Red Hat EMEA Press Center

April 25, 2001
ASSOCIATION FORMS TO ADVANCE THE USE OF PERFORMANCE-BASED TESTING FOR IT CERTIFICATION
Founding Steering Committee Includes Heads of Certification at Cisco, Novell, and Red Hat
April 25, 2001 - The Field Certified Professional Association (FCPA) officially announced its formation today. The new association is dedicated to the development, promotion and implementation of performance-based IT testing (Field Certification) serving IT professionals and employing organizations whose success depends on staff with proven technical competence.


The FCPA® Steering Committee includes the heads of performance-based certifications at Cisco (CSCO), Novell (NOVL), and Red Hat (RHAT). Others involved in the startup include chief information officers, IT consultants and certification managers from such companies as Booz-Allen
& Hamilton, Checkpoint, Hewlett Packard, IBM, Juniper Networks, Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, and other significant players in the key information technology industries and professions.


FCPA will be opening a "Certification Advisory Board" to Sponsoring Vendors, with the value-added benefit of being able to provide input or make recommendations as FCPA builds its programs and activities in support of Field Certification.


FCPA will serve IT vendors who already run established performance-based certifications, and will assist vendors to develop supplementary Field Certification examinations for current multiple-choice based certifications. As a "vendor-neutral" certifying body, the FCPA will raise the level, stature, and credibility of certification in the IT field. The FCP (Field Certified Professional) credential will be
universally promoted as an indication of achievement and demonstrated skills.


To enable performance-based testing, FCPA® is establishing an international network of testing centers that will provide hands-on examinations of job related usage of actual, live equipment or
technology. Testing scenarios will require problem identification, diagnosis and solution implementation.


"In a certification industry dominated by multiple-choice tests and 'paper certifications', FCPA and its founding members are charting a new path," said Dr. Amir Elahi, President of Computer Analytics, Inc. and Chairman of the FCPA Board of Directors. FCPA is formed against a backdrop of popular IT certifications based entirely on multiple-choice tests, which come under fire as "brain dumps" that can be passed by "cramming", without actual skill on the technologies they purport to
test.


"Something is broken in the IT certification process when the individual feels compelled to cram for an exam rather than learn actual technology and product skills," continued Dr. Elahi. "Performance-based testing resolves that contradiction. FCPA founding members are changing the
shape of the certification industry, and making IT certification meaningful again. FCPA and its programs will add value for both individuals and the employers."


Lorne Braddock, Senior Manager responsible for the Cisco CCIE program, stated "The new Field Certified Professional Association will distinguish performance-based, hands-on certification programs like CCIE as comprehensive with practical value. Further industry recognition and
validation of the Cisco Career Certification program is a win-win for everyone involved."


"Novell has recognized the need for practical hands-on testing in the increasingly one-Net environment of customers and users", said Debbie Maucieri, Vice President of Novell Education. "Having an independent industry organization that sets standards for this type of testing and
certification is both welcome and refreshing. We are delighted to be a member of the organization and offer our support."


"The FCPA addresses a growing cry from the heads of industry, from IT professionals, from government and defense, and from customers everywhere, for testing that proves actual competency," said Peter Childers, Vice President of Global Learning Services at Red Hat and
founder of the RHCE certification. "This is a historic step in improving the quality of IT certifications worldwide, and we are pleased to join Cisco and Novell on the FCPA Steering Committee."


FCPA offers several categories of membership and a diversity of programmes to assist IT professionals and their employers. The membership categories include "Sponsor", "Corporate", "FCP Individual", and "Associate Individual" members.


Further information on FCPA, the Field Certification exams in development, becoming a licensed testing center, and membership benefits can be obtained at http://www.fieldcertification.org or by calling FCPA at +1-301-656-2222.


Contact:
Jay McCrensky, Executive Director
+1-301-656-2222
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