Certification

Certification is the act of providing a written proof of an individual or organization’s ability and this is usually in the form of a certificate. This certificate can be presented either in a hard copy format or in a soft copy format and it is used to show that the recipient has shown the required skills, knowledge and experience in a certain area of practice. Certification is a useful way of confirming the competence of an individual especially in those areas that demand certain set of skills and knowledge.

The Role of Certification in Professional Development

Certification is very important in the career growth especially in areas of software development, quality assurance and IT management. It is usually given after one has completed a training program or an educational course to equip one with certain skills. The certification process involves examination and evaluation which confirm that the concerned person or company possesses the necessary skills and knowledge.

To the IT professionals, certification is a process of proving one’s competence in certain tools, technologies or methodologies used in software development. It offers a legal recognition of their competences which can lead to improvement in their job profile, better job security, and new avenues for growth.

Types of Certifications in Software and IT

There are many certifications that are offered in the field of software development and IT and these are designed to meet the needs of the various sub-sectors of the industry. For instance, in the quality assurance testing, it is possible to obtain certifications such as the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner or the Certified Tester Advanced Level Test Manager (CTAL-TM). These certifications confirm the subject’s capacity to direct testing processes, maintain software quality and operate with cloud solutions and others.

Other common certifications include:

• Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP): It is mainly aimed at developing the competencies in the area of cybersecurity.
• Project Management Professional (PMP): It checks on one’s credibility in project management.
• Certified ScrumMaster (CSM): Has knowledge in Scrum, an agile project management process.

Such certification is useful in enhancing the employment opportunities of the professionals and are often used as a condition for employment or job advancement.

The Importance of Certification

The following are some of the reasons as to why certification is important. Firstly, it offers a clear benchmark of the employee or contractor’s capability that can be used by businesses and clients in the process of selection. It gives the client confidence that the certified person or the organization has gone through a particular training and is in a position to deliver quality services.

Secondly, certification promotes the process of learning and development in the profession. This paper recognizes the fact that there is continuous development of technologies and methodologies and hence professionals must update their knowledge. Many certification programs mandate the completion of certain number of hours for continuing education or re-certification, which means that the people who are certified are still up to date in their chosen areas.

Last but not least, certification can improve the perception of the individual and organizations that they belong to. For the professionals, it is a proof of their competency and their passion towards their work. To the organizations, it can be an advantage to have certified staff since it shows the clients and other partners that they meet certain level of quality and professionalism.

Conclusion

Certification is a process of endorsing people or companies who have the right skills, knowledge and competence in certain areas such as software development and IT. Certification is a process that enable individuals to prove their competence in a certain field thus increasing their chances of gaining employment and personal development. For organizations, certification of staff improves the organizations credibility and can be a major factor in winning business. Certifications are important in any profession because they help you build credibility in the field, as is the case with quality assurance, cloud computing, or project management.