Continuing Professional Development

Are you looking to progress your career? If you are interested in progressing your career in the AV field then you should be aiming to qualify as a CTS certified engineer. So what does CTS mean?

Certified Technology Specialist (CTS®)
InfoComm Certification means:

• Evidence of competence, dedication and commitment
• Self-confidence and the ability to sell your work better to clients
• Increased credibility among co-workers
• Increased customer confidence Evidence of technical proficiency, skill, professionalism and integrity
• A respected career path for audiovisual professionals

The CTS® (Certified Technology Specialist) designation is awarded to AV professionals who have demonstrated knowledge and comprehension of the science and technology used in communications including audio, video, display and systems. Technicians, engineers, designers, salespeople, customer service personnel, managers and executives are eligible for taking the general certification (individual) testing.

Credible companies in the fast-growing AV field are using achievement of the CTS as a way to acknowledge mastery of a higher skill and knowledge level, and to reward career veterans in the organization.

InfoComm’s Certified Technology Specialists (CTS) at all levels of certification have demonstrated audiovisual technology knowledge and/or skills. Certified individuals adhere to a Code of Ethics and maintain their status through continued education. Certification is not a guarantee for performance by certified individuals. Certification demonstrates commitment to professional growth in the audiovisual industry and is strongly supported by InfoComm.

Getting Your CTS

Certification Process

• Take a short, 10-question quiz to assess your readiness to take the test: CTS Readiness Assessment (PDF)
• Prepare for the test, if necessary, by taking an online course.
• Register to take the online test. You will receive an e-mail from "RegMail@infocomm.org" with your username, password, and a link to the test.
• Take the online test.
• After you pass the test with an 80% or above, download, read and sign, then fax or mail to InfoComm the Professional Code of Ethics and Honor Code Pledges(PDF).
• Success! InfoComm will send you a certificate and a pin. You will then be entitled to put the professional designation "Certified Technology Specialist" (CTS) after your name. Your certification is valid for three years.

Are you looking to progress your career within the IT and Telecoms field. If so then you should be aiming to obtain your Cisco qualification. The three qualifications are CCENT, CCNA and CCNP. So what do they mean?

CCENT Certification

The Cisco CCENT (Cisco Certified Entry Networking Technician) certification validates the skills required for entry-level network support positions, the starting point for many successful careers in networking. Candidates should have the knowledge and skill to install, operate and troubleshoot a small enterprise branch network, including basic network security. CCENT certification is the first step toward achieving CCNA, which covers medium size enterprise branch networks with more complex connections.

CCNA Certification

The Cisco CCNA network associate certification validates the ability to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot medium-size routed and switched networks, including implementation and verification of connections to remote sites in a WAN. This new curriculum includes basic mitigation of security threats, introduction to wireless networking concepts and terminology, and performance-based skills. This new curriculum also includes (but is not limited to) the use of these protocols: IP, Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP), Serial Line Interface Protocol Frame Relay, Routing Information Protocol Version 2 (RIPv2),VLANs, Ethernet, access control lists (ACLs)

CCNP Certification

CCNP certification validates a network professional's ability to install, configure and troubleshoot converged local and wide area networks with 100 to 500 or more nodes. Network Professionals who achieve the CCNP have demonstrated the knowledge and skills required to manage the routers and switches that form the network core, as well as edge applications that integrate voice, wireless, and security into the network.

If you want to gain 1st Class Project Management skills and improve your career prospects then you should consider getting a Prince 2 Qualification

PRINCE2 (Projects IN Controlled Environments) is a process-based method for effective project management. PRINCE2 is a de facto standard used extensively by the UK Government and is widely recognised and used in the private sector, both in the UK and internationally.

The key features of PRINCE2 are:

• Its focus on business justification
• A defined organisation structure for the project management team
• Its product-based planning approach
• Its emphasis on dividing the project into manageable and controllable stages
• Its flexibility to be applied at a level appropriate to the project.

PRINCE2 certification will give you the skills to feel confident in managing projects successfully within the workforce. Using PRINCE2 in your projects will give you common systems, procedures and language. PRINCE2 is recognised as a world-class international product and is the standard method for project management.

PRINCE2 Benefits

Using PRINCE2 provides you with greater control of resources, and the ability to manage business and project risk more effectively, which provides benefits to:

• individuals seeking leading project management skills and greater employment prospects
• project managers
• directors/executives (senior responsible owners) of projects, and organisations