CompTIA – Certifications and Industry Standards

1. CompTIA – Certifications and Industry Standards Gary L. Hannah Education to Careers (E2C) Program Manager ghannah@comptia.org (630) 678 - 8341

2. CompTIA Certifications and Industry Standards What is CompTIA? Role in Standards Setting Role in the Academic Community CompTIA Certifications E2C Program TechCareer Compass

3. Global Information/Communication Technology Trade Association with offices in US, Canada, South Africa, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Belgium and Australia. (Soon China, Singapore, & Brazil) • More than 18,000 (including 3,500 E2C members) corporate and 6,000 professional ICT members in the rapidly converging computing and communications market. • Members in 58 countries, providing a unified voice for the industry in the areas of e-commerce standards, vendor-neutral certification, service metrics, public policy and workforce development. • Over 600,000 individuals worldwide have earned CompTIA certifications in PC service, networking, document imaging and Internet.

4. What is CompTIA? • Largest Trade Association Representing the Information/Communications Technology (ICT) Industry • Represents the industry through: • Public Policy initiatives • Standards Setting for the industry • Vendor Neutral Certifications • e-Commerce standards • Workforce Development • E2C – Education to Careers • nitas - Apprenticeship • TCC – TechCareer Compass

5. Role in Standards Setting • Industry Standards • Certification of Technicians • E-commerce (XML) • Warranty Agreements • National Skills Standards Board • TechCareer Compass

6. Role in the Academic Community • Standards to Prepare Students for Workplace – National Skills Standards • Standards to Measure Student Achievement - Certification • Standards for Curriculum Development - CAQC • Standards to Provide Career Guidance - TCC

7. CompTIA Family of Certifications

8. Certifications • Vendor-neutral, industry driven, entry level certifications • Developed by industry subject matter experts • Developed to validate skill levels of technicians • Certifications for those entering the industry or a specialized ICT track • Certifications leading to vendor specific certifications

9. Certifications • A+ - Industry standard for entry level computer technicians • Network+ - Worldwide standard for professionals with at least 9 months of experience in network support or administration • iNet+ - Worldwide standard of foundational-level competency in knowledge of Internet, Intranet and Extranet technologies

10. Certifications • Server+ - Standard of competency for mid - to - upper level technicians responsible for server hardware functionality • Linux+ - New standard of competency for technicians with six-months experience installing, operating and maintaining Linux operating systems • CDIA+ - the industry standard for validating document imaging and management skills

11. Certifications • CTT+ - The cross-industry credential recognizing excellence in technical instruction • e-Biz+ - Designed for both technical and non-technical individuals who work in an e-Business environment and possess at least 12 months of core e-business experience • IT Project+ - Validates knowledge and abilities as an IT project manager

12. Certification • HTI+ - Leading vendor-neutral certification for professionals servicing the automated home industry • Security+ - Tests for security knowledge mastery of an individual with two years on-the-job networking experience, with emphasis on security

13. Costs

14. Updates • Exams are reviewed on an annual basis and are revised or updated as needed

15. Innovative Applications • New Jersey Department of Education – uses A+ as measurement for Exemplary Program Award • Pennsylvania Department of Education – allows CompTIA certifications to be used in the student occupational competency testing program • Texas State Legislature uses CompTIA certifications as performance measure for community colleges • Virginia Department of Career & Technical Education approved CompTIA’s A+, Network+ and iNet+ certifications in its list of approved certifications for the Career and Technical Education Seal and the Advanced Mathematics and Technology Seal

16. Certification Recognition and Adoption • Government Agencies • U.S. State Department – require • Federal Aviation Administration –require • Department of Veteran’s Affairs – reimburse • Colleges • Utah State University • IVY Tech State Colleges • Laramie County Community Colleges • Joliet Junior College • Ogden-Weber Applied Technology College

17. Employer Acceptance • Require CompTIA Certification • Best Buy • CDW Computer Centers • Comark • Compaq • CompuCOM • Hewlett Packard • IBM • Radio Shack • Sears

18. Measuring the Value of IT Training and CompTIA Certification • Return on Investment Study • Released October of 2003 • Study done by Lotler Marketing Group • 274 IT Managers • Conclusions • CompTIA certification plays a vital role in hiring, promotion and compensation • CompTIA certification helps to assess and validate an employee’s skill set • Having CompTIA-certified employees improves relationships with business partners and clients • CompTIA-certified IT professionals are better able than non-certified employees to handle new and difficult circumstances and technology

