Professional certification (Computer technology)
Encyclopedia
Professional certification
s in computer technology are non-degree awards made to those who have achieved qualifications specified by a certifying authority. Depending on the particular certification, qualifications may include completing a course of study, proof of professional accomplishments, achieving a specified grade on an examination or some combination thereof. The intention is to establish that an individual holding a certification is technically qualified to hold certain types of position within the field.
Certifications, generally, need to be renewed periodically, or may be valid for a specific period of time (e.g. the life-time of the product upon which the individual is certified). As a part of a complete renewal of an individual's certification, it is common for the individual to show evidence of continual learning — often termed continuing education — or earning continuing education unit
s (CEU).
Certification is often used in the professions of software engineering
and information technology
.
Some certification programs are oriented toward specific technologies, and are managed by the vendors of these technologies. These certification programs are tailored to the institutions that would employ people who use these technologies.
s, and vendor-neutral interest groups that sponsor certifications include:
had a professional certification program in the early 1980s, which was discontinued due to lack of interest. Today, the IEEE
is certifying software professionals, but only about 500 people have passed the exam .
environment that requires formal security accreditation, Certification refers to the comprehensive evaluation of the technical and non-technical security features of an information system.
Certification is formally defined by Krutz and Vines as:
The studies investigated CIS/IT student perceptions and outcomes of certified and non-certified instructors. As observed by Adelman, many post-secondary CIS/IT faculty were unconcerned about the emergence in the 1990s of “a new, parallel universe of postsecondary credentials”, Anderson and Reimers found that CIS/IT students were keenly aware if their instructors had them. For example, certain certifications DOD 8570.1M are the only commercial certifications that the Department of Defense will accept towards meeting their Information Assurance hiring requirements.
The studies found a significant difference in learning outcomes between technology courses taught by certified and non-certified instructors; students whose instructors held IT industry certifications had higher levels of achievement than their non-certified peers and that college undergraduate students showed a significantly greater perception of their instructor’s effectiveness, teaching skills, professor technical expertise, and their own engagement in their classes with certified professors. Randall & Zirrkle (2005) noted a distinction between high school students and college students result benefit and the type of certification (vendor neutral and vendor-specific).
IT Certifications are considered as a standard of IT knowledge by most of the Giant Technology Companies all around the world. Best knowledge of up to date technologies is ensured by continuously updating the versions of certifications by the specific vendors. Preparation for the latest knowledge of IT certifications is provided by Self Exam Engine. Premium practice in a real time environment is offered by Practice Testing Software developed by Self Exam Engine to cover the preparation requirements for IT Students and IT professionals all around the world.
Reference
Hunsinger, S. & Smith, M.(2008) Factors that Influence Information Systems. Journal of Information Technology Education Undergraduates to Pursue IT Certification
Randall, M. & Zirkle, C. (2005). Information technology student-based certification in formal education
settings: Who benefits and what is needed. Journal of Information Technology Education, 4, 287-306.
Retrieved from http://jite.org/documents/Vol4/v4p287-306Randall78.pdf
A+ or Network+. Certification per se, though, can only be a first step.
Professional certification on paper alone is never sufficient for developing or proving professional level expertise and must be followed through upon with hands-on professional, on the job experience. Certification can help open doors in achieving a position that offers that hands on experience but it is primarily a starting point even if a valuable one.
Professional certification as such offers significant value for people making career changes into computer technology, and for people who seek to enter the professional workforce with long term career potential, from underserved communities. A number of organizations (e.g. Per scholas
in the South Bronx
and Miami, Florida
) work with communities in need and with a specific goal of helping community members achieve professional certifications as a route into professional jobs that can lead to building viable careers.
See: www.isc2.org/dodmandate/
Professional certification
Professional certification, trade certification, or professional designation, often called simply certification or qualification, is a designation earned by a person to assure qualification to perform a job or task...
s in computer technology are non-degree awards made to those who have achieved qualifications specified by a certifying authority. Depending on the particular certification, qualifications may include completing a course of study, proof of professional accomplishments, achieving a specified grade on an examination or some combination thereof. The intention is to establish that an individual holding a certification is technically qualified to hold certain types of position within the field.
