The Certified Associate in Project Management, or CAPM (FYI most people pronounce it “Cap””Emm”), certification, is one of the most beneficial certifications a project manager may obtain in order to demonstrate his or her qualifications, experience, skills, and knowledge within the field of project management. This article will explore the value of holding the CAPM (by PMI) certification. The article will also provide suggestions on professionals who might benefit most from obtaining the CAPM certification.

There is currently a high value to holding the CAPM certification, as it is a ready-made verification of one’s competence, training, and professional capacity as a project manager. According to the Profession Management Institute, or PMI, CAPM certification is best suited to professionals who do not have as much project experience. The certification indicates that such professionals have a core understanding of the essential elements of project management, including the processes, terms, and knowledge bases necessary to manage projects effectively and efficiently.

Since its inception, the CAPM has quickly become adopted and recognized as a necessary badge for professionals interested in taking on future project management positions. It may be used by team members with experience or by project leads who have limited experience and are interested in pursuing project management at a more stringent level. As a result, many young professionals who have recently begun their full time careers in a variety of industries have sought the CAPM certification as a way to propel and justify their current career paths and facilitate their progression in their desired trajectories.

As with any other program of certification, there are a number of requirements that must be fulfilled by candidates who are interested in obtaining CAPM certification. The first qualification is the possession of a secondary diploma. In the United States, this is commonly referred to as the high school diploma. However, the GED or other national or international equivalents of secondary school education completion may satisfy this requirement. The second qualification is the possession of either 23 hours of education in the field of project management or a minimum of 1,500 hours of work experience.

Once these qualifications have been satisfied, candidates must then successfully complete examinations from 12 chapters in topics such as time management, cost management, quality management, and project management processes. It is necessary to obtain a score of at least 65 percent in order to pass each category. There are between 6 and 15 questions pertaining to each chapter in the study text.

There are a number of online and offline resources to prepare candidates for successful completion of the CAPM qualification exam. Many resources that successful candidates have found useful include sample tests, sample questions, and published guides to the certification exam.

Some of the primary reasons for securing the CAPM certification include its recognition in every industry and area on earth. The classification is designed to open professional doors and help young professionals achieve their career goals, particularly those that involve project management. Some of the potential careers that may become accessible through CAPM certification include but are not limited to:

* PMO Operations Support Analyst
* Consultant for Business Analysis
* Project Manager for Information Technology
* Coordinator of Marketing Communications
* Administrator of Member Relations

The CCNA certification can also result in salary increases of as much as 20 percent. In the U.S., the salary of a person who possesses this certification can run anywhere from $30,000 to $90,000, depending on factors such as experience, workplace and additional education. Certified individuals with experience generally earn much more than those without; however, it is still possible to earn as much as $30,000 per year with this certification even with less than a year of experience. According to a survey done by Certification Magazine in 2009, the average salary of a CCNA-certified person in the U.S. is $87,790. Cisco’s Global Knowledge 2010 Salary Survey places this number a little lower, at $79,695.

Common jobs held by an individual with CCNA certification include IT network administrator, systems engineer, network engineer, IT manager and IT director. Each of these jobs has a different salary, with IT network administrator being the lowest and IT director being the highest. On average, a network administrator earns about $50,268 a year, a systems engineer earns $61,958, a network engineer earns $62,964, an IT manager makes $76,250 and an IT director is worth $90,862 a year. Senior IT engineers can earn more than engineers who don’t hold this position; a senior systems engineer makes around $83,741 per year and a senior network engineer earns about $85,506.

A person’s income after CCNA certification can also be influenced by the city they live in, the company they work for and even the school they graduate from. In Atlanta, Georgia, the salary range with this certification is between $38,605 and $112,625, whereas in New York, it starts at $44,674 and can reach as high as $122,960. As far as employers go, the U.S. Army pays the least for this certification, with a salary range from $30,000 to $87,000, and Cisco System, Inc. has the highest salary range at $56,782 to $117,906. In addition, graduates of ITT Technical Institute tend to earn the least, and those with a certificate from Strayer University tend to earn the most.

