FAQ

Not for the Initiate, Operator, or Adept exams. These are knowledge-based written exams and can be sat without a running system. The Master rank requires a BBS that has been open to the public for a minimum of 90 days and a Council review. If you don’t run a BBS yet, start at Initiate — the curriculum will help you get one running.

The written exams (Initiate, Operator, Adept) are taken online through this site. They are timed, multiple-choice and short-answer, and must be completed in a single sitting. Your results are available immediately. The Master exam includes a written component and a Council review of your BBS operation.

Initiate and Operator exams require 70%. Adept requires 75%. The Master written component requires 75%, but the Council review takes a holistic view of your operation and cannot be reduced to a single score.

You may retake the exam after 24 hours. There is no limit on the number of attempts, but each attempt requires a new exam fee. Use the time to revisit the curriculum and understand where your gaps are.

Yes. Operator requires Initiate, Adept requires Operator, and Master requires Adept. You cannot skip ranks. Each builds on the knowledge of the previous level.

SSBBSS certification is recognised within the BBS and retrocomputing community. It is not a formal IT qualification and makes no claim to be. It is a mark of demonstrated knowledge and commitment to a specific craft, verifiable publicly through your SSBBSS ID.

Your SSBBSS ID (e.g. SSBBSS-O-00142) is assigned when you pass your first exam. It is permanent, unique, and publicly verifiable at ssbbss.org/verify/SSBBSS-O-00142. It appears on your profile, in the registry, and on your physical certificate. The prefix updates when you advance in rank; the number never changes.

After certification, members pay a small annual fee to maintain active standing in the Society and the registry. Founding Members are exempt from this fee permanently. Lapsed members are marked as inactive in the registry but their certification history is retained.

Log in and go to your dashboard. Profile settings including your handle, BBS name, and BBS address can be updated at any time. Changes appear in the registry immediately.

Join the SSBBSS message areas on the network, or contact the Council directly. Details are available to registered members via the dashboard.