Ireb
IREB is a German non-profit that develops and licenses the globally recognized CPRE Requirements Engineering and DDP Digital Design certification programs, serving 85,000+ certified professionals across 106 countries through 100+ training providers and 20+ licensed certification bodies.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersKarlsruhe, Germany
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Ireb does
IREB (International Requirements Engineering Board) is a Germany-based non-profit organization founded in 2006 that develops and governs globally recognized certification programs for the disciplines of Requirements Engineering and Digital Design. Its portfolio centers on the CPRE (Certified Professional for Requirements Engineering) program — a four-tier credential (Foundation, Practitioner, Specialist, Expert) covering both classical and agile RE — and the DDP (Digital Design Professional) program, which teaches the design of economically viable digital solutions. Supporting content is delivered through RE the magazine, a free online publication with 100+ community-authored articles.
The organization operates a dual-entity structure: IREB e.V., the registered association whose volunteer expert council develops certification content, wholly owns IREB GmbH, the operating company that handles administration, marketing, and community coordination. IREB does not sell training or administer exams directly. Instead, it licenses more than 100 recognized training providers to deliver courses and more than 20 licensed certification bodies — including GASQ, iSQI, Pearson VUE, TÜV SÜD, and SAQ — to administer exams under ISO/IEC 17024:2012. Revenue derives from training-provider recognition fees (volume- and region-based), certification-body licensing fees, and a Partner Program subscription tied to the number of CPRE/DDP-certified employees per partner company. Mutual recognition agreements with IIBA, BCS, ISTQB, iSAQB, ISPMA, UXQB, iNTACS, and VIW integrate IREB credentials into adjacent professional qualification ecosystems.
Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven. IREB cultivates 120+ active local communities across 14 countries, runs conferences (Modern RE 2026, AIDE#26, exploRE 2026) and recurring formats such as IREB Lunch Lab and RE Consultation Hours DACH, and distributes content via newsletter, social media, and the magazine. As of December 2024, more than 116,000 professionals in 106 countries had taken IREB exams, with 95,000+ certificates issued and approximately 1,200 training sessions delivered annually — placing IREB as the de facto global standard-setter for Requirements Engineering certification despite a deliberately small internal team.
Ireb firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ireb
- Legal name
- International Requirements Engineering Board e.V.
- Website
- https://ireb.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- IREB is a German non-profit that develops and licenses the globally recognized CPRE Requirements Engineering and DDP Digital Design certification programs, serving 85,000+ certified professionals across 106 countries through 100+ training providers and 20+ licensed certification bodies.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ireb industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Certification and Training
- NAICS
- Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Engineering & Technical Professions (PE, Engineering CPD) (EDAAALAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Professional Certification & Training Content Publishing (Exam Prep, CE/CPD) (MPAJACAL)
Keywords
Where Ireb is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Karlsruhe
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Ireb business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others
Revenue model
- Training Provider Recognition: Training providers pay recognition fees for CPRE and DDP training courses. Fees depend on annual training course volume and geographic region. Training providers receive the training provider seal, certificate of recognition, visibility on IREB website, and advance information on program updates.
- Certification Body Licensing: Licensed certification bodies administer exams using IREB-developed examination questions, evaluate results, and issue certificates. Operates under ISO/IEC 17024:2012 standard compliance.
- Partner Program Fees: Companies with CPRE/DDP-certified employees can join the Partner Program, receiving the IREB partner seal and visibility on the IREB website. Fees calculated based on number of certified employees.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
Ireb product offering
Product offeringCore offering
IREB develops internationally recognized certification programs in Requirements Engineering (CPRE at Foundation, Practitioner, Specialist, and Expert levels) and Digital Design (DDP). It licenses the curriculum to recognized training providers and certification bodies worldwide, maintains ISO/IEC 17024:2012-aligned exam standards, and supports an international community through RE the magazine, local communities, working groups, and partner programs.