Certifications, generally, need to be renewed periodically, or may be valid for a specific period of time (e.g. the life-time of the product upon which the individual is certified). As a part of a complete renewal of an individual's certification, it is common for the individual to show evidence of continual learning — often termed continuing education — or earning continuing education unit
Continuing education unit
A Continuing Education Unit is a measure used in continuing education programs, particularly those required in a licensed profession in order for the professional to maintain the license. Examples of people who need CEUs include interior designers/interior architects, lighting designers,...
s (CEU).
Certification is often used in the professions of software engineering
Software engineering
Software Engineering is the application of a systematic, disciplined, quantifiable approach to the development, operation, and maintenance of software, and the study of these approaches; that is, the application of engineering to software...
and information technology
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
.
Some certification programs are oriented toward specific technologies, and are managed by the vendors of these technologies. These certification programs are tailored to the institutions that would employ people who use these technologies.
Vendor-specific certifications
- Apple Inc. sponsors the Apple certification program
- AvayaAvayaAvaya Inc. is a privately held computer networking, information technology and telecommunications company that is a global provider of business communications systems. The international head quarters is in Basking Ridge, New Jersey, United States...
sponsors the Avaya Professional Credential Program - Cisco SystemsCisco SystemsCisco Systems, Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in San Jose, California, United States, that designs and sells consumer electronics, networking, voice, and communications technology and services. Cisco has more than 70,000 employees and annual revenue of US$...
sponsors the Cisco Career CertificationsCisco Career CertificationsCisco Career Certifications are IT Professional certifications for Cisco Systems products. The tests are administered by Pearson VUE. There are five levels of certification: Entry, Associate, Professional, Expert, and Architect, as well as seven different paths, Routing & Switching, Design, Network...
program - Citrix SystemsCitrix SystemsCitrix Systems, Inc. is a multinational corporation founded in 1989, that provides server and desktop virtualization, networking, software-as-a-service , and cloud computing technologies, including Xen open source products....
sponsors the Citrix Certified Administrator program - CyberoamCyberoamCyberoam, a division of Elitecore Technologies, is a vendor of identity-based network security products including UTM security, logging and reporting and secure remote connectivity appliances and data loss prevention software...
sponsors the Cyberoam Security certifications program - Hewlett-PackardHewlett-PackardHewlett-Packard Company or HP is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA that provides products, technologies, softwares, solutions and services to consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises, including...
sponsors the HP ExpertONE certification program - DellDellDell, Inc. is an American multinational information technology corporation based in 1 Dell Way, Round Rock, Texas, United States, that develops, sells and supports computers and related products and services. Bearing the name of its founder, Michael Dell, the company is one of the largest...
sponsors the Dell Certified Systems Expert program with Associate and Master levels - IBMIBMInternational Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
sponsors certifications - ISIS PapyrusISIS PapyrusISIS Papyrus is a Swiss-based commercial software development group that sells its products in 42 countries either directly or through business partners...
sponsors the Papyrus Certified Professionals Program - Juniper NetworksJuniper NetworksJuniper Networks is an information technology and computer networking products multinational company, founded in 1996. It is head quartered in Sunnyvale, California, USA. The company designs and sells high-performance Internet Protocol network products and services...
sponsors the Juniper Networks Technical Certification Program - LANDeskLANDeskLANDesk Software provides systems management, security management, service management, asset management, and process management solutions to organizations...
sponsors the Certified LANDesk Administrator and Certified LANDesk Engineer program - Microsoft Corporation sponsors the Microsoft Certified ProfessionalMicrosoft Certified ProfessionalMicrosoft Certified Professional is a program of Professional certifications awarded by Microsoft. Individual certifications are awarded upon passing of one or more exams. The MCP program itself is designed for both IT Professionals and developers. Beneath the MCP program is a variety of more...
program - MySQLMySQLMySQL officially, but also commonly "My Sequel") is a relational database management system that runs as a server providing multi-user access to a number of databases. It is named after developer Michael Widenius' daughter, My...
(as part of Oracle now) sponsors a certification program - National InstrumentsNational InstrumentsNational Instruments Corporation, or NI , is an American company with over 5,000 employees and direct operations in 41 countries. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, it is a producer of automated test equipment and virtual instrumentation software...
offers certifications in LabVIEWLabVIEWLabVIEW is a system design platform and development environment for a visual programming language from National Instruments. LabVIEW provides engineers and scientists with the tools needed to create and deploy measurement and control systems.The graphical language is named "G"...
