New ISACA certification to help upskill IT professionals

Global IT professional association ISACA has launched a new certification to enable those seeking a strong foundation in IT knowledge and hands-on experience to set themselves apart as they seek technology jobs.

The Information Technology Certified Associate (ITCA) certification provides students, recent graduates, those new to the IT profession and professionals seeking a career change with a flexible, hybrid format comprising traditional knowledge-based learning and performance-based learning through live labs in a virtual environment.

The certification can be achieved at one’s own pace, by completing five modular certificates that focus on different domain areas in IT, which can also be earned separately or stacked in different ways. The modular certificates explore Computing Fundamentals, Networks and Infrastructure Fundamentals, Cybersecurity Fundamentals, Software Development Fundamentals, and Data Science Fundamentals.

ISACA CEO David Samuelson said the course will serve a new generation of IT professionals and thought leaders, including those transitioning their careers due to the pandemic, by helping them differentiate and elevate themselves as they enter the job market.

“A key part of ISACA’s commitment to providing tools for lifelong learning is supporting professionals at every stage of their career journey, including in that critical period at the very beginning — whether they are new graduates or professionals seeking to make a career change to IT,” said Samuelson.

With the ITCA certification, young professionals, students or recent graduates with degrees in IT or computer science, and those seeking a job change, can prepare themselves for a range of jobs, like computer systems administrator, technical support specialist, systems engineer and quality assurance analyst.

The certification can also serve more experience audit, security or governance professionals looking to enhance their understanding of fundamental IT concepts.

Daisy Jardine-Viner, Recruitment Specialist at NDK Infosec, said working within the IT industry presents many opportunities for recent graduates, young professionals and career changers.

“It’s a constantly evolving and in-demand hiring environment that offers the chance to work at the forefront of technology. There are multiple paths to consider going down — you don’t need to be a developer or programmer to be successful. There is a position in IT that will suit everyone’s skill sets and passions,” said Jardine-Viner.

The ITCA program offers study guides, self-paced training courses, performance-based labs and exams for each certificate, available at discounted rates for ISACA members. Once all five exams are completed, candidates can apply to become ITCA certified. The ITCA certification joins a set of ISACA credentials that have been part of the professional community’s learning journey for many years.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Olivier Le Moal