IT Professionals See CompTIA Certifications as Key to Career Advancement, Job Satisfaction.

Business Editors

OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 17, 2004

Information Technology (IT) workers overwhelmingly believe professional certification from CompTIA, the Computing Technology Industry Association, is a critical factor in their ability to obtain the jobs they want, advance their careers and perform work that is personally satisfying. The findings are contained in recent study on the value of IT training and certification released today by CompTIA.

By wide margins, CompTIA certified IT professionals believe that they have the required job skills employers are seeking (84.1 percent); and that they are able to deliver a high level of service to their customers (93.3 percent). Nearly three-quarters (74.7 percent) believe that certification makes them more attractive as employees because it demonstrates to employers that they have the necessary skills. The vast majority - 85.1 percent - plan to pursue additional certifications because they believe that employers place a high value on CompTIA certification.

"CompTIA certified professionals feel good about themselves, their abilities and their jobs," said John Venator, president and chief executive officer, CompTIA. "If CompTIA certified professionals are happier in their jobs and more effective at them, investing money in certification actually can save the employer money in the long run."

Venator discussed the value of CompTIA certifications in an address this week before the National Trades Union Council in Singapore.

Responses from IT managers who participated in the study suggest that CompTIA certification plays a significant role in their hiring and promotion decisions. More than three-quarters (76.4 percent) of IT managers indicated that CompTIA certification is an important factor when considering a candidate for promotion. A majority of managers (58.7 percent) stated that CompTIA certification is an important factor when hiring a new employee. A majority of IT managers (54.8 percent) also reported that they would offer a higher salary to a job candidate who was CompTIA certified. Finally, organizations with a higher percentage of CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ certified staffs boast higher average salaries than organizations with a low percentage of certified staff.

Nearly 700 IT professionals who have obtained at least one CompTIA certification and 274 IT managers participated in the study. They responded to questions about their job satisfaction, work performance, how they feel about certification, and how it fits into their career plan.

About CompTIA

CompTIA is a global trade association representing the business interests of the information technology industry. For more than 22 years CompTIA has provided research, networking and partnering opportunities to its more than 19,000 members in 89 countries. The association is involved in developing standards and best practices, and influencing the political, economic and educational arenas that impact IT worldwide. More information is at www.comptia.org.