• Indicates a professional possesses a particular set of skills, knowledge, or abilities in the opinion of a certifying organization
• Can also apply to products
• Generally voluntary
• Carries no requirement to adhere to a code of ethics
• Vendor certifications
– Some certifications substantially improve IT workers’ salaries and career prospects
– Relevant for narrowly defined roles
• Or certain aspects of broader roles
– Require passing a written exam
– Workers are commonly recertified as newer technologies become available
• Industry association certifications
– Require a certain level of experience and a broader perspective than vendor certifications
– Lag in developing tests that cover new technologies