Learn the Value of an
IT Certification
There’s something about the word “certified” when it precedes a
professional title that conveys to consumers and employers a sense of
trust, credibility, knowledge and an official “stamp” of approval. This is
not a coincidence.
IT certification has long been a proven means of differentiation and
qualification among professionals in the industry. Employers often
include certification as a prerequisite when seeking qualified candidates
to fill positions; consumers often trust only those IT professionals who
boast credentials proving they have attained a certain level of
knowledge. IT professionals themselves realize numerous benefits by
holding a well-chosen and carefully selected certification, including
higher salaries, better jobs, enhanced skill sets, market differentiation
and community support from like-minded peers.
Obtaining additional skills that allow an IT professional to move into a
new area or to perform current functions more effectively is never a
waste of time or a bad idea. There’s no such thing as “too much
education” or “too many skills.” So what are you waiting for? Learn
about the benefits and value of IT certification for:



IT Professionals
Business Partners
Decision Makers
IT Professionals
Preparing for a certification exam, even in a skillset you already know well, almost always
expands the breadth and depth of your technical knowledge. And passing the exam gives you
instant credibility among your peers and potential employers, and often creates a privileged
relationship between you and the certification sponsor that gives you access to faster technical
support, advanced troubleshooting tools, and a community of equally motivated and skilled
peers.
Whether you are a relative newcomer to IT or a veteran of the field, there are almost certainly
certifications that are a perfect match for your
career goals.
Respect and
Recognition
No one gets certified strictly for the bragging
rights, but that doesn't mean you can't take
advantage of them! The presence of IT
certifications on your resume demonstrates
that you are on top of your game, dedicated
and able to keep up with change in the industry.
69%
of respondents
reported they felt secure in their
jobs, a function of many variables,
including age, position, training,
business conditions and industry.
2013 Global Knowledge Report
Career Enhancement
Even if you already have a job you love,
there's always room for professional
growth. Whether it's a desire to perform
your current job better, expand your
skillset, or increase your job satisfaction
and marketability, a well-chosen
certification can help nourish your career.
76%
feel that IT certifications
help them earn more money.
2013 Prometric Survey
90% reported gaining new knowledge that could be used
in their existing position.
86% of certified IT Professionals are satisfied with their
job.
83% believe that IT certifications make them more
marketable in the IT field.
81% believe that IT certifications increase value and
productivity of staff.
75% of respondents said they see value in pursuing
certifications that cross technology or managerial areas.
75% believe that IT certifications improve reliability and
efficiency of the IT environment.
2013 Global Knowledge Report
Productivity
Without exception, pursuing a
certification will expand your
technical horizons. You'll learn new
skills and may discover a few tricks
to increase speed and efficiency of
things you already do.
Community Membership
Achieving certification in a particular skillset gives you an instant "in" with other IT pros in the
same specialty. It may come through access to specialized forums restricted to others who
hold the same credential - allowing you
to cut straight to the issues with other IT
pros at the same level - or simply
believe that IT certifications
because other IT pros will treat your
questions and contributions with a little
provide knowledge that can be applied
extra respect due to that certification
below your signature.
directly on the job.
81%
2013 Prometric Study
Salary
A new certification can lead directly to a bigger paycheck through a bonus or promotion, but
even if that doesn't happen right away, you've strengthened your position for future financial
gain. Those who earned a certification within the prior 5 years were more apt to see a salary
increase than those who
had not certified.
Those who train for
certification purposes
show a 5.4% higher
average salary than
those who don't.
66%
2011 Global Knowledge Report
$$$$$$$$$$
of hiring managers believe that certifications have an impact upon a new hire’s base salary
2011 Global Knowledge Report
Industry Credibility
You know you know your stuff, but employers and clients who haven’t worked with you before
may need a little reassurance. A career certification on your resume provides that through
independent endorsement of your expertise.
Stay Current
Certification not only shows that you are dedicated to keeping your skills up to date; it also
provides a blueprint and impetus for doing so.
