ICCP Services for Colleges and Universities: Using the ACP

1
ICCP Services for Colleges and
UniversitiesUsing the ACP CCP Exams as
Assessment Tools for Programs in Computer Science
and Information Systems
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements

• Brett Champlin, MBA, CSP, CCP
• Director, ICCP
• Chair, ICCP Strategic Planning Committee
• VP Online Services, DAMA International
• Senior Lecturer, Adjunct Faculty
• Heller College of Business, Roosevelt University
• Process Consultant, Allstate Insurance Company

2
Introduction
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements

• Overview of the ICCP
• History of Certification
• Market for Certification
• Reasons for Certification
• What are the ACP CCP?
• What can ICCP offer Colleges Universities?
• Some Recommendations
• Discussion

3
Overview of the ICCP- Purpose
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements

• The Institute for Certification of Computing
  Professionals (ICCP) establishes recognized
  professional standards within the information
  systems and information technology industry.
  ICCP examinations test comprehension and
  knowledge of stringent industry fundamentals,
  not of product specific awareness.
• The ICCP is an independent certification
  organization that offers two vendor
  product-neutral certifications,
• the Certified Computing Professional - CCP
  (experience based, professional level) and
• the Associate Computing Professional-ACP (entry
  level) and
• Proficiency Certificates in 11 computing and 6
  language areas.

4
Overview of ICCP- Certification A Definition
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements

• What Certification Is
• A process for ensuring that an individual has the
  knowledge, skills and/or abilities needed to
  perform a job, job role, duty or responsibility
  at a standard level of performance
• Measurable Validity
• Legally Defensible
• Job Related

• What Certification Is Not
• An event
• A class
• An end-of-course exam
• Self-assessment
• Job evaluation
• Subjective
• Qualification
• Prerequisite

5
Overview of the ICCP- Organization
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements
6
Overview of the ICCP- Constituent Societies
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements

• ACM
• Association for Computing Machinery
• AITP
• Association for Information Technology
  Professionals
• AWC
• Association for Women In Computing
• CIPS
• Canadian Information Processing Society
• DAMA International
• The Data Management Association
• ICCA
• Independent Computer Consultants Association
• ISTE
• International Society for Technology in Education

7
History of IT Certification- Professional
Associations
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements

• 1962 DPMA Creates Certified Data Processor (CDP)
  Examination
• 1973 Institute for Certification of Computing
  Professionals Founded
• 1977 Certified Computer Programmer (CCP)
  Examination Created
• 1985 Associate Computer Professional (ACP)
  Examination
• 1985 ASM Creates Certified Systems Professional
  (CSP)
• 1986 ICCP Assumes CSP, Introduces Professional
  Development Program
• 1989 CIPS introduces ISP in Canada
• 1990 ICCP Presents New Examination Concept IDMA
  issues first CIDM designations
• 1994 ICCP Begins Computer-Based Testing
• 1994 Single Professional Level Designation -
  Certified Computing Professional (CCP)
• 1995 ICCP Introduces Proficiency Certificates

8
History of IT Certification- Vendors Enter Field
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements

• In the late 70s 80s, vendors began offering
  certification on their platforms and products.
  And, in the mid-90s the offerings mushroomed.
• 1960s - 1970s
• DPMA ICCP
• 1970s - 1980s
• Control Data
• On-line testing is introduced
• 1990 - 1995
• Novell introduces CNE
• Prometric dominates the delivery market for
  On-line testing
• 1995 - 2000
• Microsoft and Lotus
• Cisco - Performance-based Testing
• Other IT Entrants.

9
History of IT Certification- Today, an Abundance
of Options
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements
Types of Certification Experience Education
Testing Recertification/Professional Development
Types of Certification Single Test
Certifications Multiple Test Certification Classro
om/Education Test(s)
10
Market for Certification- Growth Trends
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements

• Certification is growing (2000 IDC Report)
• 1999 2.5 Billion
• 2003 4.1 Billion 15 Growth Annually
• Growing areas in Certification
• Certification Services (Profit Center)
• Convergence Between Academic and IT Certification
• Assessment
• International Expansion
• Asia/Pacific growth greater than 50
• Pakistan and India booming
• General Trends
• New distribution channels
• Vendor neutral certifications
• Recertification
• Leveraging the Internet
• Corporate certification programs