, TestStand, and LabWindows/CVI software - NortelNortelNortel Networks Corporation, formerly known as Northern Telecom Limited and sometimes known simply as Nortel, was a multinational telecommunications equipment manufacturer headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada...
sponsors the Nortel CertificationsNortel CertificationsNortel Certifications in Network computing is an Information Technology professional certification on Nortel products and IEEE standard technologies. The Nortel Certification tests are administered by a Prometric test center. Nortel Training is done by Nortel training partners like Global...
program - NovellNovellNovell, Inc. is a multinational software and services company. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Attachmate Group. It specializes in network operating systems, such as Novell NetWare; systems management solutions, such as Novell ZENworks; and collaboration solutions, such as Novell Groupwise...
sponsors a certification program - Object Management GroupObject Management GroupObject Management Group is a consortium, originally aimed at setting standards for distributed object-oriented systems, and is now focused on modeling and model-based standards.- Overview :...
sponsors the Certified Professional program for the Unified Modeling LanguageUnified Modeling LanguageUnified Modeling Language is a standardized general-purpose modeling language in the field of object-oriented software engineering. The standard is managed, and was created, by the Object Management Group... - Oracle CorporationOracle CorporationOracle Corporation is an American multinational computer technology corporation that specializes in developing and marketing hardware systems and enterprise software products – particularly database management systems...
sponsors the Oracle Certification ProgramOracle Certification ProgramThe Oracle Certification Program is a professional certification program offered by the Oracle Corporation. There are three levels of Oracle Certification in several disciplines: Oracle Certified Associate , Oracle Certified Professional , and Oracle Certified Master .-Oracle9i Database... - Red HatRed HatRed Hat, Inc. is an S&P 500 company in the free and open source software sector, and a major Linux distribution vendor. Founded in 1993, Red Hat has its corporate headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina with satellite offices worldwide....
sponsors the Red Hat Certification ProgramRed Hat Certification ProgramThe Red Hat Certification Program is Red Hat's professional certification program for Red Hat and general Linux related skills such as system administration on Red Hat Enterprise Linux.All certifications are given after passing exams... - SAPSAP AGSAP AG is a German software corporation that makes enterprise software to manage business operations and customer relations. Headquartered in Walldorf, Baden-Württemberg, with regional offices around the world, SAP is the market leader in enterprise application software...
sponsors individual training and certifications - SAS sponsors a certification program
- SolarWindsSolarWindsSolarWinds is a developer and marketer of network, applications, virtualization and storage management software.The company sells downloadable software products that maintain, monitor and troubleshoot IT networks...
sponsors the SolarWinds Certified Professional Program for network management - SpringSourceSpringSourceSpringSource is a division of VMware that provides a suite of software products that accelerate the entire enterprise Java application life cycle of build, run, and manage. SpringSource employs open source leaders who created and drive innovation for Spring, a programming model for enterprise Java...
sponsors the SpringSource Certified Spring Professional program - Sun MicrosystemsSun MicrosystemsSun Microsystems, Inc. was a company that sold :computers, computer components, :computer software, and :information technology services. Sun was founded on February 24, 1982...
sponsors the Sun Certified ProfessionalSun Certified ProfessionalSun Certified Professional is a professional certification program by Sun Microsystems, a subsidiary of Oracle Corporation. It is meant to verify a particular skillset in Sun technologies, especially for developers for whom Java is a primary requirement.- Oracle Certified Professional Java SE...
program (now part of the Oracle Certification ProgramOracle Certification ProgramThe Oracle Certification Program is a professional certification program offered by the Oracle Corporation. There are three levels of Oracle Certification in several disciplines: Oracle Certified Associate , Oracle Certified Professional , and Oracle Certified Master .-Oracle9i Database...
) - SybaseSybaseSybase, an SAP company, is an enterprise software and services company offering software to manage, analyze, and mobilize information, using relational databases, analytics and data warehousing solutions and mobile applications development platforms....
sponsors the Certified Sybase Professional program - UbuntuUbuntu (operating system)Ubuntu is a computer operating system based on the Debian Linux distribution and distributed as free and open source software. It is named after the Southern African philosophy of Ubuntu...
