As announced on June 20, efforts by the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) to develop a new professional certification of radio frequency identification (RFID) skills advanced to the next phase with the launch of a survey to identify the knowledge, skills and abilities individuals should have to be proficient in the technology.
The CompTIA RFID+ Blueprint Survey builds on the work earlier this month of a committee of RFID subject matter experts who are helping CompTIA develop the content of the certification exam. The CompTIA RFID+ certification will validate an RFID technologist’s knowledge and skills in the areas of installation, maintenance, repair, and upkeep of hardware and software functionality of RFID products.
“Our subject matter experts have gotten us off to an excellent start by identifying the strong quality content that a certification will require,” says David Sommer, vice president, electronic commerce, CompTIA. “The survey is the next vital next step in the certification development process. It will allow even more professionals with RFID expertise to help us identify and validate the knowledge and skills standards individuals should have to be proficient in RFID technology.”
The CompTIA RFID+ certification is expected to be available in late 2005 or early 2006.
To participate in the RFID skills survey, individuals must have experience in RFID technology, such as installing and implementing RFID systems.
Some 60ꯠ businesses are facing RFID usage mandates from their trading partners in the next three to five years, according to industry estimates. But a survey of CompTIA members earlier this year found that 80 percent of companies do not believe there are sufficient numbers of professionals skilled in RFID to hire from today. In addition, 53 percent of companies said this lack of talent will have a negative impact on the adoption of RFID technology in the next two to three years.
RFID Antenna had reported on this RFID bottleneck in the article RFID talent pool needs filling, published in March.
Specific experts named
Among the subject matter experts participating in the job task analysis for the RFID certification are Mark Brown, International Paper; Elaine M. Cooney, Indiana University Purdue University Indianapolis; Nora S. Durham, CoBaLt Technology; Ron Gilbert, integralRFID; Ralph Haney, WFI Government Services, Inc.; Craig Harmon, QED Systems; Gregory Johnson, Intermec Technologies Corp; Nels Larsen, Appleton; Timothy McGilloway, Printronix; Sam Patadia, RFID4U; Rick Raber, Northern Apex; George Rothwell, Rush Tracking Systems; Louis Sirico, RFID Global Solutions; and Patrick Sweeney, ODIN technologies; and Eva Zeisel, OTA Training, LLC.
CompTIA is a global trade association representing the business interests of the information technology industry. For more than 23 years CompTIA has provided research, networking and partnering opportunities to its 20ꯠ members in 102 countries. The association is involved in developing standards and best practices, and influencing the political, economic and educational arenas that impact IT worldwide.
More information is available by contacting CompTIA’s Steven Ostrowski (below) or via e-mail, [email protected].
--Rick Lingle
