Turn QCon insights into career-defining decisions.

The only certification program that combines QCon conference attendance with peer-driven analysis and professional certification. 

Led by Luca Mezzalira, a Principal Solutions Architect, O'Reilly Author, conference speaker, the voice behind Dear Architects, and a Tech content creator. 

The InfoQ Certified Architect Program at QCon San Francisco is a 4-day learning journey where you'll;

• Connect with a curated senior peer group.

• Deconstruct QCon San Francisco presentations to extract actionable frameworks.

• Learn the "why" behind the architectural decisions that shape modern systems. 

• Apply insights from the QCon talks to your own challenges. 

• Earn the InfoQ Certified Software Architect in Emerging Technologies (ICSAET) credential.

To join the ICSAET certification program, select the Conference (3 days) + Certification (half day), or upgrade your existing 3-day ticket on your My Account page.

Learn, collaborate, and get certified

This program is built on three core pillars designed to translate QCon insights into real-world impact and advance your career.

1. Learn from innovator insights: Go beyond watching talks. 
   In this cohort, you'll deconstruct QCon San Francisco 2025 presentations to learn the frameworks and best practices used by the world's most innovative software architects.
2. Collaborate in a confidential peer group facilitated by a Principal Solutions Architect 
   Join a curated group of experienced senior architects, facilitated by Luca Mezzalira, for confidential, in-depth conversations. This is where you'll pressure-test ideas, share real-world challenges, and build lasting professional relationships.
3. Earn a professional software architecture certification 
   Complete the whole experience and earn the InfoQ Certified Software Architect in Emerging Technologies (ICSAET) certification, a recognized credential that validates your expertise in emerging technologies and strategic architecture.

Your 4-day learning journey (November 17-20, 2025)

This is a unique experience that combines the full QCon San Francisco conference with a hands-on, half-day certification workshop. You'll join a dedicated cohort to learn, collaborate, and apply your insights in real-time.

Before the event: Connect with your cohort

Your journey begins before you arrive in San Francisco. 

• Join a carefully selected cohort of experienced senior architects.
• Connect with your peers and facilitator Luca Mezzalira in a private Slack group for early discussions.
• Start building relationships before you arrive in San Francisco.

November 17 - 19: QCon San Francisco conference and cohort experience

Experience QCon as part of an exclusive peer group: 

• Morning cohort breakfast to set daily learning objectives
• Full conference access to all keynotes, presentations, and unconference sessions
• Curated lunch sessions for deeper discussion with peers
• Evening networking events to build lasting professional connections
• Gain actionable insights for your architecture roadmap.

November 20: Half-day certification workshop

Guided by Luca Mezzalira, Cap off your experience with an exclusive half-day workshop where you’ll turn three days of insights into lasting impact: 

• Distill key insights with expert guidance in a half-day, confidential, hands-on workshop
• Solve real-world architectural challenges in small groups
• Apply conference learnings to your specific context
• Collaborate in confidential breakout sessions
• Earn your InfoQ Certified Software Architect in Emerging Technologies (ICSAET) credential.

Program details

This certification program is designed for senior software practitioners with 5+ years of experience. 

What's included 

• Full access to the QCon San Francisco 2025 conference (November 17-19)
• Exclusive cohort experiences throughout the conference.
• The half-day, hands-on certification workshop (November 20)
• Private Slack group access.
• ICSAET certification upon completion.

Who should participate

This program is designed exclusively for senior software architects, engineers, and technical leaders (5+ years) who: 

• Set cross-team technical strategy.
• Justify architectural decisions to leadership.
• Influence technical direction across multiple teams.
• Have a solid understanding of software architecture principles and emerging technologies. 

Program requirements

• A minimum of 5 years of experience in a senior technical role.
• Full attendance at QCon San Francisco talks and Unconfernce sessions.
• Active participation in cohort discussions.
• Full participation in the half-day certification workshop on November 20 is required. 

Cohort size is strictly limited to ensure quality interaction and peer learning.

Your facilitator: Luca Mezzalira 

This workshop is led by Luca Mezzalira, a Principal Solutions Architect with over 20 years of experience, author of "Building Micro-Frontends" (O'Reilly), 350+ speaking engagements, including multiple QCon presentations, consulted 100+ teams on distributed architectures, the voice behind Dear Architects, and a Tech content creator.

Why ICSAET is different

• Real-world focus: Apply frameworks from innovators to solve your own enterprise implementation scenarios. No theoretical exercises. Work on challenges you're actually facing.
• Deep peer learning: Join a curated cohort of senior architects to share approaches and build lasting professional relationships.
• Lasting professional growth: Earn a recognized credential and join an ongoing community of architectural leaders.

Prerequisites

• Bring your laptop, a notepad, and a pen.
• Your cohort will connect with the trainer via Slack a few weeks before the event.
• There are no mandatory materials to review before the event.
• Any pre-event materials shared on Slack will be optional.
• You are expected to attend all three days of the conference, including keynotes and presentations. While organizers may offer recommendations to enhance your experience, you are responsible for choosing which sessions to attend.
• Your cohort will meet on Monday morning, 30 minutes prior to the keynote's start.
• You will have a private lunch meeting with your cohort on Wednesday.
• Throughout the event, you will have opportunities to meet and interact with your trainer and fellow cohort members. These interactions are optional but strongly encouraged.
• You are highly encouraged to attend at least one unconference session during the conference.

Cohort size is strictly limited to ensure quality interaction and peer learning.

To join the ICSAET certification program, select the Conference (3 days) + Certification (half day), or upgrade your existing 3-day ticket on your My Account page.