Vendor-specific certifications are often tied to a particular product version, so when a newer
version of the product is released, an
upgrade plan will be defined for you and
placed at your fingertips.
Certifications that are tied to particular
technical areas, such as computer
security or project management, will
keep you on your technical toes too, as
they often lay out a continuing education
path to help you stay current.
55%
of individuals who pursued
training in 2011 did so to prepare for
certification or recertify.
2011 Global Knowledge Report
IT Business Partners
Numerous performance studies show that certified staffs consistently deliver better results,
faster. And the higher the quality and efficiency of an IT team, the more likely customers will
come to you for repeat business or to purchase relevant products and services in the future.
With relevant certifications in hand, your firm will be better positioned to win contracts, deliver
fast, quality solutions, become a trusted partner and repeat the cycle with a larger contract
next time.
Team Performance
The No.1 factor contributing to team success is the skill of the team. Certifications provide a
powerful tool to both ensure and demonstrate that your team has the appropriate technical
skills in place.
40% of downtime is due to significant lack of
training
61% of respondents ranked skill of the team as the
top factor that contributes to the success of the
technology functions.
75% of managers said they believe certification is
important to team performance.
2008 IDC Survey
A 2009 IDC survey found unscheduled downtime was about 20% lower at organizations that
had more certified IT staff.
Deliver Faster Quality Solutions
Numerous performance studies show that certified staff consistently delivers better results,
faster.
In Previous IDC Surveys
IT performance can
increase up to 11% with
certified staff.
ROI
An investment in professional certification delivers multiple payoffs for the same expenditure.
The first is a skilled staff who provide more efficient
and effective support to clients as well as for inhouse technical functions, but that's not all. Firms
with more certified staff make more and bigger
of respondents
deals, and achieve greater customer satisfaction
and the growth in repeat business that comes with
said certifications improve
it. That's a lot of ROI opportunity from a single
implementation of technology.
strategy.
59%
In a 2009 IDC Study
In a recent Amazon Consulting Survey:
In an IBM study:
40%
60%
of respondents said their
field personnel, technical
support teams and
application development
staff became more efficient
in their respective jobs due
to their certifications.
said they decreased the time to
install and configure a solution,
to resolve an ongoing problem
and to fulfill an overall
engagement; they credited this
in part to having certified
individuals.
Certifications Drive Revenue
Research shows that when you add a certified individual to your staff, revenue goes up. Add
another, and revenue goes up a greater amount than it did for the first one. In fact, research
into certification among IBM Systems and Storage business partners reveals that the more
certified individuals a firm has on staff, the greater the revenue per certified individual (RPCI)
becomes. When it comes to certified staff, 1+1 > 2.
When business partners are grouped by number of certified individuals on staff, those with
higher levels of certifications exhibit measurably higher revenue per certified individual, and
the value of each additional certification improves team performance.
Revenue Per Certified Individual (RPCI) = Revenue productivity/person
Achieving
Advanced/Premier
Partner Levels
When researchers examined staffing among
channel partners, they found that firms with
the greatest number of certified staff
consistently obtained higher levels in the
partner program than firms with fewer
certified staff.
55%
of respondents said
obtaining technical certifications
remains the highest priority for
firms among value add criteria.
2009 Amazon Consulting Study
Increased Credibility with
Your Customer
The presence or absence of industry certifications has been
proven to influence whether or not a potential customer
signs with you, how fast they do it, and how much trust
they place in your advice.
90%
say that IT
certifications expose
staff to new products
and functionality.
2013 Prometric Study
Better Hiring Decisions
Your potential customers are looking at industry certifications when hiring, and you should be
too. In addition to increasing the likelihood that the candidate is likely to be a motivated, high
performer, a well-certified employee also brings an association with the certifying authority.
That's an extra you can leverage into a technical and marketing boost for your firm. It's like
getting an employee-plus hire. The percentage of relevant certifications a team holds is a
reliable measure of a team's functional capability.
Firm
57% of respondents are willing
to pay a higher price for partner
services when certifications are
demonstrated.