, provides Ubuntu Certified ProfessionalUbuntu Certified ProfessionalUbuntu Certified Professional , which was first introduced in May 2006, is a computer based examination about the Ubuntu operating system.It is administered by the LPI foundation....
program - VMwareVMwareVMware, Inc. is a company providing virtualization software founded in 1998 and based in Palo Alto, California, USA. The company was acquired by EMC Corporation in 2004, and operates as a separate software subsidiary ....
sponsors certification programs (VCP & VCDX) - Zend TechnologiesZend TechnologiesZend Technologies Ltd. is an Israeli world wide web infrastructure software company with headquarters in Cupertino, California, U.S., technology center in Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv, Israel and offices in France, Italy and Germany...
sponsors the Zend Certified EngineerZend Certified EngineerThe Zend Certified Engineer certification is an internationally-recognized PHP certification established by Zend Technologies. An exam must be passed in order to be awarded the certification. It is intended to prove that a person is fully qualified to develop PHP web applications...
(PHPPHPPHP is a general-purpose server-side scripting language originally designed for web development to produce dynamic web pages. For this purpose, PHP code is embedded into the HTML source document and interpreted by a web server with a PHP processor module, which generates the web page document...
) program
Third-party and vendor-neutral certifications
Third-party commercial organization, trade associationTrade association
A trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association or sector association, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry...
s, and vendor-neutral interest groups that sponsor certifications include:
- SCIPP International ANSI Accredited Secure Web-Application Development Awareness course and End-User Security Awareness courses.
- MigrationX sponsors unique IT migration related certifications like Certified Migration Expert (CME) & Certified Migration Professional (CMP).
- The BSD Certification Group Inc. A non-profit organization committed to creating and maintaining a global certification standard for system administration on BSD based operating systems.
- INFINIDOX sponsors 12 professional information security certifications.
- Basic Computer Literacy Certification
- XML Certification Program - XML Master
- Certiport sponsors the Microsoft Office Specialist and IC3 certificationIC3 certificationIC3 is the abbreviation and registered trademark of the "Internet and Computing Core Certification." The IC3 is a global certification program that is designed to certify an individual's digital literacy skills associated with basic computer and Internet use...
(Internet and Computing Core). - CompTIACompTIAThe Computing Technology Industry Association , a non-profit trade association, was created in 1982 as the Association of Better Computer Dealers, Inc. by representatives of five microcomputer dealerships...
(Computing Technology Industry Association) CompTIA offers 12 professional IT Certifications, validating foundation-level IT knowledge and skills. - ECDL Foundation sponsors the European Computer Driving LicenceEuropean Computer Driving LicenceThe European Computer Driving Licence , also known as International Computer Driving Licence , is a computer literacy certification programme provided by ECDL Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation....
(also called International Computer Driving Licence) (ICDL) - ExpertRating
- International Information and Communication Technology Council Certification ProgramInternational Information and Communication Technology Council Certification ProgramThe International ICT Council has been building up ICT certifications in the form of the International Information and Communication Technology Council Certification Program. The program has been adopting an open process, in which volunteers of communities can participate...
- ISC2 sponsors the CISSP, SSCP and other security certifications
- Learning Tree InternationalLearning tree internationalLearning Tree International, Inc. is a United States-based training company that provides over 235 instructor-led, classroom-based training courses to information technology and business professionals. In 2010, the company had revenue of $127.47 million...
sponsors Learning Tree Professional Certification - Linux Professional InstituteLinux Professional InstituteThe Linux Professional Institute Inc. is a non-profit organization that provides vendor-independent professional certification for Linux system administrators and programmers....
- Majinate sponsors the Accredited Symbian DeveloperAccredited Symbian DeveloperAccredited Symbian Developer was a now defunct accreditation program for software developers using Symbian OS, a mobile phone operating system, having been terminated in April 2011 after the closure of Symbian Foundation. The scheme was operated independently on the Foundation's behalf by Majinate...
scheme for Symbian OS - NACSE (National Association of Communication Systems Engineers) sponsors 36 Vendor Neutral, knowledge specific, Certifications covering the 5 major IT Disciplines which are: Data Networking, Telecomm, Web Design & Development, Programming & Business Skills for IT Professionals.
