In an effort to help foster an IT workforce that meets the technology sector’s unmet job-skill needs, CompTIA will launch its first IT professional association.
The association, to be officially activated this spring, will offer a multifaceted suite of member benefits for IT professionals of all types – explicitly designed to help facilitate the success of IT pros throughout their careers: a “resume-to-retirement” employment-support strategy.
“This new CompTIA association is only the latest, and next logical, step on our ongoing journey of helping create a skilled and proficient workforce,” said CompTIA CEO Todd Thibodeaux.
CompTIA’s IT pro association will not only recruit new IT professionals for membership, but enlist its many certification and continuing education alumni to also join and contribute to its success. CompTIA has issued over two million vendor-neutral IT certifications to technology professionals worldwide, provides comprehensive training and continuing education programs, and, through its Foundation, is supporting STEM education for under-served youth and adults, among other workforce activities.
“They’re our biggest asset, and we’ll fully engage them to help grow and enrich this new association,” explained CompTIA EVP, Industry Relations, Nancy Hammervik. “This will be a member-led, member-empowering association.”
To bolster its new organization, CompTIA also announced its acquisition of the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP). Founded in 1951, AITP has advanced the IT profession through professional development, support of IT education, national IT policies and robust student-focused activity.
“AITP, with its deep historical roots and established networks, will help us build a solid foundation for success for our new professional association,” said Thibodeaux.
He noted that the IT services sector is already unable to fill 15 percent of vacant positions, and that this problem is projected to only worsen when millions of IT workers retire in the next eight years.
“Ultimately, it’s not the things of IT, but the people in IT, that drive our industry’s success,” said Thibodeaux. “And our overarching priority in growing this new association will be to help IT professionals start or restart careers that can realize their ambitions and fulfill their dreams — as they continue to help contribute to our economic growth and security.”
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