$
Certified BP Firm
IT Decision Makers
2009 IDC Study
Selecting the right people or vendor for a job is a critical decision. Industry certifications can
play an important role in the decision-making process.
Although certifications are not a substitute for experience, they can speak volumes about the
candidates and staff that hold them. Current, relevant certifications show much more than skill
level or product knowledge; they also demonstrate motivation, professionalism, and in the
case of product-specific certifications, they indicate the nature of the relationship between the
certified individuals or teams and the vendor of those products.
Confidence in Selecting Employees and
Vendors
Many IT decision makers - whether HR executives, hiring managers or Chief Technology
Officers (CTOs) - use technical certifications to tilt the odds in their favor of finding the best
candidates or vendors for a job. The presence (or absence) of certifications can be very telling.
Certifications indicate the depth and breadth of an individual’s or team’s skills, dedication to
keeping current, and relationship with relevant vendors. They also provide a reference you can
verify with the certifying authority as part of due diligence.
76% said certifications increase the credibility of consultants.
59% said certifications improve implementation of
technology.
66% said certifications validate product knowledge.
53% said certifications help to meet project deadlines.
2008 IDC Study
Faster Quality Solutions to Market
In order to deliver on its mission, every IT group needs a quick, effective way to ensure that
technical staff knows what they need to know, when they need to know it. The process of
earning and maintaining professional certifications provides that and demands it. Certifying
your staff empowers them to adapt, deploy, and deliver better and faster than competitors
who don’t understand just how much certification can do for them.
In a 2013 Prometric IT Certification Survey:
87% say that IT certifications increase value and productivity of staff
82% say that IT certifications ensure skills and knowledge are current.
Articles
Are You Certified Yet? Why Not?
Posted Friday, 26 August 2011 13:33
What’s holding you back from earning that certification? Identify and overcome common hurdles
to becoming certified.
When it comes to earning a computer professional certification, many people sit on the cusp of
aspiration but never make it to the promised land on the other side. You know you should do it, you
want to do it, but you're just not doing it! So what's holding up the train? We surveyed some IT pros we
know to find out what has interfered with their certification plans and then consulted with training and
certification experts on how these stumbling blocks can be overcome.
People earn certifications for different reasons. It's a ready-made way to leverage your position in the
workforce, either by offering solid proof of skills you already have or by providing an easy to follow
roadmap for adding a new skill set while obtaining tangible proof of it at the same time. Gaining priority
access to tools and programs that will enable you to do your job better or help your employer reach a
particular level in a partner program can also be big motivators. Some repeat certifiers do it as a way to
assure they keep their skills sharp and up to date, and to provide independent proof that they are at the
top of their game. So what's the stumbling block that’s holding you back??
Excuse: I already know my stuff, why do I need a piece of paper to prove it?
Reality: Let's agree that you really do know your area of expertise inside and out, which is impressive
and admirable, but why not take that next step and get the credential that formally attests to your
abilities? Would you advise someone to quit college one credit shy of a degree because she has already
learned what she needs to know? Of course not! A certification, like a traditional degree, is a critical
capstone to the work you've already put in becoming a master of your technical domain. You've already
done the hard part, now get the most out of it! Take the last few steps and get that formal piece of
paper, and it will make a difference, especially if the day comes when your qualifications are being lined
up against those of five other people who didn't.
Excuse: I am not sure which certification to get.
Reality: Choosing an appropriate certification is an important step and not one to be taken lightly, but
it's not like you're making a decision that's going to cause a shift in the time space continuum, so relax,
take a realistic look at your options, and make an educated selection. Although there are hundreds of
certifications to choose from, it is really quite easy to narrow that list down to just a few that are
appropriate for your goals.
You can, of course, do this by researching online and talking to friends, but we've made it incredibly
easy for you by creating the Certification Counselor. All you have to do is choose a skill area (developer,
communications, wireless, trainer, security, etc), a skill level, and answer a few more questions about
your goals, and a tailored list of applicable certifications will be delivered to your desktop for your
review.
Excuse: I can't possibly add study time to my daily schedule.
