Commercial Integrator March 2021 - 24

CAREER DEVELOPMENT
each segment of the industry and how they
all fit together.
Keep in mind the other levels or categories
of training we spoke about earlier.
AVIXA addresses those though the specialized
CTS-D with an emphasis on design
and CTS-I with an emphasis on installation.
These are not one and done certifications.
Each one requires ongoing education to
keep a person current, ensuring a high level
of competency in the industry.
While the CTS certification provides an
excellent foundation for those in the commercial
AV industry there are other industry
recognized generalist certifications to add
to the mix. Think of these as curriculums
covering the broad scope of an industry,
teaching an overview with a varying degree
of detail about the major segments. It is like
an umbrella over the industry with the more
granular details underneath the cover of
general knowledge.
Digital Signage Certification
Most consider the digital signage industry
the fastest growing part of the expanded
commercial AV industry. As AVIXA is
the home for commercial AV, the Digital
Signage Federation (DSF) is the home for
digital signage specific education and
thought leadership.
DSF has a plethora of educational offerings
and in partnership with the Digital Signage
Experts Group (DSEG) provides full
industry certifications in this area. Like the
CTS, these are impartial and vendor neutral.
The Digital Signage Certified Expert
(DSCE) is the foundation for digital signage.
It speaks to all seven of the key elements
that are at the core of digital signage
(Business, Content, Design, Software,
Hardware, Connectivity, and Operations).
As with the CTS, there are advanced certifications
from DSEG. There is the Digital
Signage Display Expert (DSDE), the Digital
Signage Network Expert (DSNE), the
Digital Content and Media Expert (DCME),
and the Digital Signage Sales Professional
(DSSP). Each one qualifies for CTS RU
(renewal units, AVIXA's ongoing education
program to maintain a CTS credential)
credits. Think of commercial AV and digital
signage working hand in hand.
24
Commercial Integrator MARCH 2021
In order for integration professionals that are looking to grow their careers to do so, there
must be a mix of both professional training and certifications as such outlined in this
article, as well as detailed on-the-job training provided by employers.
Additional Relevant Certifications
Both the commercial AV industry and digital
signage industries are project driven, so it
will come as no surprise that effective and
efficient project management is a critical
component. The industry recognized certification
is the Project Management Professional
(PMP) from the Project Management
Institute (PMI). This is advanced training
in your education development plan, and
industry experience is a prerequisite to earn
the PMP. Over 70% of employers require or
encourage a PMI certification and 93% of
PMPs recommend the certification to others.
There are over 400,000 PMPs globally
- and growing!
We would be remiss if we did not also
mention IT industry certifications. Unlike
truly impartial certifications like CTS, DSCE,
and PMP, most IT certification programs
are designed to address specific brands
and product families, from companies like
Microsoft and Cisco. For our purposes they
are lumped into the generalist category
because the subject matter is so pervasive
and creates the network environment in
which many other products reside.
Suffice it to say that AV and IT have
converged and are inexorably linked. As
with other true certifications, each of the
following IT centric certifications take time
to study and review and they have comprehensive
exams that are necessary to earn
the coveted designation and certificate of
completion.
Microsoft recently retired its certification
process as of December 31, 2020
for MCSA, MCSD, and MCSE. In its place
is a new training structure focused on
role-based training and certifications to
develop necessary skills and experience.
Role-based training and certifications are
kept current with new features and services
that Microsoft is constantly adding to the
cloud solution areas, minimizing skill gaps
associated with the applicable job roles.
Some of the trainings that make sense
for AV integrators now include programs
such as:
› Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals
›
Microsoft 365 Certified: Fundamentals
› Microsoft 365 Certified: Security Administrator
Associate
› Microsoft 365 Certified: Teams Administrator
Associate
› Microsoft 365 Certified: Modern Desktop
Administrator Associate
There are many more trainings to pursue,
so feel free to peruse all that Microsoft
offers and become certified and trained in
capabilities that make sense for your current
role, or the role you wish to pursue.
Cisco Certified Network Associate
(CCNA) validates the ability to install,
configure, operate, and troubleshoot
medium-size route and switched networks,
including implementation and verification
of connections to remote sites in a WAN.
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Commercial Integrator March 2021

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