Uncovering the Relevance of TechCertRegistry
A robust industry driven by competition and innovation, Information Technology has been dubbed as the next most relevant sector. In fact, leading IT research firm Gartner, Inc. is predicting that enterprises worldwide are set to spend some $2.7 trillion in IT come 2012, which indicates a 3.9 percent upsurge from the total investment of $2.6 trillion in the current year.
With IT becoming more and more valuable for businesses, it has become imperative for IT departments to invest in candidates who are able to contribute to overall business productivity. As such, the IT industry is keen on hiring people who are not merely IT qualified, but most importantly, IT certified.
What Does It Mean to Acquire An IT Certification?
Many industry leaders recognize that IT certification programs guarantee the competence of IT professionals, technically speaking. Contrary to common perception, certification examinations involve more than just an academic evaluation of an IT professional. Depending on the certifying organization, certification trainings and courses measure an applicant’s knowledge with specific methodologies.
Now more than ever, an IT professional’s job retention, salary maintenance, promotions or career improvement eligibility, and increased relevance in an ever-changing industry have been anchored on IT accreditations. From the perspective of organizations, IT certifications help make IT managers more discerning when hiring the competent, while ensuring minimization of downtime and effectively reducing costs, especially in an economy that is characterized by unprecedented turmoil.
A white paper from Microsoft Learning points out that employers are likely to evaluate candidates’ IT skills with inference to formal validation of their competencies through IT certification. As evidenced by an upsurge in IT certification requirements in service-oriented economies, the need for IT professionals to be certified has become more relevant than ever. Standard-based certification programs play a crucial role in developing a qualified workforce, and are seen to benefit employers, IT workforce and IT service consumers.
Concurring with the Microsoft study, CompTIA reveals in a recent survey that in their struggle to fill vacancies, IT companies are geared toward validating candidates’ skills through a peek at their IT credentials.
In fact, 64 percent of surveyed employers emphasize the high value of IT certifications for chances of hiring. IT managers regard IT certification as proof of possession of expertise and skills that enable prospective employees to identify complexities in technologies and readily address them. The CompTIA research further reveals that in the next two years, IT certification will increase in relevance.
Information Technology Certification Council and TechCertRegistry Clearinghouse
The Information Technology Certification Council was formed in 2007 as a “go-to” resource providing employers, workforce, academia, government officials and individuals with information on the benefits and importance of professional certification.
Essentially an assembly of industry leaders, the ITCC is aimed at driving IT certifications to grow, thereby ensuring that a highly qualified and certified IT workforce is able to support the sector and address the technology needs of the world. The council envisions a recognized authority for IT knowledge on professional certifications by pushing for industry best practices and emphasizing the value of IT certification. Current member companies include Microsoft, Kaplan, HP, Prometric, Cisco, IBM, Linux Professional Institute, Novell, and Pearson VUE.
Taking professional IT certification a step further, ITCC, in partnership with leading certification management and verification services provider and member company Integral7, Inc., has developed TechCertRegistry, a clearinghouse that allows users and organizations to manage IT certifications.
Utilizing a Universal ID that is recognized by testing providers and credential sponsors, TechCertRegistry takes the hassle off aggregating IT certifications from various vendors with one secure report. It works as a Web portal that aggregates and demonstrates credentials from a myriad of certification sponsors. By sending TechCertRegistry a request, users can send their IT certification transcript to a prospective employer.
The Benefits of the TechCertRegistry Clearinghouse
The stiff competition characterizing the IT jobs market makes professional certifications all the more critical in providing employers with information on a candidate’s skill sets; and when it comes to verifying an applicant’s qualifications, factoring-in IT certifications is a must. With TechCertRegistry Clearinghouse making the process timesaving and cost-effective, utilization of the platform may just make things easier.
Essentially, the TechCertRegistry consolidates and simplifies the otherwise complex method of gaining access to multiple vendor credentials. Through the Web-based ITCC Clearinghouse, employers seeking candidates save precious time in, and eliminate the manual process of accessing credentials of professionals certified in various IT fields.
In the same manner, TechCertRegistry also helps IT professionals in the management and administration of their certifications. The one-stop online center for handling their credentials, the clearinghouse allows IT job applicants to present their full portfolio to their employers and other parties, as may be required.
Much as it streamlines the method of managing and accessing multiple vendor credentials, the TechCertRegistry project is also an initiative to eradicate certification fraud.
It is not uncommon for companies to hear about, or even fall for, cheats who obtain IT credentials falsely. Certification Magazine, an online publication that delivers technical training and certification information, stresses how fraudulent credentials diminish the value of IT certification, which is considered the “trust foundation” in the IT sector. Having known that a certified IT candidate can potentially be a cheat, doubts can cloud a hiring manager’s impressions on an otherwise bona fide IT applicant.
By offering license verification as well as certification services, TechCertRegistry addresses the increasingly rampant false certification claims that are hounding IT businesses. As such, the Clearinghouse enables companies to electronically check and verify a candidate’s credentials, allowing them to make informed decisions when hiring, promoting or setting compensations in a timely manner.
Conversely, IT certified individuals can be confident that their certification – which genuinely speaks for the skills they possess to perform the IT job they are eyeing – is properly representing them and given the attention that it is due.
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