Reality: People today squeeze an incredible array of activities into each day and often end up
exhausted at the other end, so how are you going to add studying to the mix? It is not as hard as you
might think. If you actually analyze the amount of time spent on various activities throughout the day,
you may find a few things you can cut out at least temporarily. Bring lunch to work instead of driving
somewhere and waiting to be served, so you can study over lunch. Instead of reading the morning
paper, listen to the radio news on the way to work, and you can always get up a little earlier (as painful
as it might be) or got to bed half an hour later.
Although little blocks of study time are helpful, it’s important to have larger blocks where you can cover
a significant amount of material, which means that yes, weekends are probably going to come into
play; but it's only temporary until you get what you want - that certification. Meanwhile, learn to say no
to extra activities and protect your study time. Set a regular study schedule, even if it isn't every day.
Stick to it and protect it or it won't happen. Once it becomes a part of your regular routine, your brain
will find it much easier to slide into study mode. Like any other self-improvement program, there's no
getting around that it will require commitment, so commit and move on to the next step.
Excuse: I don't know where to get training.
Reality: With just a few minutes of research, you can wipe this particular stumbling block right off the
map. Thanks to the Internet, you can find study options for any available certification virtually instantly.
Start at the certification vendor's Web site (if they don't have one or it looks terrible, pick a different
certification, this is IT after all). There will likely be suggested training there, but don't limit yourself to
that; go to an online bookstore and look for self-study guides. Buy them new or buy them used (only
the most current editions) and save a bundle. Check with your local community colleges for
courses. Your certification’s vendor probably has an online training portal, such as IBM’s training finder.
In very short order you will see that there are plenty of study options available to you.
Excuse: The study materials are too expensive.
Reality: Basic study materials for an entry level certification are not going to set you back very much,
but the higher level or more involved your chosen certification is, or the farther it reaches from your
current skill set, the more you can expect to lay out to get the necessary materials. This is an
investment in your future that with careful planning will pay off handsomely in the end.
When Peter Gregory, CISA, CISSP, and certification study guide author, hears this concern from his
students, he advises them to find a colleague and split the costs of the needed materials and then share
the materials back and forth. You can buy a set of official study materials from the organization that
offers the certification or purchase new or used books about the certification from online sites such as
Amazon.com or eBay. If you are studying with one other person, you can buy two different books and
trade back and forth. You can gradually build up a library of study books that you can use to study for
your own exam, and then loan your books to others who want to study for the same certifications later
on. Be certain not to make unauthorized copies of materials for sharing though, because that
constitutes copyright violation and will disqualify you from the certification before you get a chance to
earn it.
You don't have to go it alone. A study group is a great way to stay motivated and keep on track.
Excuse: It's too hard to study by myself.
Reality: You don't have to go it alone. According to Gregory, a study group is a great way to stay
motivated and keep on track. Many larger metropolitan areas have study groups that are either
independent or associated with a local user group or chapter. He suggests that you contact the
organization that sponsors your certification to see if your community has a local chapter that may be
sponsoring or know about a study group. If you can't find a study group, consider starting one or asking
one of the local chapters to help you start one. You should be able to find an organization that will let a
study group meet on their premises, and a local user group or chapter of a larger organization should be
able to promote the study group by sending out e-mail announcements about the study group. If you
can't find a study group to join live and in person, there may be an online group you can turn up
thorough search engines or through a certification Web site.
Remember, you don't have to do the whole thing with self-study! Many local community colleges and
technical schools offer certification related training that is very affordable and will provide you with
structure, hands on access to equipment, and the opportunity to connect with others with the same
goal.
Excuse: I'm afraid I will fail the tests.
Reality: For many would be certified pros, this is their biggest fear, that they will invest time, money,
and effort to prepare a certification exam and then… fail it. And then the boss gives their job to the
intern, colleagues fall on the floor laughing, and the dog moves in with the neighbors. But if you
prepare diligently for your exam, the chances are very high you will pass it on the first try and forgo
these humiliations. You don't even have to be perfect on many certification tests, you can get quite a
few questions wrong and still demonstrate enough expertise to get a passing score. If the worst comes
to be and you fail a test, it is really not a big deal unless you let it stop you in your tracks. Just regroup,
reschedule, and retest, and know that you are far from the first to experience this. Your dog won't really
go live with the neighbors, unless they server better dog treats.
