A system, method, and computer program product are provided for estimating man-hours and costs to complete a certification of a modification to a system. The method includes entering one or more components that require certification activity based on the modification. Other components that require certification activity because they are affected by the entered one or more components are automatically identifying based on the entered one or more components. The scope of work needed to complete certification for each entered and identified component is identified. The method then determines if the entered and identified components and the associated scopes of work apply to the modification, and generates an estimate of man-hours and costs needed to complete certification based on all of the determined scopes of work.