Certified Pega Lead System Architect (CPLSA)
Lead System Architects are responsible for the design and quality of Pega solutions.
Your Certified Pega Lead System Architect journey begins here
Pega Lead System Architects lead implementation teams and ensure that solutions leverage the technology to provide optimum business value. They provide technical mentoring and leadership across teams.
The CPLSA Learning Path Overview
This learning path combines Pega Academy courses with on-the-job experience to ensure that system architects get exposure to the breadth and depth of Pega products which is required to perform effectively in a leading role.

CPLSA Prerequisites
CPLSA is the highest level of technical achievement in Pega. Prior to training as a Lead System Architect, individuals must gain field experience and demonstrate their technical aptitude by earning first their System Architect and then their Senior System Architect certifications.

Required
Suggested
- Familiarity with features and functionality of Pega Infinity '23:
Build Expertise
After earning Certified Pega Senior System Architect (CPSSA) certification, Pega recommends that real-world experience of at least 36 months be gained before attempting to achieve the CPLSA certification. Working 36 months or longer implementing Pega applications expands the depth of Pega knowledge and builds the expertise that is required to successfully complete the program.
However, recognizing that each person has different project implementation opportunities, Pega recommends that CPLSA candidates at a minimum become familiar with the features and functions of the latest Pega version prior to starting the CPLSA program. The Senior System Architect mission will help you learn about the latest features and functions.

Senior System Architect topics include:
- Customizing Security Requirements in Pega Applications
- Configuring Background Processing
- Customizing the User Experience
- Improving Application Performance
- Creating Mobile Solutions
- ...and much more!
Lead System Architect Course
Senior system architects can take the Lead System Architect mission or register for the Lead System Architect Instructor-Led course. The two week course teaches best practices in technical design and architecture of a Pega application. System architects use their configuration skills to build an application that they design and architect.

Topics include:
- Pega Platform Design
- Pega Platform Design Extended
- Application Design
- Application Design Extended
- Data Model Design
- Reporting Design
- Security Design
- Deployment and Testing Design

Testing Requirements
To complete the CPLSA certification, system architects must take and pass two exams in the following order:
- Pega Architecture Exam
- CPLSA Application Design and Build
Pega Architecture Exam
The Pega Architecture exam validates that system architects have mastered the design and architecture skills taught in the Lead System Architect course and that they can guide an application development team on configuration decisions.
The Pega Architecture exam is a two hour standard exam that is delivered at Pearson VUE testing centers. The cost is $175 per exam attempt. The exam blueprint, which includes prerequisites and exam topics, is available here in Pega Academy. Additional exam information and registration is available at the Pearson VUE site. CPLSA candidates only need to pass the Architecture exam once (any version 8.x or above) to be eligible for the CPLSA Application Design/Build.
You can prepare for the Pega Architecture exam by taking the CPLSA Architecture Exam Preparation Clinic, available for free. View the schedule in Pega Academy.
CPLSA Application Design and Build
After successfully completing the LSA Architecture exam (version 8.x and above), the final step is the CPLSA Application Design & Build. The CPLSA App Design/Build tests one’s ability to architect, implement and analyze Pega Platform solutions. Working within a set of business requirements, system architects will be required to:
- Document your analysis and solutions using a supplied documentation template
- Design and implement extensible and reusable solutions for new requirements
- Analyze key areas of the current design and identify architectural deficiencies
Now comprised of two individual phases, candidates will be responsible for designing a solution to business scenarios in Phase I. Candidates will then implement a solution based on their proposed design for one of these scenarios in Phase II.
The Application Design phase of the exam is completed over a 14 day period, and requires a score of 75% in order to pass. This portion of the exam will require candidates to review business scenarios and determine optimal designs for various aspects of each solution by documenting their design thought process.
Next, the Application Build phase is also completed over a 7 day period. The App Build requires a score of 75% in order to pass. This portion of the exam will require candidates to fully implement a Pega application based on the optimal designs proposed for one of the business scenarios in the App Design phase.
Each phase of the exam requires approximately 35 hours to complete (depending on experience). The exam durations should allow enough time to complete the exam with minimal disruption to their normal work schedule.
The CPLSA Application Design/Build exam is managed by Pegasystems. The cost is $750 USD per attempt. This includes the cost of the Application Design, and if passed, the Application Build.
Click here to complete your payment and schedule the exam. Please note you will only be able to reschedule your exam up to three times, at a maximum of 30 days each time. Any exams not completed within this guideline will result in a failure with no a refund.
You can prepare for the CPLSA Application Build with the CPLSA App Design and Build Preparation Clinic, available for free. View the schedule in Pega Academy.

Certified Pega Lead System Architect, Next Steps
After certification, CPLSAs can continue to take advantage of the numerous training opportunities offered by Pega Academy:
- Upon achieving your Pega Lead System Architect certification, you will be invited to join the LSA Community of Practice, which is a knowledge-sharing forum just for Certified Pega LSAs. Continuing education event invitations are emailed to all Certified Pega LSAs.
- To round out your CPLSA experience, you may want to complete the following missions in Pega Academy: