenship is required, along with a secondary ID.
The first and last name that the candidate uses to register must match exactly the first and last name on both of the IDs that are presented on test day.
USPEC exam is a computer based exam, please find below the duration of each exam.
Program | CPEP™ |
Duration | 90 minutes |
Please click here for more details.
CPEP™ exam is a multiple choice based examination. Each question has four choices, with one or more options being the correct answer. The applicant need not answer every question before moving to the next. The applicant can always review or return or alter the answers of previously answered questions. Therefore, make sure that the answers to each questions are properly reviewed before submitting the exam.
Program | CPEP™ |
No. of Questions | 50 |
Please click here for more details.
The candidates are not allowed to carry or use any electronic devices during the examination. Please visit our examinee conduct policy, to know more.
There is no provision of a break, and the exam has to be taken in one go.
It is suggested that you should reach the chosen exam room/ location at least 30 minutes in advance of the scheduled exam-start time to ensure that the exam room and the computer being used for exam is thoroughly checked, verified and approved for exam-taking by a designated USPEC -authorized testing body.
In order to clear the exam, the candidate needs to score 65% or higher cumulatively.
The results can be viewed immediately after submitting the online exam.
In the event that examinees fail their first (1st) attempt to pass their USPEC exam, they shall be required to pay a nominal fee of USD 50 from myUSPEC account to reappear for the exam. Please note that the examinee has to wait for 14 days from the day of the examination result, before he/she can apply for reappear.
The results can be viewed immediately after submitting the online test. You will also receive an intimation through email stating the result of the exam. If you pass the exam, an official credential kit will be issued to you.
Business, environment and technology change faster today. Hence, your CPEP™ qualification requires refreshing every three years to stay in sync with the latest professional knowledge and practices in the Private Equity discipline. Your myUSPEC account will have all information on what to read and the other steps you have to take to keep your knowledge and skills current and continue your qualification.
The renewal can benefit you in the following ways:
USPEC will send you reminder emails for renewal of your CPEP™, wherein you simply have to click the links mentioned in these communications, or log into myUSPEC account and register for renewal. In order to receive email reminders from USPEC, please make sure to keep your email address current. Please note that training is not mandatory for renewal and you only have to register and complete a short–duration online refresher learning program as per the as per the latest Private Equity/ Investment USPEC-IFIS™.
Applicant needs to log on to his myUSPEC at www.uspec.org and can find the required dates in the upcoming calendar section.
The invoice is generated immediately after the payment is realized and can be downloaded easily from your myUSPEC account.
Payments can be made via debit or credit cards. We accept a range of cards including Visa, American Express, Master card among others. Payment for company-sponsored applicants can be done via electronic checks or wire transfers, and further information may be sought by writing to info@uspec.org.
The full fee paid by an applicant minus USD 80 of processing charges is refunded if the withdrawal application arrives within 24 hours from payment. For withdrawal requests beyond 24 hours the fee paid will not be refunded.
Yes, examinees cancelling their exams or those who failed in the earlier attempt and want to re-take the exam have to pay a prescribed fee again. Also, missing a pre-scheduled exam for any reason will result in the forfeiture of your fee, and the refund clause will not be applicable here.
In case of payment failure due to problems arising on USPEC payment gateway or USPEC application system or USPEC website, immediately write to info@uspec.org. In case the problem is on the side of your banker or credit card issuer, please contact their respective customer care immediately for an effective resolution.
No. Payments have to be made in a single instalment.
Digital badges are an assessment and credentialing mechanism that is housed and managed online and could appear as icons on a web page, social media platform, or other online venues. It is awarded by institutions, organizations, or groups, signifying accomplishment. Badges are designed to make visible and validate learning in both formal and informal settings, which can be verified by employers and colleagues.
Each badge is embedded with evidence of where, when, how, and why it was earned. It is a form of digital certificate that earners can share on social networks, resumes and e-mail signatures.
USPEC digital badging services provide you a way to effectively convey your verified knowledge and expertise to employers, colleagues and recruiters after successful completion of the CPEP™ program.
No, program package fee includes the Digital Badge
Each digital badge has a unique URL that can be embedded on a website or social media channel.
Our logistics are handled by CredForce Logistics and they ship your CPEP™ learning resources via one of the leading global carrier. For more details about your shipment, you can write to CredForce at logistics@credforce.com.