Product overview
Ireb (International Requirements Engineering Board) is a global non-profit organization offering certification programs in Requirements Engineering and Digital Design. The portfolio consists of three core offerings: CPRE (Certified Professional for Requirements Engineering) - a four-level certification program (Foundation, Practitioner, Specialist, Expert) teaching professionals to handle requirements in traditional and agile environments; DDP (Digital Design Professional) - a certification focusing on designing innovative digital solutions by understanding technologies as design material; and RE the magazine - a free online publication with 100+ articles written by the community for professional development. The organization is structured as IREB e.V. (the association developing certification content through working groups) and IREB GmbH (handling administrative operations). Recent offerings include the IREB Lunch Lab - a new online discussion format launched October 2025.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- CPRE (Certified Professional for Requirements Engineering): Internationally recognized certification program for Requirements Engineering with multiple levels: Foundation, Practitioner, Specialist, and Expert.
- DDP (Digital Design Professional)
- RE the magazine
Products and services
- CPRE (Certified Professional for Requirements Engineering) Internationally recognized four-level certification program (Foundation, Practitioner, Specialist, Expert) teaching professionals to handle requirements confidently in both classical and agile environments. Certificates are valid for life.
- DDP (Digital Design Professional) Certification program in Digital Design bundling design expertise, material expertise, and crosscutting skills, integrating technology, business, and user perspectives for innovative digital solutions.
- IREB Lunch Lab Weekly online discussion format featuring partner company-led 45-minute sessions on Requirements Engineering, Business Analysis, and Digital Design topics, with IREB Community Ambassadors from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland participating.
Quantifiable outcome
- 95,000+ certificates issued to professionals worldwide
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Ireb
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ireb technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Ireb partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- summitcoreIREB is competence and community partner for Modern RE 2026 organized by summit in Leipzig, Germany. This partnership signals commitment to advancing the RE community and brings together professionals who want to advance Requirements Engineering.
- Various Partner Companies (IREB Lunch Lab)minorIREB Lunch Lab is a new online format launched October 2024, featuring different partner companies each Thursday. Partner companies lead sessions on Requirements Engineering, Business Analysis, and Digital Design topics, with Community Ambassadors from DACH region participating.
- iSAQB (International Software Architecture Qualification Board)coreIREB and iSAQB are co-hosting AIDE#26 (AI-assisted Design & Engineering) event in Graz, Austria. Both organizations focus on professional qualification in software-related disciplines and collaborate on content development and community events.
- IIBA (International Institute of Business Analysis)coreIREB and IIBA recognize each other's certificates. IIBA defines business analysis as 'the practice of enabling change in the context of an enterprise by defining needs and recommending solutions that deliver value to stakeholders.' Both organizations promote professional standards in their respective domains.
- BCS (British Computer Society)coreIREB and BCS have mutual recognition of certificates. BCS is the professional body for information technology in the UK, promoting professional standards in computing.
- ISTQB (International Software Testing Qualifications Board)coreIREB and ISTQB recognize each other's certificates. ISTQB is the leading global testing certification body, and both organizations promote complementary disciplines in software quality.
- iNTACS (International Assessor Certification Scheme e.V.)minorMutual certificate recognition between IREB and iNTACS, which focuses on assessor certification for process improvement.
- ISPMA (International Software Product Management Association)minorIREB and ISPMA have mutual certificate recognition. ISPMA focuses on software product management, complementing IREB's Requirements Engineering focus.
- UXQB (International Usability and User Experience Qualification Board)minorIREB and UXQB recognize each other's certificates. UXQB focuses on usability and user experience, complementing IREB's requirements and digital design scope.
- VIW (Association of Information Systems Switzerland)minorIREB and VIW have mutual certificate recognition. VIW is the Swiss association for information systems professionals.
- Recognized Training Providers (100+ globally)coreTraining providers worldwide offer CPRE and DDP courses. Prerequisite: trainers must hold CPRE or DDP certification. Providers receive training provider seal, certificate of recognition, visibility on IREB website, advance program updates, and marketing support. Examples include SOPHIST, adesso, Zühlke, OOSE, and 100+ others.