If you should fail to achieve a passing score, as soon as you leave the testing center, immediately sit
down and create a list of the subjects that gave you difficulty (it's amazing how quickly the details will
slip from your mind if you wait until later). Then take a day or three off to relax, reschedule your exam,
and have at it again. The most you will be out is the exam fee, and you may not even lose that. Some
certification vendors periodically run promotions that allow you to retake the same exam without
spending an extra nickel, giving you a free second shot. Even though you probably won't need the do
over, it's a good idea to keep an eye out for such promotions when they arise and take advantage of
them just in case.
The Time is Now
Whatever has kept you from earning that certification is most likely, well let's face it,
an excuse. Earning a certification does take time, effort, and expense, but those are all resources
demands that can be met with a little planning. Nobody is suggesting that you rush out and select the
most advanced certification out there, lock yourself in the wiring closet and study for the next two
years, and emerge as an IT superstar (although you could if you wanted to), but why not take that
logical next step? Why not pick an appropriate certification and go for it? Your career is waiting.
By Anne Martinez (Reprinted from www.GoCertify.com with permission)
Ensuring the Value of IT Certifications
Posted Monday, 15 August 2011 17:29
Information Technology, as an industry and a profession, is largely unregulated. Unlike the
legal and medical professions, there are no government standards that define the
qualifications of any level of IT professional. There is no licensing process, required educational
background, or standard definitions of job titles. In essence, anyone can call himself a “network
engineer” or an “enterprise architect,” regardless of education, experience and expertise. Yet,
with every facet of our economy driven by IT, it’s important to know that the people at the
helm of the computing systems are well qualified. IT certifications were created to help
identify who those people are.
IT vendors and neutral third parties like CompTIA and the Linux Professional Institute (LPI)
have taken it upon themselves to set minimal standards for the qualifications that a person
should possess to present as an expert in a particular IT discipline. These standards are known
as IT certifications. They fill a void created by the absence of a formal licensing requirement.
When hiring managers see particular certifications listed on a resume, they know that the
applicant should possess specific verifiable knowledge and skills.
It wasn’t long after the Novell’s pioneering Certified Novell Engineer (CNE) hit the IT
workforce, however, that a shadowy side to certification began to appear. Epithets such as
“paper MCSE” were hurled, and the debate over whether an IT certification was a meaningful
credential grew loud and heated. Just what makes an IT certification a meaningful credential
and not just another piece of paper, critics demanded to know.
Given that IT certifications are the pseudo substitute for formal IT licensing, it’s critical that
integrity be maintained in the certification process. In 2007, leading organizations with a
vested interest in this integrity joined forces and created the IT Certification Council (ITCC).
The council’s mission: Enhance the collective value of certification for the industry, the
employer and the IT professional. Founding members included leading IT corporations IBM,
Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, Novell, Sun, CompTIA, and the Linux Professional Institute (LPI);
test development and delivery providers Prometric and Pearson VUE; and education provider
Kaplan.
A key accomplishment was the development of the ITCC TechCertRegistry. This service allows
certified professionals, certification program managers and employers who hire skilled IT
professionals to aggregate, validate and verify IT credentials from participating ITCC members.
With the ITCC TechCertRegistry, IT professionals can manage all of their certifications from
numerous certification sponsors in one place, easily aggregating credentials from multiple
organizations in a single, secure report. This allows job candidates to present a full credential
portfolio to a prospective employer during an interview. The hiring manager can be assured
that the verification has come from a trusted source and that the individual truly holds those
certifications.
Another major initiative involves putting controls in place to protect certification exams.
