IT Certification Pays Off.

• Author: Karr, Susan Schott
• Position: Education - Information technology

At a time when companies can not manage the numbers without ever-more-potent information systems and technology, management is facing an enormous price tag for the work that needs to get done. Pouring money into information technology (IT) may feel like a having a thorn the size of a telephone pole permanently implanted in one's side, yet it's crucial to develop a core competency in IT. Questions abound. Are your spending your technology budget on the right things? Is your IT staff up to its required tasks? Are you able to recruit, manage and retain qualified people?

Those are critical questions against a background of sharply rising costs. During the 1990s, information management costs per employee rose 57.9 percent, while employee wages and salaries increased 40.5 percent, according to Info.World.com. Research firm Gartner Inc. projects that IT departments' work volume will increase 50 percent by 2005.

Given the need for current IT skills, certification provides a way to "prove" to employers -- specifically CFOs and controllers -- that a job candidate or employee has the competency it takes to make a worthwhile contribution. As the demand for qualified IT professionals has grown, so, too, have the number of IT certifications.

An Information Technology Association of America (ITAA) study puts the 2001 national IT workforce at 10.4 million. Even with a weakened economy and the recent dot-bomb debacle, demand continues to outpace supply for knowledgeable and skilled technology workers. This year alone, companies hope to hire an additional 900,000 IT workers (versus 1.6 million in 2000). Nonetheless, due to a lack of available technical and non-technical skills, employers anticipate a shortfall of 425,000 (versus 850,000 last year).

The benefits of employee certification accrue to both the employer and the employee. For the company, certification provides a clear measurement of specific abilities. It improves competence, increases productivity and adds value to on-the-job training, as well as generating better morale and increased employee loyalty. Training costs are lessened, cutting longer-term college tuition-reimbursement fees. For their part, employees benefit from training and the resulting competence that leads to higher salaries and promotions. Increased credibility, self-confidence and a sense of empowerment may follow.

In response to the demand for qualified technology workers, IT certification programs have proliferated. Primary...