Certiport News
Demand for Entry-Level Technology Credential High as Certiport Delivers 100,000 Microsoft Technology Associate Exams in 18 Months
Students Take Advantage of New MTA Program to Validate Essential Technology Knowledge and Explore Academic and Career Options
AMERICAN FORK – January 19, 2012
Certiport (www.certiport.com) the leading provider of test delivery services for the global workforce and academic markets, today announced that the company has delivered over 100,000 Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) exams since the program launched in July 2010.
MTA has been well received in the global certification market as the first step on the Microsoft technology certification roadmap, providing a basis for students to pursue a career in technology and validate a variety of basic IT and development technology knowledge prior to earning advanced Microsoft technology certifications.
Details about the MTA certification: www.certiport.com/mta
MTA success story: www.youtube.com/watch?&v=bT1PB0Osre4
"Microsoft certifications are recognized around the world as a valuable measure of an individuals' IT know-how, and we are pleased the MTA certification program has achieved the same level of respect as our other offerings in the market," said Lutz Ziob, General Manager, Microsoft Learning. "The MTA exams have been embraced rapidly in the certification industry as students see the value in earning an entry-level technology certification prior to moving onto more advanced Microsoft certifications and starting their careers."
MTA certification is the preferred path to Microsoft's world-renowned technology certification programs - Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) and the Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD). The MTA exams range from software development to networking and students receive a Microsoft certification, right in the classroom, without the need for advanced experience.
"The unprecedented success of the MTA program in just 18 months is a result of the high demand for an entry-level Microsoft certification that is attainable for students just beginning to explore a career in Information Technology," said Ray Kelly, CEO, Certiport. "The program has grown quickly due to Certiport's vast network of more than 10,000 testing centers worldwide, and we expect interest to continue to grow due to the demand for IT skills in academic institutions and the workforce."
Zenos, a leading provider of IT apprenticeships in the UK, recently implemented the MTA exam with the support of Certiport's local partner Prodigy Learning, to help to bridge the gap to MCTS and give students an introductory technology certification to boost their CVs.
"If you think about the type of person in our courses, we are talking about a young person who doesn't have a lot of experience in IT, and that is where MTA fits in perfectly for us," said Jason Moss, Managing Director, Zenos. "MTA is that stepping stone, where students can move onto MTA, get the skills relevant to that within Windows and Networking, which made the transition to MCTS even easier."
Zenos alumni, Martin Kemp, said MTA was a good introductory certification that helped him enter the IT field. "I was already interested in IT, but I wanted someone to certify my knowledge since I was just starting out and didn't have any qualifications. MTA gave me that first certification and the same principles taught on the exams fit into the certifications I took later." Martin went on to earn MCTS for Windows Server and the Microsoft IT Professional in Enterprise Administration at Zenos, and plans to earn additional certifications now at his job with Capgemini.
About Certiport
Certiport, a Pearson VUE business, is the leading provider of certification exam development, delivery and program management services delivered through an expansive network of over 12,000 Certiport Authorized Testing Centers worldwide. Certiport manages a sophisticated portfolio of leading certification programs including: the official Microsoft Office Specialist certification program, the Microsoft Technology Associate certification program, the Microsoft Certified Educator program, the Adobe® Certified Associate certification program, the Adobe® Certified Expert program, the HP Accredited Technical Associate, the CompTIA Strata™ IT Fundamentals, the Autodesk Certified User certification program, the Intuit QuickBooks Certified User certification program, and the IC³ Digital Literacy certification. Certiport reliably delivers over three million tests each year throughout the secondary, post-secondary, workforce, and corporate technology markets in more than 148 countries and 27 languages worldwide. For more information, please visit www.certiport.com or follow Certiport on Twitter at www.twitter.com/certiport.
"Certiport," "IC³" and "MeasureUp" are registered trademarks of Certiport, Inc. in the United States and other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.
Press Contact:
Brenda Armstrong
1.801.602.0305
barmstrong@certiport.com