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IT Certification provides an independent verification of the skills and knowledge of an IT professionals in an area of information technology specializaton.
As technology and management practices change, gaps between the foundation provided education and experience and skills and knowledge neded for career success form.
While IT career opportunities remain strong, the trend to move jobs overseas and to increase the productivity of workers at home means that those IT professionals who meet or exceed the requirements of their employer and management expctation will be employees who will remain in demand through the the current good times and the next downturn in the economy.
According to MCP Magazine's annual survey, following are some of the reasons why IT professionals take their certifications so seriously.
Job Security - More than three-fourths (79%) of the professionals having IT Certifications plan to pursue additional certifications in the coming year. So, despite the IT market slump, lost jobs, and cut wages, a vast majority of IT professionals will continue to seek additional certifications. And the key word is"additional" - for a typical certification holder already had nearly 4 technical certifications and had been attaining a new certification every year.
More than half (59%) of the certification holders said that they feel more secure in their current jobs due to their certifications. And more than two-thirds (69%) feel that technical certifications play at least some role in their job security.
Skills and Knowledge - The most important benefit of certification is that the process of certification increases your skills and your knowledge to a great extent. Majority (65%) of the certification holders feel that acquiring a technical certification has made them more confident in their jobs and the work they perform. More than half (52%) feel that technical certification has improved their problem-solving skills on the job, and half of them feel that their technical certifications have increased their overall job productivity.
Money - 31% of the certification holders received a job promotion within the first year of receiving their primary technical certification. One can argue whether a technical certification plays such a major role in receiving such promotions, yet 92% of the certification holders who did receive promotions feel that their primary certification played a significant role in that promotion.
Nearly half (43%) of the certification holders surveyed, received a salary raise within the first year of receiving their primary certification. 80% of certification holders feel that their raise was significantly due to their certification. The average certification holder who did receive a raise within the first year of earning a primary certification realized a healthy 19% increase. The average certification holder realized a 7% raise within the first year of receiving a primary certification. The average certification generated a $3,487 increase in salary.
Another economic factor that certification holders consider is Return On Investment (ROI). ROI from certification is integrally tied to the cost of the certification. In 2002, the average technical certification cost $1,100 and generated a $3,487 increase in salary. That is, the average certification provides a 3.2-to-1 ROI. That is, for every dollar invested in a certification, the certification holder realizes a $3.2 return in the form of a pay raise.
Respect - Another most important non-economic aspect of certification is on-the-job respect. 58% of the certification holders surveyed, feel that they get more respect from managers and colleagues due to their technical certifications
Source: All the figures in this article have been taken from the survey conducted by CertMag Certification Magazine.
Online IT Certification and Specialization Programs
- Master Certificates Project Management - Villanova University
In today's hyper-competitive job market, professionals like you are actively pursuing continuing education and professional certification to put their careers on the fast track. Villanova University's Professional Education Online offers a variety of dynamic, online professional certificate programs. No classroom attendance is required, so you can complete your coursework at home or on the road, on your own time -- and still reap the many rewards you want and deserve.
- Villanova University leads the world in providing online project management education. Courses are uniquely designed with interactive simulations that replicate real-world scenarios. Each 8-week online certificate program provides professionals the tools and techniques to lead improvement initiatives that result in measurable growth in return on investment, sales growth, customer satisfaction and retention, market share, employee satisfaction, and employee motivation.
- Participants can earn a Master Certificate in Applied Project Management by completing Essentials of Project Management and any two of the following:
Mastering Project Management, Advanced Strategic Project Management, Project Management Professional (PMP®) Prep, PM Capstone, PMBOK Guide Third Edition UpdateFinance & Accounting for the Non-Financial Manager.
Earning a Villanova University Master Certificate in Project Management illustrates your commitment to increased knowledge and demonstrates your career dedication to your peers, superiors and counterparts.
- Essentials of Project Management - This course offers an introduction to the practice of professional project management, blending theory and practical ideas from the project arena. Successful completion of this certificate program will enable participants to perform project-oriented roles.
- Mastering Project Management - For the more experienced student, this course builds upon the fundamentals explored in the Essentials course, while exploring more advanced topics in leadership and the core competencies of project management.
- Adv Strategic Project Manaagement - This course offers the experienced, practicing professional an opportunity to hone the skill-sets that define project management, as well as learning best practices that differentiate the most successful project managers, enabling them to advance in responsibility and recognition.
- PMP Exam Preperation - This course prepares students for the certification exam offered by the Project Management Institute (PMI®). The formal education needed to prepare for the exam is provided in the following courses: Essentials of Project Management and Mastering Project Management. This course focuses on how to best prepare for and pass the exam, with topics including Integration Management, Scope Management, Risk Management and many more. The duration of this course is 8 weeks.
- PM Capstone - Participants can earn a Master Certificate in Applied Project Management by completing Essentials of Project Management and any two of the following:
- Mastering Project Management, Advanced Strategic Project Management, Project Management Professional (PMP®) Prep, PM Capstone, PMBOK Guide Third Edition Update, Finance & Accounting for the Non-Financial Manager
- Maximizing Team Effectiveness - This course teaches you how to assess and manage yourself first. You’ll learn about managing others in one-on-one settings, managing your team, and managing your stakeholders. You’ll also learn to use practical and flexible tools and techniques that will improve your people skills and make you a more effective project manager.
- Master Certificate Applied Project Manaagement- Participants can earn a Master Certificate in Applied Project Management by completing Essentials of Project Management and any two of the following:
- Mastering Project Management, Advanced Strategic Project Management, Project Management Professional (PMP®) Prep, PM Capstone, PMBOK Guide Third Edition Update, Finance & Accounting for the Non-Financial Manager
- Project Management for IS/IT - This course draws from the most current methods and the most experienced experts to enable the student to advance in responsibility, recognition and rewards. Students desiring PMI® certification will gain a basic understanding of the knowledge areas as presented in PMI’s guide to the project management Body of Knowledge.
- Maximizing IS/IT Team Effectiveness - Participants can earn a Master Certificate in IS/IT Project Management by completing Project Management for IS/IT Professionals and any two of the following:
- Mastering Project Management, Advanced Strategic Project Management, Project Management Professional (PMP®) Prep, PM Capstone, PMBOK Guide Third Edition Update, Finance & Accounting for the Non-Financial Manager, Essentials of IS Security, Essentials of Business Analysis
- Master Certificate IS/IT Project Manaagement - Participants can earn a Master Certificate in IS/IT Project Management by completing Project Management for IS/IT Professionals and any two of the following:
- Mastering Project Management, Advanced Strategic Project Management, Project Management Professional (PMP®) Prep, PM Capstone, PMBOK Guide Third Edition Update, Finance & Accounting for the Non-Financial Manager, Essentials of IS Security, Essentials of Business Analysis
- Essentials of Business Analysis - Mounting pressure to improve business performance has driven professionals to understand all aspects of their performance has driven professionals to understand all aspects of their company’s operations. Each 8-week Villanova University online Business Analysis program helps professionals in determining business requirements that drive IT related projects. Business Analysis helps organizations identify, analyze and design processes to improve the overall flow of information within the company. Programs include:
- Essentials of Business Analysis
- Mastering Business Analysis
- Project Management for IS/IT Professionals or
- Essentials of IS Security
- Mastering Business Analysis - Mounting pressure to improve business performance has driven professionals to understand all aspects of their performance has driven professionals to understand all aspects of their company’s operations. Each 8-week Villanova University online Business Analysis program helps professionals in determining business requirements that drive IT related projects. Business Analysis helps organizations identify, analyze and design processes to improve the overall flow of information within the company. Programs include:
- Essentials of Business Analysis
- Mastering Business Analysis
- Project Management for IS/IT Professionals or
- Essentials of IS Security
- Master Certificate Business Analysis - Mounting pressure to improve business performance has driven professionals to understand all aspects of their performance has driven professionals to understand all aspects of their company’s operations. Each 8-week Villanova University online Business Analysis program helps professionals in determining business requirements that drive IT related projects. Business Analysis helps organizations identify, analyze and design processes to improve the overall flow of information within the company. Programs include:
- Essentials of Business Analysis
- Mastering Business Analysis
- Project Management for IS/IT Professionals or
- Essentials of IS Security