CredForce Logistics shall provide to you the tracking details of your learning resources once it is shipped. In case you have still not received your tracking details, please write to CredForce at logistics@credforce.com.
Once your learning resources are shipped, you will receive an email from CredForce Logistics team wherein, all the tracking details like address shipped to, carrier name, tracking number and shipment date will be provided. You can refer to the tracking details and track your learning resources.
In such a case we request you to please refer to the tracking details provided by CredForce Logistics and lodge a complaint with the carrier which was supposed to deliver your learning resources. Simultaneously, please write to CredForce at logistics@credforce.com.
Note**CredForce Logistics shall also provide on request, a documentary Proof of Delivery provided by the shipper after it completes the delivery to your shipping address, and this Proof of Delivery shall be the only document accepted by USPEC to confirm the delivery. We regret in advance that once Proof of Delivery of a shipment is made available, we are unable to entertain or accept any complaint by you.
In case your learning resources have been delivered to an incorrect address, please lodge a complaint with the carrier using the tracking details provided by CredForce Logistics. In case you have any further query you can write to CredForce at logistics@credforce.com.
Your learning resources can be delivered even when you are not present at the time of delivery only after the shipper verifies the address, once the shipper has verified the address only then your learning resources can be delivered. For any further delivery related query please write to CredForce at logistics@credforce.com.
No, you will not be able to change your shipping/mailing address after you have paid the program fee. So, please make sure that you provide us with the right address to avoid any hassle at the time of delivery of your learning resources. For any further queries, please write to us at info@uspec.org.
You need to refer to the shipping details and contact your carrier to reschedule your date of delivery.
If you have received the wrong set or damaged books, please write to CredForce at logistics@credforce.com within 24 hours of receipt of your USPEC study kit. We shall not be able to entertain or accept any complaint by you after that.
A new unit of learning resources is chargeable and can be issued only after a prior approval from USPEC. In case you want us to issue a new unit, please write to us at info@uspec.org.
All export/import duties and other levies, if any, in your country are to be borne by you, and you also hold the responsibility of clearance of the consignment.
Note**USPEC or its partners/representatives will not be responsible for any delays due to delivery carrier factors, weather, natural calamities, international customs regulations, holidays, customer error, or any other unforeseen events beyond the control of the shipper.
No once the order has been placed it cannot be cancelled.
If you want to change your name on the certificate, you will need to write to us at info@uspec.org and attach the required supporting documents. A fee of USD 50 will have to be paid for the processing of your request. You will also have to pay USD 100 for an additional certificate with the new name on.
If you wish to inform your employer about the achievement, you will have to initiate a service request from your myUSPEC dashboard. It will then be USPECs’ responsibility to inform the employer about applicant’s achievement.
In case you lose your certificate and require a duplicate certificate a service request needs to be generated from your myUSPEC dashboard. An additional fee of USD 100 will have to be incurred by you.
If you wish to cancel your exam, you should login into your myUSPEC 72 hours prior to your scheduled examination. Cancelling an exam or missing your exam will result in the forfeiture of your exam fee, without recourse. For more details please click here and go through our cancellation policy.
If an examine voluntarily cancels the scheduled examination appointment; he/she can immediately reapply from the myUSPEC dashboard by paying a nominal fee of USD 50.
If you wish to reschedule your exam without paying any extra fees, you must login to you myUSPEC account 72 hours prior to your scheduled examination. For more details on rescheduling your exam please click here.
There can be certain unavoidable circumstances due to which you are unable to appear for the examination, in such a case your appointment is declared as a no show. For more information on our no show policy click here.
If you miss a scheduled exam because of an emergency, feel free to directly contact USPEC at info@uspec.org.
Below are the acceptable reasons for missing your scheduled exam:
Immediate family members here refer to:
If you miss an exam for any of the above-mentioned reasons, you are required to contact USPEC on info@uspec.org. An incident number will be provided to you to send the necessary documentation required by USPEC. Once the required documents are submitted, the request will be thoroughly reviewed and the decision will be taken accordingly by the candidate review committee. You will further be intimated on the result of your request.
Please be informed on the documents that are accepted against the reason of emergency:
**Please note that the program fee is non-refundable. However, if the case is not listed under our no-show policies, an additional fee of USD 50 will be charged to reapply.