- Network Professional AssociationNetwork Professional AssociationEstablished 1991, the non-profit Network Professional Association is an professional association for computer network professionals. Members adhere to a code-of ethics; demonstrate continual professional development and knowledge, adhers to the latest best practice standards, and strive for...
offers the Certified Network Professional program - The Open GroupThe Open GroupThe Open Group is a vendor and technology-neutral industry consortium, currently with over three hundred member organizations. It was formed in 1996 when X/Open merged with the Open Software Foundation...
sponsors TOGAFTOGAFThe Open Group Architecture Framework is a framework for enterprise architecture which provides a comprehensive approach for designing, planning, implementation, and governance of an enterprise information architecture...
certification and the IT Architect Certification (ITAC) http://www.opengroup.org/itac and IT Specialist Certification (ITSC) http://www.opengroup.org/itsc skills and experience based IT certifications. - Planet3 Wireless sponsors the Certified Wireless Network AdministratorCertified Wireless Network AdministratorThe Certified Wireless Network Administrator is a foundation level certification that measures the ability to administer any wireless LAN...
(CWNA) certification http://www.cwnp.com/index.html - Prosoft Learning Corporation offers CIW, CCNT, CTP, AssessPrep certification tracks. Prosoft Learning
- SAGE (organization)SAGE (organization)SAGE is the USENIX Special Interest Group for Sysadmins, an international nonprofit professional association of system administrators.SAGE describes itself thus:Its goal is to serve the system administration community by:...
sponsors the cSAGE program - SANS InstituteSANS InstituteThe SANS Institute is a private US company that specializes in internet security training. It was founded in 1989, provides computer security training, professional certification through Global Information Assurance Certification , and a research archive - the SANS Reading Room...
operates the Global Information Assurance CertificationGlobal Information Assurance CertificationGlobal Information Assurance Certification is an information security certification entity that specialises in technical and practical certification as well as new research in the form of its GIAC Gold program...
program - Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) sponsors the SNIA Certification Program http://www.snia.org
- The SolidQ University Certifications
General certification
General certification of software practitioners has struggled. The ACMAssociation for Computing Machinery
The Association for Computing Machinery is a learned society for computing. It was founded in 1947 as the world's first scientific and educational computing society. Its membership is more than 92,000 as of 2009...
had a professional certification program in the early 1980s, which was discontinued due to lack of interest. Today, the IEEE
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers is a non-profit professional association headquartered in New York City that is dedicated to advancing technological innovation and excellence...
is certifying software professionals, but only about 500 people have passed the exam .
- The IEEE Computer SocietyIEEE Computer SocietyThe IEEE Computer Society is a professional society of IEEE. Its purpose and scope is “to advance the theory, practice, and application of computer and information processing science and technology” and the “professional standing of its members.” The CS is the largest of 38 technical societies...
sponsors the Certified Software Development ProfessionalCertified Software Development ProfessionalCertified Software Development Professional is an ISO-accredited professional certification in software engineering offered by the IEEE Computer Society to mid-career software development practitioners...
as well as membership designations, "Senior" and "Fellow" which reflect experience and peer review qualification. - The IETInstitution of Engineering and TechnologyThe Institution of Engineering and Technology is a British professional body for those working in engineering and technology in the United Kingdom and worldwide. It was formed in 2006 from two separate institutions: the Institution of Electrical Engineers , dating back to 1871, and the...
sponsors the Chartered EngineerChartered Engineer (UK)In the United Kingdom, a Chartered Engineer is an engineer registered with Engineering Council UK . Contemporary Chartered Engineers are master's degree-qualified and have gained professional competencies through training and experience...
and Incorporated Engineer, which can be ratified into the European Engineer - The BCSBritish Computer SocietyThe British Computer Society, is a professional body and a learned society that represents those working in Information Technology in the United Kingdom and internationally...
sponsors the Chartered IT Professional (CITP)Chartered IT professionalChartered IT Professional denoted by CITP is a professional certification awarded under Royal Charter to IT professionals who satisfy strict criteria set by the British Computer Society , which is the professional body for IT in the United Kingdom...
programme. - The Institute for Certification of Computing ProfessionalsInstitute for Certification of Computing ProfessionalsThe Institute for the Certification of Computing Professionals is an institution for professional certification in the Computer engineering and Information technology industry...
sponsors the Certified Computing Professional (CCP) and Associate Computing Professional (ACP) certifications - The BDPABDPA-Organizations and companies:* Black Data Processing Associates, a non-profit organization of professionals in computer science and information technology....