- Licensed Certification Bodiescore20+ certification bodies licensed by IREB to administer exams. Key partners include GASQ Service GmbH (international, remote exams), iSQI GmbH, Pearson VUE, TÜV SÜD (South Asia, Europe), SAQ Swiss Association for Quality, Future Network Cert (DACH), Certible, CIFAL Shanghai, and regional bodies in Brazil, China, Hungary, Italy, South Korea, Malaysia, Poland, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ireb competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Scrum Alliance: Largest global agile certification body offering CSM, CSPO, and CST credentials. Scrum Alliance is a broader incumbent competing for the same enterprise training budget on agile/RE topics that IREB addresses with CPRE agile-level content.
- Scaled Agile (SAFe): Provider of the Scaled Agile Framework certification program (SAFe). SAFe competes with CPRE agile-level content for enterprise agile transformation training budgets and represents the leading alternative framework for requirements handling in scaled environments.
- PMI (Project Management Institute): Global professional association offering PMP and other project management certifications. PMI is a broad incumbent whose project management certifications overlap with IREB's project manager segment targeting.
Direct peers
- ISTQB (International Software Testing Qualifications Board): Global certification body for software testing with similar Foundation/Advanced/Expert tier structure to CPRE. ISTQB and IREB have mutual certificate recognition and both serve the broader software quality professional ecosystem with comparable non-profit operating models.
- BCS (British Computer Society): UK chartered professional body for IT offering certifications across multiple IT disciplines. BCS has mutual recognition with IREB and serves a comparable role in the UK/Commonwealth, making it a peer in professional IT certification.
- iNTACS (International Assessor Certification Scheme): Non-profit certification body for process improvement assessors. iNTACS has mutual recognition with IREB and operates a similar tiered certification model for a niche professional discipline (process assessment vs. Requirements Engineering).
- ISPMA (International Software Product Management Association): Non-profit association offering software product management certifications. ISPMA has mutual recognition with IREB and serves overlapping software engineering professional audiences with a comparable certification framework.
- IIBA (International Institute of Business Analysis): Global professional association offering CBAP, ECBA, and other Business Analysis certifications. IIBA is IREB's closest peer, with mutual certificate recognition, and operates in the same non-profit professional certification model targeting overlapping software/business professional segments.
- UXQB (International Usability and User Experience Qualification Board): Non-profit certification body for usability and UX professionals. UXQB has mutual recognition with IREB and operates a near-identical certification board model for an adjacent discipline (UX vs. Requirements Engineering).
- iSAQB (International Software Architecture Qualification Board): Non-profit organization offering Certified Professional for Software Architecture (CPSA) certifications. IREB and iSAQB co-host the AIDE#26 AI-assisted Design & Engineering bootcamp and operate nearly identical certification association models for adjacent software disciplines.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Ireb social profiles
Digital presenceIreb compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Ireb financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ireb leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles16 records
Ireb funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ireb M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ireb
What does Ireb do?
IREB develops internationally recognized certification programs in Requirements Engineering (CPRE at Foundation, Practitioner, Specialist, and Expert levels) and Digital Design (DDP). It licenses the curriculum to recognized training providers and certification bodies worldwide, maintains ISO/IEC 17024:2012-aligned exam standards, and supports an international community through RE the magazine, local communities, working groups, and partner programs.
Is Ireb a public or private company?
Ireb is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Ireb founded?
Ireb was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Ireb based?
Ireb is headquartered in Karlsruhe, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Ireb make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Training Provider Recognition is the primary driver. The others are certification Body Licensing and partner Program Fees.
Who are Ireb's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Scrum Alliance, Scaled Agile (SAFe) and PMI (Project Management Institute). Direct peers are ISTQB (International Software Testing Qualifications Board), BCS (British Computer Society), iNTACS (International Assessor Certification Scheme), ISPMA (International Software Product Management Association), IIBA (International Institute of Business Analysis), UXQB (International Usability and User Experience Qualification Board) and iSAQB (International Software Architecture Qualification Board).
Does Ireb have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ireb.
What industry is Ireb in?
Ireb's product category is Professional Certification and Training. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAALAF, Engineering & Technical Professions (PE, Engineering CPD), with a secondary code of MPAJACAL, Professional Certification & Training Content Publishing (Exam Prep, CE/CPD). Its NAICS code is 611430 and its SIC code is 8200.