Miscreant groups acquire the intellectual property of the certifying agencies and resell it to
individuals. Known in the industry as “brain dumps,” these illicit materials encourage
candidates to cheat on their certification exams – sometimes unknowingly – putting their
certifications and careers at risk. Exam cheating hurts the integrity of certification because
employers can’t be sure if a person attained his certification in a legitimate manner. The ITCC
has put numerous controls in place to protect intellectual property and to detect and disqualify
cheaters from attaining certification.
The ITCC continues its mission, and membership has grown to include APM Group, Certiport,
Citrix, and HDI in addition to the founding members. To learn about its current initiatives, visit
the ITCC website at www.itcertcouncil.org.
By Linda Musthaler
Where to Start: Finding the Right
Certification for You
Posted Wednesday, 12 September 2012
Holding a well-chosen certification in information technology can provide IT professionals with
a substantial number of benefits, including a higher salary, differentiation in a competitive job
market and validation of skills. Finding certifications for IT professionals is not hard; a simple
online search will yield thousands of results. But how can IT professionals pare down the list
and find the right one?
Finding the right certification for you is an exercise in research and self-awareness. With
thousands of certifications for IT professionals from which to choose, it may seem the selection
is overwhelming – but some basic due diligence can go a long way toward putting you on the
right path. So where to start?
What do you like?
A good first step is to decide what interests you. Are you interested in programming, network
security or system administration? What about virtualization or information systems? IT
professionals can easily read about what types of certifications for IT professionals are
available, but a good way to start to narrow your search is to first put some thought into what
holds your interest.
Talking to other IT professionals is also a good idea. Whether or not you are already working as
an IT professional, there are sure to be IT professionals at the organization where you’re
employed. Set up a time to talk to different IT professional colleagues about their jobs and job
functions. Does what they do interest you? Can you see yourself doing it every day? Ask if they
hold a certification or two, and whether they think it is valuable or can suggest one that is well
respected. Hearing what a “day in the life” of someone else is like can go a long way in helping
you to determine whether a certain type of IT certification is right for you – as well as what is
involved to get it.
Word of Mouth
Along the same lines, talk to other IT professionals about what the “word on the street” is
surrounding certain IT certifications. They can tell you whether one credential is more helpful
or valuable to an employer than another. If you’re not comfortable talking to colleagues with
whom you work, join one of the many reputable online communities directed solely toward IT
professionals and ask there. You may end up with more opinions than you bargained for, but
you likely won’t find a more direct line to people who can help guide your research or suggest
other resources.
Got time?
Another factor for an IT professional to consider when trying to locate the right certification is
time. How much time are you able and willing to invest in becoming certified? This may help to
narrow down your list as well, as some certification programs have training or education
prerequisites that must be met prior to taking an exam. IT professionals, in many cases, have
the option to self-train or self-study for an IT certification, but even with that option there is
obviously still preparation that needs to be done. The sponsors of many IT certification
programs share lists of study guides or resources to help IT professionals prepare for their IT
certification exams, which can certainly help to streamline your efforts.
What are your goals?
IT professionals may also want to think about what they are seeking to accomplish or trying to
achieve through obtaining a certification. A simple love of learning may serve as motivation,
and therefore the IT certification world is your oyster.
More money or a promotion may be in your sights. If this is the case then it would be worth
spending some time determining the IT priorities for your company or getting up to speed on
the long-term strategy of your organization to ensure that the IT certification you pick is in line
with the direction your organization is headed – and will therefore make your new IT
certification more valuable. Perhaps you’re looking to land a new job entirely, either within
your current organization or with a new one. If that’s the case, it would be worth spending
some time researching the needs of the market.
Market needs
There are a plethora of websites, online magazines, print publications and e-newsletters intent
on serving as a resource for IT professionals. As such, there are a number that conduct salary
studies or similar market analyses that seek to identify trends in the industry and with various
IT professions. Do some reading and find out what “shortages” or gaps in the IT market exist.
Knowing this can help you zero in on a certification that will be the most highly valued, highly
demanded and most sought-after by employers. Being an early adopter of a new technology
can put you ahead of the pack in terms of skill and knowledge and likely will give you an
advantage in job competition.
Do your homework!
