Why should you care if your university has an Academic Equivalency program? It may allow you to bypass the INCOSE knowledge exam on the path to certification as an Associate Systems Engineering Professional (ASEP) or Certified Systems Engineering Professional (CSEP). 

At the end of each academic term, universities with Academic Equivalency programs send us a list of the students who did well in the required courses. Those students then have 12 months to apply for ASEP and CSEP using that knowledge equivalency. INCOSE counts the university assessments as sufficient verification of knowledge to replace the multiple-choice test that we offer. 

Even if you're not a full-time university student, an Academic Equivalency program might help you out. If you're nervous about taking the INCOSE knowledge exam, you might prefer taking a university course that teaches you more about systems engineering and assesses you in lower-pressure ways than INCOSE's exam. Some universities offer Academic Equivalency through just a single, online course. You also might find a course offered in a language other than English. The INCOSE knowledge exam is only offered in English, but Academic Equivalency courses may be offered in any language.