The standard behind the standard.
A certification is only as credible as the process behind it. This page publishes how EMA examinations are built, administered, scored, and governed — so candidates and employers can hold us to it.
Every EMA examination is built against the published EMA Competency Framework. Questions are scenario-based: they present realistic management situations and require judgment, not recall. Each exam draws a randomized question set from a curated bank, so no two sittings are identical.
| Credential | Questions | Duration | Pass Standard | Validity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EMA-I — Associate | 60 | 90 minutes | 70% | 3 years |
| EMP-II — Professional | 75 | 105 minutes | 75% | 3 years |
| EME-III — Expert | 90 | 120 minutes | 80% | 3 years |
Rigor scales with seniority: question count and pass standards rise with each tier while per-question time stays constant, holding difficulty honest across levels. You can experience the format first-hand in the sample examination — five familiarization items in the real exam interface, free and unrecorded.
Scheduled sittings
Examinations are taken at a scheduled time. The exam window opens 15 minutes before the scheduled start to let candidates settle in, and closes 90 minutes after it opens. Candidates who do not begin within the window are marked as missed and must schedule a new sitting.
One active session
A candidate may hold only one scheduled or in-progress examination at a time. This prevents double-booking and protects the integrity of the attempt record.
Continuous timing
The examination clock runs from the moment the sitting begins. Closing or reloading the browser does not pause the clock or change the question set — candidates resume exactly where they left off.
Randomized forms
Each sitting draws its question set at the moment the examination starts. The drawn set is fixed for that sitting and is never re-shuffled, ensuring a consistent and auditable attempt record.
Examinations are scored automatically against the answer key, with the result available immediately upon submission. The pass standard for each tier is fixed and published above — there is no curve, no quota, and no discretionary adjustment. Every candidate is measured against the standard, not against each other.
Candidates who do not meet the standard may schedule a new sitting. Each sitting draws a fresh randomized question set.
Issuance
Credentials are issued immediately upon passing, carry a unique credential ID (e.g. EMA-2025-00001), and are co-signed by the Founder & Director and the Certification Committee.
Verification
Any third party can verify a credential at any time using the credential ID — no account required. Verification reports the holder, the certification, its dates, and its current status.
Expiry & recertification
Credentials are valid for three years from issuance. Holders recertify by passing the current examination for their tier, ensuring the credential always reflects the current competency framework.
Suspension & revocation
The Academy may suspend or revoke a credential for examination misconduct, misrepresentation, or fraud. Status changes are reflected immediately in public verification.
The Academy provides reasonable examination accommodations — such as extended time — for candidates with documented disabilities or conditions that affect timed assessment. Request an accommodation via the Contact page at least five business days before scheduling your sitting, describing the arrangement you need. Requests are handled confidentially, and accommodations never alter the pass standard — only the conditions under which it is assessed.
Candidates agree to complete examinations individually, without assistance, and to keep examination content confidential. Sharing, reproducing, or soliciting examination questions is grounds for invalidation of results and revocation of credentials. Because EMA sells no training, our only interest is the accuracy of the signal — we have no incentive to inflate pass rates, and we protect the examination accordingly.
Questions about these standards or a specific credential?
Contact the Academy