CompTIA, Certification Partners Combine Convergence Tests

IT industry association CompTIA announced this week at its annual conference CompTIA Breakaway 2010 in San Antonio, that it is collaborating with Certification Partners LLC on a new CTP+ credential that validates skills and standards-based knowledge in today’s convergence technologies, such as VoIP, unified messaging and Web conferencing. The effort will replace each groups respective certification program, delivering one standard to the industry.

Certification Partners, which delivers IT certifications and training courses, owns the Convergence Technologies Professional (CTP) certification while CompTIA launched its Convergence+ in March 2007.   The new certification combines elements of both certifications, which will be retired on Oct. 31, 2010.

 CTP+ fills a void and a need for a single, industry-accepted credential that encompasses the full spectrum of knowledge and skills within the realm of convergence technologies,” said Terry Erdle, senior vice president, skills certification, CompTIA. Were pleased to work with Certification Partners in this joint effort to build a workforce with the comprehensive skills necessary to advance the adoption of convergence technology solutions.”

We’re excited to help CompTIA present a unified convergence education standard,” said Dr. James Stanger, chief certification architect for CTP+. “Service providers, manufacturers and IT professionals worldwide can now rest assured they are adopting a standard that provides skills for high-demand careers in the convergence industry.”

The CTP+ certification exam validates that an individual has the core knowledge and skills required by equipment manufacturers, their channel partners and end-users to sell and service convergence technologies. The exam covers a wide range of areas in data networking, telephony networking and convergence networking, including planning IP networks; wireless networking; voice and telephony services, functions and technologies, including codes, ISDN and voice troubleshooting; identifying requirements for transporting text, voice, video, modem and fax through a converged solution; and troubleshooting convergence protocols and devices.

CompTIA and Certification Partners also intend to broaden their partnership and currently are exploring the development of a database certification.