CCP (Certified Computer Professional) Certification

CCP certification is a credential from the Institute for Certification of Computing Professionals. It states that you have proven skills and knowledge in the Information Technology industry. Additionally, a CCP certification shows you have agreed to the code of ethics and conduct as defined by ICCP.

CCP certifications can be earned for a variety of IT fields and specialties. These include:

• Business Information Systems
• Communications
• Data Resource Management
• Management
• Microcomputing and Networks
• Office Information Systems
• Procedural Programming
• Software Engineering
• Systems Development
• Systems Programming
• Systems Security
• BASIC Language
• C Language
• C++ Language
• COBOL Language
• Pascal Language
• RPG/400 Language

Why is CCP certification important?

Computer programming and system analysis are two of the fastest growing occupations in Florida and throughout the United States. The Bureau of Labor Statistics ranks both in its top five list of fastest growing positions. A recent survey by the Information Technology Association of America estimated that 10 percent of the Information Technology jobs nationwide are unfilled. This means there is a high demand for professionals with these skills.

Earning CCP certification is becoming a vital step for those entering a technology field. It can:

• Help determine the type of opportunities for which you qualify
• Increase your starting or current salary
• Increase your chances of being offered a position or promotion
• Provide a greater possibility for career growth

CCP certification is internationally recognized. It is often used as hiring criteria by some of the world's leading technology corporations. Employers know that a CCP:

• Has a high level of skill and knowledge in the IT industry
• Maintains high levels of professionalism
• Has agreed to the ethics as set by ICCP

With CCP certification, you can focus your qualifications on a specific industry. Or, you may choose to diversify your skills. This provides you with a broad range of career options within the IT industry. Further, a Bachelor's degree is accepted as half of the required experience. With CCP, you can earn a higher education while working towards the certification.

How do I earn the CCP certification?

To earn a CCP certification, you must complete the following three steps:

I. Take and pass the core test and two specialty examinations.

To pass the exams, you must earn a score of 70 percent or better. You may take the exams at any time, but you will not be awarded the certification until the other two criteria are complete. You may substitute two programming language exams for one specialty exam.

The specialty exams are:

• Management
• Procedural Programming
• System Development
• Business Information Systems
• Communications
• Office Information Systems
• Systems Programming
• Software Engineering
• Systems Security
• Data Resource Management
• Microcomputing and Networks

The programming language exams are:

• Pascal
• BASIC
• RPG/400
• COBOL
• C
• C++

II. Meet the experience requirement.

To earn the certification, you must have 48 months (four years) of full-time work experience in the computer and IT fields. Your work experience does not need to be high-tech: clerical, data entry and classroom work is acceptable. Twenty-four months (two years) of work experience credit is given for a bachelor degree in a related field.

III. Sign a document agreeing to comply with the ICCP Codes of Ethics, Conduct, and Good Practice.

CCP Certification is more than a technical credential. It is an acknowledgement by industry leaders that you are a skilled IT professional. It states you have agreed to follow the industry-accepted code of ethics. As a CCP, you are expected to perform your duties and behave in a manner consistent with the Code of Ethics, Conduct, and Good Practice. CCP certification will not be awarded until the agreement is signed.

The CCP Certification exams can be taken at the SCC Professional Testing and Certification Center.

How does SCC help me prepare for CCP certification exams?

SCC does not have a designated CCP certification preparation program. The courses available through Network Technologies and Computer Programming and Analysis can help you prepare for specific exams.

The courses Seminole Community College provides are designed to help students prepare for a certification exam. To earn a certification, the student must pass the exams. Passing the courses does not guarantee that the student will pass the exam.

What career opportunities can I explore with a CCP certification?

How CCP certification helps you in your career choices depends on the exams you choose to take. For example, if you pass the specialty exams in Procedural Programming and Systems Programming, your logical career options would involve computer programming and application development. Passing exams in Business Information Systems and Data Resource Management would best prepare you for a career in Information Systems Management or Database Administration.

For further information on career possibilities available with CCP certification, or for assistance with job placement, please visit the SCC Career Development Center.

Did you know?

SCC's high-tech A.S. Degree programs give students the foundation to continue their education at four-year colleges/universities or enter the job market as a programmer.