Another factor that can affect a person’s salary is the exact type of CCNA certification they hold. There are five levels of CCNA certification available, including entry, associate, professional, expert and architect. A person with an entry-level CCNA certification usually earns far less than someone with a certification at the architect level. In addition, Cisco offers three different specializations under the CCNA certificate: security, voice and wireless. As a general rule, specializations help a person make more money. According to Cisco, a person with a security specialization averages $89,911, someone who specializes in voice makes $88,020, and a wireless specialization can earn a person as much as $94,323.

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According to the July 14, 2011 information available on the website simplyhired.com, the average salary for a project manager in the U.S. is $75,000. The average salary for a PMP certified project manager is $103,000—an increase of well over 30 percent. Even though seniority plays a large role in determining salary and more senior project managers are more likely to be certified, these numbers still clearly show that project managers with PMP certification make more money.

Exactly how much more money varies from city to city. Salaries for project managers in Atlanta and Houston shoot up around 25 percent after certification but less than 10 percent in Chicago and New York. Project managers in Los Angeles make about 25 percent more after becoming Project Management Professional certified and those in Seattle enjoy a 20 percent salary increase. Still, no matter what the exact numbers, even a 5 percent increase in salary is substantial and PMP certification can give holders major leverage in salary negotiations for a new job.

To apply for PMP certification, you need to have either a four year degree and three years of project management experience or a high school degree and seven years of project management experience. After your application is accepted, you become eligible to take the PMP exam, which is offered through the Project Management Institute (PMI). Putting in some serious study time for this exam is highly recommended, and a variety of online and hardcopy study guides are available. After you pass the exam, you’ll need to chalk up 60 Professional Development Units (PDUs) per year through PMI to keep your certification.

Since the PMP title is industry neutral, it’s desirable to companies across the board. A good project manager can save vast amounts of time and money, so most companies are on the lookout for managers with refined skills and an intelligent approach. PMP certification proves that you’ve got the education, ability and experience that it takes to be an exceptional project manager and can push your career in exciting new directions. If you want to increase your salary and secure your future in the project management industry, put in the time to study for the PMP and reap its benefits for the rest of your career.

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Because of the heightened security features and because of a few other features, many Government and Military agencies jumped on the Linux, and Red Hat ship quite early.

Red Hat training has been growing like mad in the last year or so. many companies are providing on-site classes for groups. There are also options out there where individuals can join open enrollment Red Hat classes. The leading classes right now for Red Hat include the RHCSA and the RHCSE.

However, what you didn’t know is that the new premier computer forensics certification is the EC-Council’s CHFI. There really has not been an industry leading computer forensics certification to date. SANS has a forensics analyst certification through their GIAC brand, but that has no real traction in the industry and SANS is getting smoked by the EC-Council right now anyways (because they are so proprietary with their offerings). The CHFI is making its way to the top of the certification must have list because the CEH has spread so quickly. People who now have the CEH are looking for that next thing.

Oh, and a little military birdie told me something else about the new industry leading forensics cert, that birdie mentioned that CHFI may be up for consideration for the DoD8570 directive.

And it definitely should be, its a very worthwhile certification that all pentesters should have. Everyone working in this capacity needs to know the proper way to put together a case against someone or something that has just exploited your organization or gov agency.

So do yourself favor and sign up for the CHFI certification class at Hacker Halted in Miami in late October. You get a free iPad2 and forensics icon Robert Reed is teaching the class. Details here: Hacker Halted Training

My how wonderful cloud computing has been so far for businesses of every size. The most amazing part of virtualization, is that it is still in its infancy. I can’t wait to see what comes about over the next several years with it, but no doubt the cloud is where business of any scale is going to be. You pay for what you use and the outsourced management is seamless, secure, capable, fast and extremely user friendly. Small business IT almost looks identical to enterprise IT, and gap closes more each day.

