Manage your IT certifications through a single source

You have invested the time and the money to earn technical IT certifications from a variety of different sources. Maybe an entry-level credential from CompTIA; an OS certification from Microsoft or the Linux professional Institute; and a networking certification from Cisco or HP. Good for you! Certifications are a good way to boost your employment value.

Now let’s suppose you are applying for a new job. Your resume lists all those credentials you’ve worked so hard to earn. As part of the regular background check, the hiring manager wants verification of those credentials. (After all, it’s not uncommon for people to stretch the truth on a resume or job application.) You have to contact each of the certifying agencies and request that they send a “verification of certification” to your prospective employer, and this takes time.

Now there is a better way to manage and prove your IT certifications. It’s a clearinghouse service from the Information Technology Certification Council (ITCC). The certification clearinghouse is a Web portal where your credentials from various certification sponsors are aggregated and demonstrated. With one request, you can have your certification transcript sent to someone (such as a hiring manager) that you designate. You also can set up one unique ID that can be used universally with credential sponsors and testing providers. It’s basically a single sign-on so that you don’t have to remember a bunch of different user ID and passwords for all your certification programs.

The clearinghouse has benefits for employers and certification sponsors, too. Employers can use the service to verify an employment candidate’s credentials so they know they are hiring qualified people. And sponsoring agencies (i.e., the vendors, institutes and associations that provide certifications) benefit from not having to spend so much time responding to individual requests to verify members’ certification. And everyone benefits when the clearinghouse helps reduce the fraud that occurs when unscrupulous individuals purchase illegitimate certification certificates.

Tackling certification fraud is just one of the ITCC’s missions. The IT Certification Council was established in 2007 by leading industry organizations focused on IT certifications. The council is committed to growing professional certifications, establishes industry best practices, markets the value of certification, and addresses exam security and other certification issues. Members of the ITCC include: Certiport, Cisco, Citrix Systems, EXIN International, HP, IBM, Kaplan, LPI, Microsoft, Novell, Prometric and Pearson VUE.

The certification clearinghouse, which launched July 19, is currently supported by Citrix, HP, IBM and Novell. The ITCC is working to add more organizations to the clearinghouse. Obviously the value of the clearinghouse increases as the number of sponsoring agencies grow. You can help by contacting the managers of the certification programs you belong to and ask them to support the certification clearinghouse. Agencies do not need to be a member of the ITCC in order to join the clearinghouse.

HP is among the first companies embracing the certification clearinghouse. “Hiring managers need to be able to easily access a wide range of certified skills that candidates have to offer, allowing them to select the most appropriate employee for a specific position,” said Susan Underhill, vice president, HP Global Learning and Certification. “By providing a complete picture of certifications and qualifications, the ITCC Clearinghouse allows HP Certified Professionals to help employers build high performing teams of technology professionals with specific knowledge and skills.”

You can get started today to become a member of the ITCC certification clearinghouse. If you already have at least one certification with a sponsoring company, your membership is free. There is a nominal fee to generate transcript reports through the clearinghouse. Go to www.itcertcouncil.org to get started.