DECA offers the School-based Enterprise Individual Certification Exam for individual DECA members. Through this program, members can earn an SBE individual certification by successfully completing an online exam. This is a great opportunity for DECA members to add an additional level of recognition for their mastery of small business management instructional areas. The SBE Individual Certification exam is open from October 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
Industry certifications are increasingly popular as they offer unbiased verification of an individual’s skill set. The DECA school-based enterprise individual certification is an important component of building members’ resumes. Advisors will benefit from having their members certified, as it will provide credibility for their school’s DECA program and school-based business, validate the efficacy of the curriculum and demonstrate that their students have achieved mastery level in entrepreneurship skills.
What is the school-based enterprise individual certification?
- Online exam
- 100 multiple-choice questions
- 90-minute time limit
- Tests competency in the following instructional areas: Financial Analysis, Operations, Marketing-Information Management, Market Planning, Product/Service Management, Pricing, Promotion, Selling, and Human Resources Management
- Students must score 70% or higher on the exam to receive individual certification
The specific performance indicators that will be assessed and sample exam questions can be found in the SBE Individual Certification Study Guide.
Detailed transcripts for each student are provided after completing the exam, with results broken down by instructional area so advisors can easily see areas of classroom instruction needing improvement.
Who can take the individual certification exam?
The certification exam is ideal for DECA members who participate in operating a school-based enterprise, but it is not required. Any active DECA member may participate in the individual certification.
Why take the individual certification exam?
Students receive individual recognition, which is an incentive for strong business operations practices. Individual certification serves as a resume and college application builder for students and demonstrates mastery of small-business management skills. For advisors, it strengthens the connection between classroom instruction and the SBE and helps students understand real-world business operations concepts. SBE individual certification gives students a chance to shine, receive individual recognition and gain positive reinforcement for their status as experts in business operations concepts. It also highlights the work being done in your SBE and how it enhances learning at the individual student level.
DECA advisors can register their students to take the certification exam here. The exam guidelines can be found here and exam instructions and frequently asked questions can be found here.
After students have completed the exam, advisors will receive their student transcripts via email. Individual certificates for each member scoring 70% or higher will be mailed to the chapter advisor.
How are students recognized?
Students receiving a score of 70% or higher on the exam will receive the following:
- Certificate of Individual Certification Status
- Feature on decadirect.org (a recurring feature that recognizes newly certified students each month)
