Sourcing Certification

The Sourcing Certification is a free intermediate-level, 20-minute skill test from Science of Apps. It tests talent sourcing — proactively finding and engaging candidates for recruiting — for sourcers and recruiters. Covers sourcing fundamentals (sourcing vs recruiting, active and passive candidates, pipelines and the funnel), channels and techniques (job boards, social and professional networks, Boolean and X-ray search, referrals and the ATS), candidate engagement and screening (outreach, personalisation and pre-screening), and diversity, metrics, ethics and compliance. Written to talent-acquisition best practice and EEOC/GDPR guidance for 2026. Score 70% or more on its 20 questions to earn a verifiable Sourcing Proficiency certificate (SOA-P6A). Every question is based on published standards and research — including Talent acquisition resources (SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management)), LinkedIn Talent Solutions resources (LinkedIn), Prohibited employment policies and practices (US EEOC) — and each answer is explained with its source.

Science of Apps offers a free Sourcing Certification, updated for 2026 and 2027. It measures sourcing fundamentals, channels and techniques, engagement and screening and diversity, metrics and compliance and gives instant results with a shareable certificate.

Read the four skill areas on this page, then take the 20-minute test online — no fee, course or sign-up. You see every answer explained when you finish. Score 70% or more and you get a Sourcing Proficiency certificate straight away, on screen, as a PDF and by email, with a credential ID anyone can verify.

Yes. The questions are original scenarios written by Science of Apps, and each one is based on a public source you can read: Talent acquisition resources (SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management)); LinkedIn Talent Solutions resources (LinkedIn); Prohibited employment policies and practices (US EEOC); Guide to the UK GDPR (UK ICO). The source is shown under each question and linked in the answer review. Science of Apps doesn't copy questions from other tests.

Four skill areas with five questions each, drawn from a bank of 10 per area so a retake brings new questions: Sourcing Fundamentals (Definition, Candidates and Pipeline); Channels and Techniques (Boards, Boolean and ATS); Engagement and Screening (Outreach, Personalisation and Prescreen); Diversity, Metrics and Compliance (Diversity, Metrics and Compliance). Every question is an original scenario written to the 2026–2027 standard, with the published source named under it.

Talent sourcer or sourcing specialist, Recruiter or recruiting coordinator, Talent acquisition partner, HR professional and Agency or RPO sourcer. It suits anyone who wants a quick, verifiable way to show Sourcing knowledge in 2026 and 2027, from students and career switchers to experienced professionals.

Sourcing is the proactive process of identifying, finding and engaging potential candidates for current or future roles, often before they apply. Sourcers build talent pipelines, reach passive candidates who are not actively job-hunting, and hand qualified, interested people to recruiters to move through the hiring process.

An active candidate is openly looking for a job and applying to roles. A passive candidate is employed and not actively searching but may consider the right opportunity. Much of sourcing focuses on engaging passive candidates through targeted, personalised outreach.

Yes. The test is online, in English and free everywhere — people take it from India, the US, the UK, Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia-Pacific. Your certificate is dated with your own local date and can be verified from anywhere at scienceofapps.com/certification/verify/.

20 questions — 5 from each of 4 skill areas — with a 20-minute limit. You need 70% (14 of 20) to pass and 90% for distinction.

We rate it Intermediate: assumes hands-on experience in the role. It has 20 scenario questions — 5 from each of 4 skill areas — and a 20-minute limit. You need 70% (14 of 20) to pass and 90% for distinction.

Nothing. There is no fee to take a test, to receive the certificate, to have it emailed or to verify it, and no sign-up.

On our server, not in your browser. The answers never reach the page until you submit, so a certificate can only be earned by passing. Each certificate gets a unique credential ID stored by Science of Apps.

You see your score for each area and every question with the correct answer and why, with the published source behind it. You can retake after 30 minutes, and the retake draws questions you haven't seen yet.

No. Every certificate is dated, so it always shows when you passed. Retake a test any time for a newer date or a higher score.

Yes. After you pass, Add to LinkedIn opens the Licenses & certifications form with the certificate name, Science of Apps as the issuer, the issue date, your credential ID and the verification link filled in. You can also download it as a PDF or PNG, and it's emailed to you as a PDF.

Every certificate has a credential ID and a QR code. Scanning it, or entering the ID at scienceofapps.com/certification/verify/, shows the holder's name, the certification, the score and the issue date from our records.

No. They are Science of Apps' own assessments of applied skill. They aren't issued by a university or standards body, and they work best alongside a portfolio that shows the skills in real work.