Those who use Microsoft Office are well aware of the basic functions of all these applications. They are also aware, however, that few people get the most out of these applications. Most users have only a basic knowledge of what these programs are capable of, which leads to problems when these same users need to do more than just the basics. Without a full understanding of how Microsoft Word formats documents, for example, it can be impossible to get a letter or essay to conform to the proper style without spending a lot of time reformatting a document or searching for assistance with the help menu. Also, not knowing how to enter Excel formulas properly can cause a spreadsheet to return inaccurate data. The examples could be multiplied, but the key point is that an insufficient knowledge of Microsoft Office’s capabilities can lead workers to waste time and make errors.

For gaining a better awareness of what Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, and Outlook can do, there is nothing better than Microsoft Office online training. Using an online interface, office workers and other professionals can learn all about these programs and practice their functions, thereby improving workers’ productivity and overall job performance.

Here are just a few of the benefits of Microsoft Office online training:

• Flexibility — Microsoft Office online training is more flexible than traditional in-person training at the office because workers can go online at any time and from any location to learn and to practice. This allows professionals to work on their Microsoft Office skills when it is most convenient for them and at the time when they are most likely to get the most out of their training.

• Productivity — Online Office training sessions can be scheduled outside of normal work hours so that workers do not have to sacrifice some of their on-the-clock time for training. This means that workers do not have to take a break from their tasks and potentially fall behind on their projects. In fact, employers who want to give their employees Microsoft Office training without hindering their ability to complete their work should always consider the online training option first.

• Affordability — Bringing in an expert in Access, PowerPoint, or one of the other Microsoft Office applications from outside the office can be quite costly, especially when many hours of training are required. Online training is often more affordable, and this is particularly true when a worker decides to get training on his or her own. Not every employer reimburses employees for their Microsoft Office training, so those who must pay for it themselves will definitely prefer the more affordable online learning option.

• Individualized Training — Microsoft Office online training is often done on an individualized basis, which makes it easier for each person to customize the training to his or her needs. In-person group training simply cannot meet individual needs as well because every learner must stay on the same page throughout the training.

It is clear that online Microsoft Office training is the best option for those who want to become proficient in the Office software package. Get started with an online training today to improve productivity and much more.

The Computing Technology Industry Association, better known as CompTIA, was originally organized in 1982 under the name Association of Better Computer Dealers, Inc. It is a non-profit organization that provides a variety of examination and certification services to the IT industry. Security+ is one of these certifications.

The association was involved in some controversy in 2011 when certification standards were updated. The Security+ certification, along with several others, had always been valid for the lifetime of the holder. Beginning in 2011, however, CompTIA changed the certification terms to expire every three years with no provision to grandfather in current certification holders. Recertification was required of everyone, every three years, through either a paid CEU system or through retesting with an additional fee.

Computer security changes so rapidly that, from an industry viewpoint, the changes were required to ensure that certified people really were on top of current threats. Certification holders objected strenuously, and a compromise was reached within a month. Existing certification holders were exempted from retesting requirements, but continuing education requirements were made mandatory.

Security+ certification, first established in 2002 and updated in 2011, is an internationally recognized program that indicates proficiency in computer system security, network security, compliance and operational security, access control and identity management, threats and vulnerabilities, cryptography, and application, data, and host security. It is recognized and used by all branches of the US military and by large electronics firms such as Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Motorola, Symantec, Hitachi, and Unisys.

The 90-minute examination is available in multiple languages and consists of 100 questions for a total possible score of 900 points. The exam covers system security, network infrastructure, cryptography, assessments, and audits, and a score of 750 or higher is required to pass. CompTIA Security+ certification is accredited by the International Organization for Standardization and by the American National Standards Institute.

The certification may be used as an elective for both the MCSA and MCSE security specializations from Microsoft, and it is one of four available options for the DoD Directive 8570, IAT Level II certification requirement for military contractors engaged in information assurance activities.

