The Certified Enterprise Architect (CEA) Black Belt program is a competency-based certification designed to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills to apply Enterprise Architecture (EA) methodologies to real-world challenges. This program fosters expertise in enterprise transformation, strategic planning, architecture modeling, and decision-support analysis to help organizations maximize the value of EA.

The program emphasizes hands-on application, requiring participants to work on real-life EA projects, modeling exercises, and analytical assessments. Graduates earn the CEA Black Belt certification, demonstrating their ability to lead EA initiatives, align architecture with business strategy, and provide critical decision-support analysis.

• Practical Application: Participants engage in real-world EA projects to develop skills in:
• Requirements gathering and modeling
• Business process improvement
• Technical architecture development
• Cost-benefit and trade-space analysis
• Strategic planning and decision support
• Comprehensive Learning Structure: The program comprises five focus areas covering the full spectrum of EA competencies.
• Capstone Practicum & Thesis: Participants will develop and present a fully integrated enterprise architecture model to demonstrate their expertise.

With our competency-based program, you develop a real-life practicum that not only is the basis for your certification but gives you the skill and confidence necessary to add immediate value to yourself.

Description:

Introduces Enterprise Architecture as a discipline, covering foundational theories, industry frameworks (e.g., DoDAF, FEAF, Unified Architecture Framework, Zachman Framework®), and their role in enterprise decision-making and transformation.

Learning Outcomes:

• Understand the core principles of EA as a decision-support tool.
• Differentiate between various EA frameworks and methodologies.
• Understand the role of the Enterprise Architect in managing complexity and change.
• Develop an understanding of architecture viewpoints, models, and governance.

Description:

Explores EA models and artifacts, detailing how to apply modeling techniques for business, data, application, and technology architecture.

Learning Outcomes:

• Identify key architecture viewpoints and models and their relevance to stakeholders.
• Utilize modeling notations and techniques
• Select the appropriate frameworks and methodologies for business and IT alignment.

Description:

Address how to use a structured approach to defining a given enterprise challenge and identify models that deliver stakeholder decision insight. Participants learn how to plan AS IS and TO BE architecture efforts using the Just Enough Architecture (JEA) principle.

Learning Outcomes:

• Map model and architecture elements to discrete stakeholder concerns.
• Conduct gap analysis between current and future state architectures.
• Learn how to create architecture roadmaps and integrate them into architecture description.

Description:

This section focuses on advanced EA modeling techniques, integrating business, data, application, and technology layers for comprehensive analysis and decision-making.

Learning Outcomes:

• Develop integrated EA models for holistic enterprise analysis.
• Perform quantitative and qualitative EA assessments (e.g., cost-benefit analysis, performance metrics).
• Analyze trade-offs and decision impacts using EA models.
• Understand the integration of EA with AI, automation, and emerging technologies.

Description:

Explores how Enterprise Architecture (EA) serves as a strategic enabler across various business functions to support decision-making, operational efficiency, and innovation. Participants will learn how EA provides visibility, structure, and alignment for executive leadership, business units, IT governance, product development, supply chain management, finance, HR, compliance, cybersecurity, and sales and marketing. The module emphasizes EA’s role in linking business strategy, operations, and technology to optimize processes, improve collaboration, and drive value across the enterprise.

Learning Outcomes: 

• Analyze how different organizational functional roles benefit from EA decision insight
• Develop EA service offerings that provide targeted value to executive leadership, business units, IT, finance, HR, and other critical departments.
• Apply EA tools and techniques to enhance strategic planning, risk management, and operational decision-making across business functions.
• Integrate EA into cross-functional collaboration efforts, ensuring enterprise initiatives align with organizational goals and deliver measurable impact.

Description:

This focus area examines Enterprise Architecture (EA) as a service-oriented discipline, equipping participants with the knowledge and skills to design, implement, and manage EA services that deliver measurable value to the organization. It explores effective stakeholder engagement strategies, ensuring that EA insights support decision-making at all levels. The module also introduces the Enterprise Architecture Management Program (EAMP), outlining its key components, governance structures, and integration with business operations to enhance EA effectiveness and adoption.

Learning Objectives:

• Develop EA service offerings that align with business needs and strategic priorities.
• Apply stakeholder engagement techniques to improve collaboration, communication, and decision-making.
• Design and implement an Enterprise Architecture Management Program (EAMP) to ensure sustainable EA governance and execution.
• Integrate EA services with organizational processes, governance structures, and operational frameworks to drive business value.

Description:

The capstone project requires participants to apply their EA knowledge in a real-world scenario, demonstrating their ability to develop, analyze, and present an enterprise architecture model.

Learning Outcomes: 

• Develop and present a fully integrated architecture description.
• Demonstrate expertise in EA frameworks, modeling, and strategic planning.
• Provide a decision-support analysis using EA methodologies.
• Apply EA to organizational transformation and innovation.
• Develop EA documentation that meets executive and stakeholder requirements.

• Weeks 1-3: Facilitated self-study will take place online at the FEAC Virtual University. Students will focus on the fundamental elements of enterprise architecture practice, using case studies and examples. Additionally, you will start preparing for your practicum, where you will be responsible for developing an architecture description based on a selected problem. Students will attend a short (1HR) end-of-week session to review progress and ask questions.
• Week 4: Instructor-Led Workshop #1: This is a two-day, hands-on facilitated session (Tues/Weds). Students will present their practicum scope of work. Labs will focus on structuring their architecture model repository and reviewing the FEAC ADAPT methodology. Students will also examine the Minimum Viable Architecture (MVA) artifacts and begin development. Additionally, students will participate in a short (1HR) end-of-week session (Fri) to review their progress and ask questions.
• Week 5: Facilitated Self-Study online at the FEAC Virtual University. Students will resume the development of required MVA artifacts. Students will also identify additional supporting artifacts to extend those identified in the MVA.
• Week 6: Instructor-Led Workshop #2: This is a two-day, hands-on facilitated session (Tues/Weds). Students will present their practicum models. The workshop will also include discussions on road mapping and architectural analysis techniques. Students will participate in a short (1HR) end-of-week (Fri) session to review their progress and ask questions. Greenbelts will complete a final certification exam, while Blackbelts will complete a mid-term assessment.
• Weeks 7-9: Facilitated self-study online at the FEAC Virtual University. Blackbelt students will engage in a mix of video lectures and assignments that deepen their understanding of enterprise architecture. Additionally, Blackbelt students will begin their final exams online at the FEAC Virtual University. This will include discussions on developing and maturing an EA practice and its services. Students will participate in a short (1HR) end-of-week session to review their progress and ask questions.
• Week 10: Facilitated self-study online at the FEAC Virtual University. Blackbelt students will finalize their Practicum Integrated Architecture Description (IAD) models, Architecture Description Document (ADD), and stakeholder briefings. Students will be presented with options for presenting their stakeholder briefings.

FEAC has been delivering the rigorous, competency-based Certified Enterprise Architect (CEA) Black Belt certification for over 25 years. Enterprise Architects all over the world have reaped the benefits of this program, whether required by their organizations or just adding value to their portfolio. Here are some of the things you get:

The CEA Black Belt program is designed for:

• Enterprise Architects looking to advance their EA expertise.
• IT & Business Leaders seeking to integrate EA with organizational strategy.
• Government & Defense Professionals working with DoDAF, FEAF, and other federal EA frameworks.
• Project Managers & Business Analysts aiming to incorporate EA into decision-making.
• IT & Systems Engineers who need to understand the architectural impact of technology decisions.