Boston University
- Certification in Project Management - Boston University
- Boston University offers a Certificate in Project Management geared toward today's busy professionals. Start online, anytime and complete your Certificate in as little as 8 weeks.
- Foundations of Project Management - Designed for business professionals, mid-level managers, and project managers of any skill level, this three-course certificate program teaches the basic essentials of Project Management. If you manage projects-however big or small, this certificate is for you. The focus is to prepare students with the project management skills necessary to take a project through its life-cycle efficiently and effectively.
- Principles of Project Management - This certificate provides a more detailed look into project management by focusing on three key project management knowledge areas and processes. The focus is on the planning, execution and control of a project.
- Comprehensive Project Management - This certificate focuses on three of the more comprehensive project management knowledge areas and processes that many project managers are not as familiar with. In many organizations, quality management, procurement, and the allocation of resources are often done by other members of the organization, not the project manager. However, project managers who have acquired the skills to handle these aspects of project management are more empowered to move into a senior level role within their company. This certificate also includes a Project Management Professional (PMP®) Prep component to prepare project managers to take the PMP® certificate exam.
- Certificate in Project Management - This certificate focuses on three of the more comprehensive project management knowledge areas and processes that many project managers are not as familiar with. In many organizations, quality management, procurement, and the allocation of resources are often done by other members of the organization, not the project manager. However, project managers who have acquired the skills to handle these aspects of project management are more empowered to move into a senior level role within their company. This certificate also includes a Project Management Professional (PMP®) Prep component to prepare project managers to take the PMP® certificate exam.

- Project Management and Planning
This post-baccalaureate certificate prepares an individual for immediate application of the knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques that are utilized in the practice of project management. The philosophy, as well as the set of methods learned in this program, will enable graduates to lead projects completing them on time and within budget. This program will help prepared the student for formal project management certification. ... 

- Project Managment
Become a project manager. Achieve organizational goals while optimizing resources including time, money, and human capital. As you maximize return on investment for your organization, you will advance your career toward the corner office. Utilize your project management skills in a multitude of industries including business, information technology, construction, financial services, engineering, or health care, to name a few... 

Keller Graduate School
- Graduate Certificate in Project Management
As a student in this program, you'll gain a foundation for understanding computer programming; study system analysis, design, development and implementation cycles; design code using appropriate programming methodology; acquire the communication, critical thinking and technical skills required in the workplace by analyzing case studies and working on hands-on projects; complete a capstone project that focuses on your area of emphasis and enables you to apply the concepts and skills you've learned in real and simulated business situations....

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