A Parallel Postsecondary Universe: the Certification System in Information Technology
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 445 246 CE 080 726 AUTHOR Adelman, Clifford TITLE A Parallel Postsecondary Universe: The Certification System in Information Technology. INSTITUTION Office of Educational Research and Improvement (ED), Washington, DC. REPORT NO PLLI-2000-8011 ISBN ISBN-0-16-050512-7 PUB DATE 2000-10-00 NOTE 54p AVAILABLE FROM ED Pubs, P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398. Tel: 877-433-7827 (Toll Free); Fax: 301-470-1244; TTY/TTD: 877-576-7734. PUB TYPE Information Analyses (070) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC03 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS *Certification; Competency Based Education; *Computer Software; Continuing Education; *Credentials; *Employment Qualifications; *Information Technology; Job Performance; Microcomputers; Nonschool Educational Programs; Nontraditional Education; Occupational Tests; Postsecondary Education; Program Development; Program Implementation; *Telecommunications; Vocational Evaluation ABSTRACT This report describes the new system of credentialing from corporate vendors and industry/professional associations that has arisen in the information technology and telecommunications industries over the past decade. It compares this system to traditional higher education, identifying both similarities and dissimilarities, and points to some cases in which the two interact. Findings are organized in sections covering general information, examinations, course work and providers, and costs of certification. Some of the findings of the study are the following:(1) the system is global and operated in many languages;(2) the student, not the institution, is at the center of the system;(3) the system has brought competency-based education and performance assessment to a status they have never enjoyed within traditional higher education;(4) certifications replace neither experience nor degrees, and the information technology system does not pretend to be higher education; and (5) there is a critical need for more information on certification candidates and providers of courses, since the new system is now large enough to play a role in state and national planning for postsecondary education. (Contains 79 references and resources.) 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Do you have any suggestions regarding the content or format of future editions of this publication or other comments? 4 MIS 1999-6532 A Parallel Postsecondary Universe The Certification System in Information Technology Clifford Adelman Senior Research Analyst Office of Educational Research and Improvement U.S. Department of Education 5 U.S. Department of Education Richard W. Riley Secretary Office of Educational Research and Improvement C. Kent McGuire Assistant Secretary National Institute on Postsecondary Education, Libraries, and Lifelong Learning Sandra Garcia Acting Director Media and Information Services Cynthia Hearn Dorfman Director October 2000 The findings, conclusions, and opinions in this monograph are those of the author, and donot necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Department of Education. To obtain copies of this report (while supplies last) or ordering informationon other U.S. Department of Education products, call toll-free 1-877-4EDPubs (877-433-7827)or write Education Publications Center (ED Pubs) U.S. Department of Education P.O. Box 1398 Jessup, MD 20794-1398 TTYTTTD 1-877-576-7734 FAX 301-470-1244 For sale by the U.S. Government Printing Office Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop: SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-9328 ISBN 0-16-050512-7 Contents Executive Summary Introduction: Breaking Predictable Boundaries 1 "Secular" Realities 2 Why We Should Care 3 First Signs and Traces 4 IT Certifications: the Basic Universe 7 Playing by the Numbers 9 The Providers 11 What it Costs 16 Certification Agents: the Testing Companies 18 The Assessments: Think You Can Pass? 19 Beyond the Vendor: Generic IT Certifications 23 Quality Assurance: Standards and Accreditation 24 Coming Soon to a Campus Near You? 26 Building a Pipeline 28 Summary: the New Global Guild 30 Information Needs for National Planning Everywhere 31 References and Sources 33 Appendix A: Three Interacting Platforms 40 Appendix B: Two Indicators of Global Reach 43 A Parallel Postsecondary Universe: the Certification System in InformationTechnology Executive Summary This report describes a new system of credentialingthat has arisen in the information technology and telecommunications industries overthe past decade. It compares this system to traditional higher education, identifying both similaritiesand dissimilarities, and points to some cases in which the twointeract. Among its findings: General Both corporate vendors and industry/professionalassociations have created over 300 discrete certifications since the first such credential(Certified Novell Engineer, or CNE) was issued in 1989. Approximately 1.6 million individuals worldwideearned approximately 2.4 million information technology certifications by early 2000.Most of the certifications have been earned since 1997. About half of those who