IT Institute sponsors the BDPA IT Associate (BITA), the BDPA IT Professional (BITP), and the BDPA IT Master (BITM) certifications - The Canadian Information Processing SocietyCanadian Information Processing SocietyThe Canadian Information Processing Society is the Information Technology professional society in Canada.The society certifies and regulates the Information Systems Professional designation in most provinces....
sponsors the Information Systems ProfessionalInformation Systems ProfessionalThe Information Systems Professional , or Informaticien professionnel agréé , is a professional designation issued by the Canadian Information Processing Society . Introduced in 1989, the professional designation is recognised by legislation in most provinces of Canada...
certification in Canada. - The American Institute of Certified Public AccountantsAmerican Institute of Certified Public AccountantsFounded in 1887, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants is the national professional organization of Certified Public Accountants in the United States, with more than 370,000 CPA members in 128 countries in business and industry, public practice, government, education, student...
sponsors the Certified Information Technology ProfessionalCertified Information Technology ProfessionalCertified Information Technology Professional is a Certified Public Accountant recognized for their technology expertise and unique ability to bridge the gap between business and technology...
program. - APICSAPICSAPICS The Association for Operations Management, is a not-for-profit international education organization, offering certification programs, training tools and networking opportunities to increase workplace performance...
establishes operations management standards and sponsors certification for Logistics - The New Zealand Computer SocietyNew Zealand Computer SocietyThe New Zealand Computer Society Inc is a non-profit incorporated society in New Zealand. As New Zealand's ICT professional body, the NZCS exists to promote education and ensure a high level of professional practice amongst ICT professionals....
sponsors the Information Technology Certified ProfessionalInformation Technology Certified ProfessionalInformation Technology Certified Professional, or ITCP, is a professional certification programme operated by the New Zealand Computer Society in New Zealand.ITCP measures the skills, knowledge and competence of IT Professionals across 4 areas, being:...
programme - The Australian Computer SocietyAustralian Computer SocietyThe Australian Computer Society is an association for information and communications technology professionals. According to its Constitution, its objects are "to advance professional excellence in information technology" and "to promote the development of Australian information and communications...
offers pathways to Certified Professional (CP) and Certified Technologist (CT) designation. - The Canadian Council of Technicians and TechnologistsCanadian Council of Technicians and TechnologistsThe Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists is an organization in Canada that advocates for the profession of technicians and technologists, as well as certifying their respective educational programs....
sponsors the Certified Engineering TechnologistCertified Engineering TechnologistCertified Engineering Technologist is a Canadian professional title awarded on the basis of academic qualification and work experience. Abbreviated as C.E.T., most Canadian provincial engineering and applied science technology associations offer this certification.-Definition:The ASET website...
or Professional TechnologistProfessional TechnologistProfessional Technologist is a Canadian professional title awarded on the basis of academic qualifications and work experience. Professional Technologists must be registered or licensed to work in engineering and technology related fields....
Information Technology or Electronics (Computer) Technology profiles.
Information systems security
In an information systemsInformation systems
Information Systems is an academic/professional discipline bridging the business field and the well-defined computer science field that is evolving toward a new scientific area of study...
environment that requires formal security accreditation, Certification refers to the comprehensive evaluation of the technical and non-technical security features of an information system.
Certification is formally defined by Krutz and Vines as:
Software testing
- British Computer SocietyBritish Computer SocietyThe British Computer Society, is a professional body and a learned society that represents those working in Information Technology in the United Kingdom and internationally...
- National Software Testing LaboratoriesNational Software Testing LaboratoriesNational Software Testing Laboratories, or NSTL, is an American company, established in 1983, which testscomputer hardware and software. The company provides certification , quality assurance, and benchmarking services. NSTL is the only authorized testing organization for the Qualcomm TRUE BREW...