Security+ online training has become perhaps the most popular way to prepare for the exam. Many of these online classes feature a live instructor who has been recorded so that you can watch lessons several times. Practice exams are available from many third-party testing sites. Many of these sites advertise very high success rates and offer money back guarantees. Whenever purchasing a study guide or access to a practice site, candidates should ensure that the site contains updated information and offers preparation for the current version of the CompTIA Security+ exam. The exam and certification requirements were updated in 2011.

Computer security is one of the fastest growing fields in the undisputedly fastest growing industry. IT professionals with strong security skills are an asset to employers, and CompTIA Security+ certification is an undeniable way to indicate proficiency in this subject area.

No other advanced certification comes close to its level of trust and acceptance. Over 75,000 professional in more than 130 countries have relied on their CISSP credentials for getting and maintaining information assurance and information technology security jobs.

The certification is so meaningful because the test is extensive and difficult to pass, but those who have the required background and properly prepare for the exam before taking it have a high success rate both in passing the test and in using it to advance their careers.

Survey after survey is also finding that those with CISSP certification achieve higher salaries than similarly qualified people without the certification, another sign of its value. In a 2006 salary survey conducted by Certification Magazine, the CISSP certification proved to be the highest paid credential in the IT industry and nothing has changed now in 2012 according to most sources.

Even the United States Department of Defense and the National Security Agency rely on the certification. In fact, the NSA’s Information Systems Security Engineering Professional (ISSEP) program has adopted the CISSP certification as a training baseline.

In existence since the early 1990s, the certification has had time to establish its industry-leading reputation.

To get the CISSP certification, candidates must prove at least five years industry experience in two more information security areas. Those with fewer years of experience may still qualify, however, if they have a degree in a related field.

Even those who work in information security every day may not have the breadth of knowledge to pass the 250-question exam, however.

The test covers ten domains of industry knowledge, including access control, application security, cryptography, compliance and investigations and security architecture and design, among others.

Focusing on critical evaluation as well as practical knowledge, the test can be tricky even for those who have a good understanding of the concepts involved. In many cases, the test requires candidates to choose the best answer from imperfect choices, simulating the real world’s dependence on finding a solution even when a perfect one does not exist.

For this reason, extensive preparation that covers both the ten domains as well as how to handle the testing methodology is crucial to passing the exam.

Since most candidates for the CISSP certification are already IT industry professionals, the flexibility and depth provided by CISSP online training is often preferable to in-person classroom training.

While online CISSP training still requires that a student commit to the program to be successful, it is more flexible for busy professionals. Most programs include video presentations, assignments, quizzes and other planned lessons, and these can be completed in whatever free time a student has available, at his or her own pace.

Classroom programs often move at the pace of the instructor rather than at the pace of busy students.

In addition to scheduling flexibility and the ability for students to set their own pace, online CISSP training offers:
- the utmost convenience since there is no faraway training center to visit
- the ability to easily repeat difficult sections
- lower prices than many in-person programs

While CISSP certification can be difficult to achieve, tens of thousands have achieved it in the two decades it has existed because they properly prepared and knew what to expect from the exam.

The CHFI v8 launch is in time for people to meet the pre-requisites for the Advanced Mobile Hacking and Forensics class and the other classes that EC-Council will be holding at their SUMMIT event in Washington DC. We will feature a post about that event soon.

Here is what people get with registration into the CHFI v8 Launch:

1. A complimentary 4 day iLab Access Pass worth 100 USD
2. Twenty percent (20%) discount on the Mobile Forensics CAST class (valid until December 31, 2012)
3. A complimentary “Secondpass Voucher” for those who fail their exam (valid until the end of June 2012) worth 500 USD
4. A limited edition commemorative metal plated certificate of attendance
5. Your name and testimonial posted on EC-Council’s CHFIv8 Website
   

Register Here: CHFI v8