Certified Executive Compensation Professional | CECP®

Effective executive compensation practitioners can design and manage programs that attract, motivate and retain dynamic executives and leaders who will drive positive business results and organizational strategies.

Obtaining a CECP signifies that you have the knowledge, experience and critical skills needed to influence and negotiate tactics within an executive compensation strategy to ensure alignment with an organization’s business plan and long-term vision. 

Proven recognition

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The CECP designation is competency-based and achieved by passing one comprehensive exam based on experience in the field and the overall executive compensation Body of Knowledge (BOK).  The Body of Knowledge represents the complete set of concepts, terms and activities that make up the profession. 

Individuals interested in pursuing this designation should review the body of knowledge to gain an understanding of the concepts that will be covered on the exam. WorldatWork offers executive compensation resources including practice exams to help you prepare for the exam.


The CECP is beneficial for anyone seeking to validate their expertise in the field of executive compensation. The designation is intended for professionals involved in multiple aspect of executive compensation. This includes individuals who specialize in executive compensation as an in-house practitioner or consultant. It is pertinent for any professional who works directly in the various aspects of executive compensation strategy or administration such as finance, legal and tax. We recommend that CECP candidates are proficient in each of the key knowledge domains of executive compensation and have at least three years of experience.


Courses and Required Exams

The CECP designation is competency-based and achieved by passing one comprehensive exam based on experience in the field and the overall executive compensation Body of Knowledge (BOK). In preparation for the exam, review the Body of Knowledge. WorldatWork also provides Practice Exams to test your readiness. 

Take the new, improved exam required to earn your Certified Executive Compensation Professional designation!

Take this practice exam to help you prepare to earn your Certified Executive Compensation Professional designation

Take this practice exam to help you prepare to earn your Certified Executive Compensation Professional designation

Frequently Asked Questions

This specialty certification combines knowledge and skills based on experience in the field and the industry standard Body of Knowledge that is required for individual and business success. The CECP designation is achieved by passing one comprehensive competency-based exam while other designations — like the Certified Compensation Professional, Global Remuneration Professional and Certified Benefits Professional certifications — require passing multiple specific curriculum-based exams.


WorldatWork recommends candidates have three or more years of experience in executive compensation. As a competency-based exam, there is no single prep course that covers all the content in the exam. You should review the comprehensive CECP Body of Knowledge, which represents the complete set of knowledge and skills required for professionals working in the field.


WorldatWork offers practice exams to help you get familiar with the types of questions asked in all knowledge areas within the exam. Practice exams offer an easy way to test your readiness by assessing your strengths and weaknesses, as well as help identify knowledge gaps where you may need additional study or experience.


While there is not a specific CECP exam preparation course, you may find the following WorldatWork resources helpful in your preparations for the CECP Exam:



There are 100 questions on the CECP exam.


You have three hours to complete the CECP exam.


Your CECP exam is scored using a scaled score range between 120 – 200.  A passing score is 200.  All exam takers who pass the exam receive the maximum score of 200.  

A score between 120 – 199 means that you did not achieve a passing score. 

Scaled scores are used to transform raw scores to a common scale. The transformation of the raw scores into the scaled scores permits candidate performance to be described in terms of a common scaled score distribution, ranging from 120 to 200. Scaled scoring is a certification best practice for high-level exams and provides a consistent metric from one examination to the next leading to consistent interpretation across time.


Recertification Credits

The courses and exams listed above can earn you credits to recertify additional WorldatWork certifications. 

Earn a Certification, Boost Your Career

Hear how earning her certification helped Michaela Leo, Head of Compensation & Benefits (North America) at Ipsen Biosciences, advance her career.

Track Your Certification Status

WorldatWork members can readily see their progress on certification, see the deadline for recertifying, rest easy knowing that recertification credits earned through WorldatWork are automatically added to their profiles, and manually manage any credits they earn from other organizations.