- American Society for Quality#Certifications
- International Software Testing Qualifications Board (ISTQB)
- CSTE
Criticisms
The current proliferation of IT certifications (both offered and attained) has led some technologists to question their value. Advanced training content that has been distributed on the Internet allows some to gain credentials without the implied depth or breadth of expertise beyond the certification material. Certifying agencies have responded in various ways: some now incorporate hands-on elements, anti-cheating methodologies or have expanded their content. Others have expired and restructured their certificate programs, and/or raised their fees to deter abuse.Education
Research on college students and high school students has been done to determine whether relevant Information Technology industry certifications an asset to the teaching profession as they appear to be in the business world.The studies investigated CIS/IT student perceptions and outcomes of certified and non-certified instructors. As observed by Adelman, many post-secondary CIS/IT faculty were unconcerned about the emergence in the 1990s of “a new, parallel universe of postsecondary credentials”, Anderson and Reimers found that CIS/IT students were keenly aware if their instructors had them. For example, certain certifications DOD 8570.1M are the only commercial certifications that the Department of Defense will accept towards meeting their Information Assurance hiring requirements.
The studies found a significant difference in learning outcomes between technology courses taught by certified and non-certified instructors; students whose instructors held IT industry certifications had higher levels of achievement than their non-certified peers and that college undergraduate students showed a significantly greater perception of their instructor’s effectiveness, teaching skills, professor technical expertise, and their own engagement in their classes with certified professors. Randall & Zirrkle (2005) noted a distinction between high school students and college students result benefit and the type of certification (vendor neutral and vendor-specific).
IT Certifications are considered as a standard of IT knowledge by most of the Giant Technology Companies all around the world. Best knowledge of up to date technologies is ensured by continuously updating the versions of certifications by the specific vendors. Preparation for the latest knowledge of IT certifications is provided by Self Exam Engine. Premium practice in a real time environment is offered by Practice Testing Software developed by Self Exam Engine to cover the preparation requirements for IT Students and IT professionals all around the world.
Reference
Hunsinger, S. & Smith, M.(2008) Factors that Influence Information Systems. Journal of Information Technology Education Undergraduates to Pursue IT Certification
Randall, M. & Zirkle, C. (2005). Information technology student-based certification in formal education
settings: Who benefits and what is needed. Journal of Information Technology Education, 4, 287-306.
Retrieved from http://jite.org/documents/Vol4/v4p287-306Randall78.pdf
Workforce development
Professional computer technology certification can open doors to opportunity in employment and career development, and certainly where people seek computer technology positions with well recognized certifications such as CompTIACompTIA
The Computing Technology Industry Association , a non-profit trade association, was created in 1982 as the Association of Better Computer Dealers, Inc. by representatives of five microcomputer dealerships...
A+ or Network+. Certification per se, though, can only be a first step.
Professional certification on paper alone is never sufficient for developing or proving professional level expertise and must be followed through upon with hands-on professional, on the job experience. Certification can help open doors in achieving a position that offers that hands on experience but it is primarily a starting point even if a valuable one.
Professional certification as such offers significant value for people making career changes into computer technology, and for people who seek to enter the professional workforce with long term career potential, from underserved communities. A number of organizations (e.g. Per scholas
Per scholas
Per Scholas is a United States registered 501 nonprofit organization based in Bronx, New York. Per Scholas was founded in 1995 by a consortium of leading foundations and corporations to build and distribute computers at a significant discount to schools serving low-income neighborhoods...
in the South Bronx
South Bronx
The South Bronx is an area of the New York City borough of The Bronx. The neighborhoods of Tremont, University Heights, Highbridge, Morrisania, Soundview, Hunts Point, and Castle Hill are sometimes considered part of the South Bronx....
and Miami, Florida
Miami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
) work with communities in need and with a specific goal of helping community members achieve professional certifications as a route into professional jobs that can lead to building viable careers.
DoD Directive 8570.1
The U.S. Department of Defense Directive 8570.1, signed in August 2004, requires every full- and part-time military service member, defense contractor, civilian and foreign employee with privileged access to a DoD system, regardless of job series or occupational specialty, to obtain a commercial certification credential that has been accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).See: www.isc2.org/dodmandate/
See also
- Professional certificationProfessional certificationProfessional certification, trade certification, or professional designation, often called simply certification or qualification, is a designation earned by a person to assure qualification to perform a job or task...
- Certified Social Engineering Prevention SpecialistCertified Social Engineering Prevention SpecialistCertified Social Engineering Prevention Specialist refers to both an individual Mitnick Security Consulting certification and a broader professional certification program.The CSEPS program currently offers one type of certification...
- OPSA
- OPST
- Organizational Systems Security Analyst (OSSA)