The OCSMP Model User examination tests the candidate's ability to interpret and understand SysML models, covering fundamental concepts and elements of all nine SysML diagram types plus a set of additional concepts that cut across diagram types. Using the knowledge and skills covered at this level, a holder of the OCSMP Model User Certification can be a productive member of a Systems Development team employing a model-based systems engineering approach using SysML. This certification is useful and appropriate for many different roles in a system engineering project, such as an engineer on the system design team contributing his or her domain knowledge to the systems modeling effort; a software developer, hardware designer, or test engineer using the system model as a source of requirements; an engineering analyst using the system model as a baseline for his or her analyses; or customers, managers, and others involved in the development effort who use the model to maintain a shared understanding of the system. The OCSMP Model User Certification is a prerequisite for the three Model Builder levels of OCSMP certification, which extend coverage to the knowledge and skills needed to build SysML models and employ them in the practice of model-based systems engineering.

The OCSMP Model Builder - Fundamental examination tests knowledge and skills required to construct a basic SysML model of a system. Coverage starts with model concepts and organization, and the purposes and benefits of modeling a system, and extends to basic requirements capture and management, structure and behavior models, parametric models, allocation relationships, and use of stereotypes. Language coverage is restricted to the basic SysML feature set listed on the OCSMP Model User certification Coverage Map. Using the knowledge and skills covered at this level plus familiarity with a suitable SysML modeling tool, a holder of the OCSMP Model Builder - Fundamental Certification should be a productive contributor to modeling tasks performed by a Systems Engineering team employing a model-based systems engineering approach using SysML. This certification is also appropriate for other roles on a development team such as those involved with configuration or requirements management, or those using the model to support their analysis. This could also include a reliability engineer who may want to query the model for how reliability requirements are addressed, or a quality test engineer who may want to extend the model to define test strategies or cases. The OCSMP Model Builder - Fundamental Certification is a prerequisite for the program's two higher levels, and requires the OCSMP Model User Certification as its prerequisite.

The OCSMP Model Builder – Intermediate examination tests the knowledge and skills used to develop system models using the full SysML feature set. This capability enables more detailed and precise modeling of requirements, structure, behavior, and parametric constraints than those modeled at the Fundamental level. In addition, this engineer has the understanding needed to organize complex models, define the inter-relationships among model elements and diagrams, and assess aspects of model quality including conformance to language and method constraints. The level of knowledge tested by this certification, accompanied by a corresponding level of expertise in model based systems engineering methods and tools, is appropriate for a System Modeling Lead for a project and for the top-ranked team members who contribute independently to the model or to the system, such as a Lead Systems Engineer. The OCSMP Model Builder - Intermediate Certification is a prerequisite for the program's highest certification, OCSMP Model Builder – Advanced, and requires the OCSMP Model Builder – Fundamental certification as its prerequisite. 

The OCSMP Model Builder - Advanced examination tests the knowledge and skills used to establish and support a systems modeling culture and environment, leveraging the capabilities of SysML and MBSE across the organization. High level topic areas include: (1) Concepts for adapting SysML including metamodeling, profiles, model libraries, and viewpoints; (2) Approaches to integrating SysML with other modeling languages such as UML, MARTE, UPDM^TM, and Modelica; (3) Approaches to integrating SysML modeling tools with other types of engineering tools such as requirements management tools and configuration management tools; and (4) Methodology-related concepts and practices including assessment of the quality of the model. With the knowledge and skills covered at this level, plus suitable experience in modeling, methods, tools, management, and leadership, a holder of the OCSMP Model Builder - Advanced certification can play a leading role in establishing SysML-based MBSE at an enterprise, or extending its penetration into new departments or product areas; the individual could also define and establish new projects and support them through their lifecycle. The OCSMP Model Builder - Advanced certification requires the OCSMP Model Builder - Intermediate certification as its prerequisite.