The new format of the CDP, CSP, and CCP exams from the Institute for the Certification of Computer Professionals (ICCP) went into effect with the May 1990 exams. The change in format is intended to provide better and more up-to-date coverage of the body of professional knowledge included in the different examinations. In particular, the ICCP has defined reference material for each section of the exams. This new book replaces an earlier book geared toward the old format of the CSP exam [1].

According to the authors, “A complete manual reviewing all of the possible topics covered on all of the examinations would be prohibitive (expensive, long and difficult to prepare).” Therefore, this manual provides a broad overview of the core, management, system development, and procedural programming exams. The rationale for a broad review is that the candidates are required to have five years’ experience within their specialties. The authors state that sample questions “had to be sacrificed” due to pressures from the publication date and the number of pages necessary for questions and answers. Their previous book did not include practice questions.

The ICCP has published a study guide that outlines topic areas for each section of each exam. Using this as a guide, I compared Lyon and Lord’s coverage for the core exam. I found the material in Lyon and Lord to cover 30 percent or less of each area. In particular, the ICCP’s Section 2, “Systems Concepts,” is referred to as decision support systems by Lyon and Lord. Along with differences in scope, the authors present a different definition of decision support systems (including word processing, databases, spreadsheets, and modeling) that does not relate to Sprague and Watson’s definition (user interface, modeling capability, and data integrated to support decision making) [2]. It is also apparent that the authors took material from their earlier manual and rearranged it for the new format. A prime example is coverage of the microcomputer SDLC on pages 89–94 of the 1991 book, as opposed to pages 456–461 of their 1990 book. In short, the book lacks coverage of much of the material defined by the ICCP.

The authors’ goal of supplying the certification candidate with review material is excellent. The authors are also correct in stating that they should provide a broad-based review of the subjects of the examination. At the same time, they should have based their scope on the ICCP study guide. This would have ensured complete coverage of topics on the exams. If exam questions had been included, the candidates could have used them to practice test taking skills. Practice questions help candidates become familiar with the question format and practice timing, and they ease examination anxiety. The difference in one or two questions might mean the difference to the candidate in becoming certified.

The authors should change the format of future review manuals to be more closely aligned with the new exam format. They should also include a list of references for each section so that the candidate can compare it to the ICCP study guide. One book could be dedicated to each certification exam (core, management, system development, procedural programming, and so on). The authors could then concentrate on complete coverage for a particular exam and provide sample exam questions. Certification candidates could then select specific review manuals for their specific exams. Everyone would benefit from such a format. In this format, the review books would be targeted to specific exams, thus providing more complete coverage of the material.

Lyon and Lord’s book is only one source of material for certification review. Other materials are available from Bird Publications and from the Data Processing Management Association (DPMA) Special Interest Group on Certification (SIG-CP). The DPMA SIG-CP material comes in a loose-leaf binder and contains sections comparable to the exams as outlined by the ICCP. Bird produces audio cassettes with accompanying student workbooks, exams, and computer-based question-and-answer drills. Interestingly, each of these three review materials differs in scope and coverage. A candidate could easily develop a comprehensive study program using all of them.