In summary, while the search for certifications for IT professionals can be overwhelming or
intimidating, there are any number of ways to narrow your options and make your list more
manageable. This is one area where a little bit of research, a little bit of professional
networking and a little bit of reading can go a long way toward finding the right credential for
you.
How and Where to Start your Training
Posted Thursday, 13 September 2012
So, you’ve decided to go after an information technology certification and successfully
navigated through the list of available options to settle on the right one for you. Now what?
While not all IT professionals opt to sit through an IT training course, taking that route can
provide a well-organized, thorough and scheduled means to preparation.
Even within the world of IT training there are different paths from which an IT professional can
choose. Physical brick-and-mortar facilities, dedicated exclusively to training, are widespread
and easily found. They can be sponsor-run facilities, dedicated solely to training on
technologies offered by that sponsor, or alternatively can be more general facilities, dedicated
to IT training but with a wide selection of IT courses and certifications available from different
sponsors. Yet another option is to attend IT training at a university or other academic
institution, which sometimes bundles the training and education portion with a required IT
certification exam at the end. And for those IT professionals who lack either the time or the
inclination (or both) to travel to and from a physical location, there are a plethora of online
offerings that facilitate training from pretty much anywhere with an Internet connection.
Here’s a quick glimpse at each type to help you make an educated decision about what type of
training regimen is appropriate for you.
Sponsor-run training
Many of the largest IT organizations offer their own training programs, facilities or curriculums.
If you’ve decided to go with a certain IT certification program, attending training by going
“straight to the source” is a reliable route. Each sponsor runs its IT training programs slightly
differently, but IT professionals can easily find out what’s what by visiting the sponsor’s
website. For example, Apple runs an authorized training center (AATC) program that provides
training to all levels of Apple users, from novice to expert and on many different hardware
components and software programs. Microsoft’s “IT Academy” program uses a slightly
different approach by offering its training to users through a network of schools and
universities who are members. Students who train through either of these sponsors receive the
perks associated with going direct – libraries of information, e-courses and discounts on course
and exams.
Independent IT training facilities
These facilities – which are reputable and offer a variety of IT training programs from a wide
selection of organizations – offer a flexible alternative to sponsor-run programs. IT
professionals can easily learn as much as they care to know -- about almost any IT organization
out there – with a “one- stop-shop” approach. In addition to offering training courses,
certifications, documentation and other materials, these organizations also generally offer
flexible learning environments where professionals can either physically attend an in-person
session or take a session online from home.
Two of the more well-known independent IT training companies are New Horizons and Global
Knowledge.
New Horizons has offered a wide variety of hardware and software training courses,
certification preparation and career training for many of the largest IT organizations. They
offer both instructor-led and online options for all types of learners.
Global Knowledge also offers individual courses, certification preparation, and enterprise-wide
training solutions on technologies from many of the largest IT organizations, including
Microsoft. They also offer both online and in-person learning options. A benefit of training
through one of these independent providers is that after training and coursework is complete,
you have the option to take a certification test while the material is fresh in your mind.
University –based programs
A more time-consuming but no less effective option is to go back to school for a degree in
some area of IT. Many universities are now bundling traditional coursework with a certification
exam as the final. Sometimes these types of programs are bundled degree programs, where
the student comes out with a degree and a certification to boot. Other times the coursework is
strictly to work toward the achievement of an IT certification or other credential. Obviously,
these take less time to achieve. As information technology and computers have come to rule
the world, an increasing number of colleges and universities are offering degree programs with
hands-on learning in various areas.
Online training
Last, but certainly not least, there is the large category of “online training.” All of the
aforementioned means by which you can attain IT accreditation offer online work as an option
as a move toward flexible learning alternatives. An online search of “online IT training” will
yield millions of results from organizations ranging from small, independently owned
operations to large, well-regarded ones and even some illegitimate ones. Your safest bet is to
talk to other IT professionals for a recommendation or do some online research to ensure the
organization you’re leaning toward is a legitimate, legal enterprise with authorized content
from IT sponsors and a good reputation. Investing in your professional growth is important and
should not be taken lightly.