19. Education to Careers(E2C) Program • Providing the industry and our members with the information, tools and resources necessary to be successful in the recruitment, training, certification and retention of IT workers worldwide

20. Education to Careers(E2C) Program • Members • Academic • High schools, community/technical colleges, 4-yr colleges and universities • Private non profit and public schools • Non profit training organizations Ex. – Goodwill Industries • Government supported training programs/organizations Ex. – Job Corps

21. Education to Careers(E2C) Program • International • Canada • United Kingdom • Netherlands • South Africa • Australia/New Zealand • Japan

22. Education to Careers(E2C) Program • Benefits of Membership • CompTIA general member benefits • IT Career Awareness material • Mentoring/Internship program materials • A+ Critical Incident Analysis • Discounted testing vouchers for students • CompTIA IT Rewards Program - $250 cash rewards for students • Tech Career Compass posting - $10/yr • CompTIA Learning Alliance - $150/yr vs. $750/yr • National Cristina Foundation Computer Reuse Program • E2C online community • Targeted cybercasts • Special Promotions • Free A+, Network+, iNet+, Server+ and Linux+ vouchers for teachers to certify • Do not sell software, hardware, or text books

23. Education to Careers(E2C) Program • CompTIA Academic and Not for Profit Membership fees • High School - $150/yr • College - $750/yr • Not for Profit - $150/yr • Government - $750/yr

24. nitas – National Information Technology Apprenticeship System

25. CompTIA’s TechCareer Compass Mapping the course for high-tech careers http://tcc.comptia.org

26. TechCareer Compass(TCC) • A worldwide Information and Communications Technology (ICT) career resource that provides tools for attracting, training and developing properly skilled workers

27. TechCareer Compass(TCC) • Includes • Job Concentrations • Job Titles • Job Descriptions • Critical Work Functions • Skill Categories • Alternative Job Titles • Assessment Tools • Certifications • Training • Job Search Engines • High Tech Dictionary

28. TechCareer Compass(TCC) • Job Concentrations • Database Development and Administration • Digital Media • Network Devices • Network Infrastructure • Programming • Technical Writing • Web Development and Administration

29. TechCareer Compass -TCC An FREE informational website on information & communication technology (ICT) industry skills standards Outlines over 101 uniform job definitions including the ICT industry skill standards for careers in the industry Maps certifications to the skills required by the 101 specific jobs outlined Maps Training & Curriculum/Courseware providers to certifications provided

30. Audiences Industry Employers Support Organizations Job Placement Services Small Businesses Fortune 1000; Government Counselors; Parents ICT Vendors; OEM Certifying Bodies TCC Unemployed; Career Changers ICT Training Providers ICT Professionals K-12 Schools Colleges; Universities New Entrants Learning Institutions ICT Workers

31. Why is TCC important? As a New Entrant or Existing ICT Professional: • Explore careers in the ICT industry • Plan training and certification tracks • Compare different jobs • Locate learning providers As an Employer: • Assists with developing job descriptions • Manage employees ICT career needs • Develop employee ICT career plans • Locate learning providers As a Career Advisor: • Assist individuals with career goals • Assist individuals with planning training and certification needs As a Learning Providers(includes Training Providers, Courseware and Curriculum Developers): • Develop training schedules • Develop courseware and curriculum based on ICT skill standards • Demonstrate real-world application • The opportunity to advertise on the leading ICT career site

32. What’s New to TCC? • The ICT Skill Standards are incorporated in the TCC database including: • New job concentrations • Critical work functions • Performance indicators • Skills • Maps over 750 technical certifications • A Learning Provider locator tool – allows individuals to search by certification, method and language • Web interface updated for easier navigation and cleaner data display Still to Come… • Skill Gap Analysis assessment– this allows individuals to compare their current skill sets to those required by a specific job.

33. New Home Page allows navigation by audience

34. Job detail page New page design organizes data by tabs and in a collapsible format.

35. Job detail Page continued Certifications are mapped directly to skill categories.

36. Certification Page Certifications are organized by vendors in a collapsible format.

37. Cert. Info. & Training Provider Search Can search for training by method language and provider type Certification description and link to vendors Web site

39. For more information and to offer your feedback Contact Tara Manzow TCC Product Manager 630-678-8329 Tmanzow@comptia.org