This post is written by Certiport, a Platinum Level sponsor of the 2018 Advance CTE Fall Meeting.
Every year thousands of technology positions go unfilled. Schools all over the country are working to help learners prepare to fill those roles. Take cybersecurity, for instance. The 2017 Global Information Security Workforce Study revealed that we are on pace to reach a cybersecurity workforce gap of 1.8 million by 2022, a 20 percent increase over the last study two years prior and a clear opportunity for students entering the workforce in the next five years.
The increased urgency to match employer needs with workforce skills points out the value of certification. Entry-level certification utilized as part of a Career Technical Education (CTE) program of study can help learners identify strengths and start on a path to building an Information Technology (IT) career of their choosing. Certification validates the skills needed to meet the needs of employers all over the country, especially in IT fields with growing skills gaps like cybersecurity.
Starting Early on an IT Career Path
There are several entry-level technology certifications that can form the foundation of almost any career path – such as Microsoft Office Specialist, IC3 Digital Literacy, or Adobe Certified Associate certifications. In addition, more specialized certifications are gaining popularity to help learners enter their desired career path with industry-recognized validation proving they have the skills needed to perform on the job from day one.
Certiport recently launched the EC-Council Associate cybersecurity certifications and curriculum to allow students to get started in the exciting and critical world of cybersecurity. Many schools have already recognized the need in the marketplace for graduates with cybersecurity skills, and the EC-Council Associate Series certification exams give them a method to validate those skills so graduates can fill the growing demand.
Learn More
We invite you to read more about the need for technology skills in the issue brief that will be included in your Advance CTE Fall Meeting bag. Certiport offers learning curriculum, practice tests, and performance-based IT certification exams to open up academic and career opportunities for learners.Our offerings include:
- Microsoft Office Specialist;
- Microsoft Technology Associate;
- Adobe Certified Associate;
- App Development with Swift Certification;
- Autodesk Certified User;
- EC-Council Associate;
- QuickBooks Certified User;
- IC3 Digital Literacy Certification; and
- Entrepreneurship and Small Business
Please join us the evening of Monday, October 22, for hors d’oeuvres, drinks, and discussion at our Hospitality Suite at the BWI Marriott immediately following the awards dinner. Click here to pre-register.
We look forward to visiting with you at the Fall Meeting.
Eldon Lechtenberg, Vice President, Sales-Americas
Mike Maddock, VP, Microsoft Volume Licensing Business – Americas
Lori Monson, Senior Director, NOAM Sales
Brent Clark, Director, Strategic Accounts – NOAM