Source, IBM, 2001
11
Market for Certification- Driving Forces
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements
ProfessionalAssociations
EconomicPressures
TechnologicalPressures
Growth ofCertification
ITVendors
TrainingVendors
ITProfessionals
ClientCommunity
SocialPressures
PoliticalPressures
Extended and Adapted from The Complete Guide to
Certification for Computing Professionals Drake
Prometric New York 1995 The McGraw-Hill
Companies, Inc.
12
Market for Certification- Who is getting
Certified
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements

• OCCUPATIONS
• Consultants
• Senior Technical Professionals
• Computer Specialists
• Programmers
• Managers
• Educators
• Accountants
• Others

EDUCATION
13
Market for Certification- Who is getting
Certified
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements

• By Major
• Computer Science
• Information Science
• Business
• Science
• Statistics
• Communication
• Accounting
• Liberal Arts
• MIS/BIS
• Mathematics
• Engineering
• Other
• Education

14
Reasons for Certifying
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements

• Certification, in itself,
• is not a goal, but
• Professionalism is.Dr. Paul M. PairFellow of
  the ICCP, 1982

15
Reasons for Certifying- Why People Certify
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements

• Professional Growth
• Consultants
• Contractors
• Job Hunters
• Promotion Seekers
• Credentials
• Self-Assessment
• Professionalism
• Challenge

16
Reasons for Certifying- Why People Certify
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements
Source GartnerGroup, 2000
17
Reasons for Certification- Corporations Realize
the Benefits
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements
"It is expected that our company have certified
individuals on staff...I use certifications as a
guiding rod and make it a part of individual's
performance reviews because having a staff of
individuals with specialties increases my
hand." "... it is important to invest in our
people and bring them along. The more we invest,
the more valuable they become."
Source IBM, 1999
Source GartnerGroup, 2000
18
Reasons for Certification- Positive Business
Impact
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements
Source 1999 IBM Professional Certification
Survey
19
What is the ACP?
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements

• Associate Computing Professional
• Pass exams at 50 or better
• 70 or better can be applied to CCP later
• Can now take any proficiency exam for ACP

CORE EXAMINATION (All Candidates)
Any Language
ACP CERTIFICATION
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What is the CCP?
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements

• Certified Computing Professional
• Pass Exam at 70 or better
• Experience
• 48 months
• Education
• Substitute up to 24 months of experience
  requirement
• Sign the ICCP Code of Ethics, Conduct and Good
  Practice

CORE EXAMINATION (All Candidates)
Any 2 Specialties
CCP CERTIFICATION
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What are Proficiency Certificates?
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements

• Pass any Specialty or Language Exam at 70 or
  better

22
Core Exam Topics
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements

• 1. Human and Organization Framework
• 1.1 Business Environment
• 1.2 Management
• 1.3 Technology Transfer
• 1.4 Interpersonal Communication
• 1.5 Professional Issues
• 2. Systems Concepts
• 2.1 Types of Systems
• 2.2 Application Strategies
• 3. Data and Information
• 3.1 Data Architectures
• 3.2 Data Management
• 4. Systems Development
• 4.1 Systems Development Cycle
• 4.2 Systems Integration
• 4.3 Tools and Techniques
• 5. Technology
• 5.1 Hardware
• 5.2 Software

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Services for Colleges Universities- ACBSP
Faculty Accreditation
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements

• ACBSP is one of two national accrediting bodies
  for business schools and is the accrediting body
  of choice for more than 500 medium-sized and
  small four-year colleges, universities and
  community colleges.
• ACBSP faculty accreditation requires one of three
  levels of credential
• Doctorally Qualified,
• Professionally Qualified (both a Masters Degree
  and professional certification), or
• Minimally Qualified (Masters Degree in the
  field).
• Faculty members can now meet the Professionally
  Qualified level through certification earned by
  passing the Certified Computing Professional
  (CCP) exam. This acceptance of ICCP certification
  offers more opportunity for faculty members to
  earn the Professionally Qualified credential.

24
Services for Colleges Universities- Core
Skills Program
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements

• In September 2002, the ICCP Education Foundation
  will offer an online program of studies in
  support of a one semester classroom-based course
  at a university or college.
• The Core I.T. Knowledge and Skills examination is
  the target, and students will also get a solid
  grounding in I.T. Management and Systems
  Development.
• Candidates who attend a full semester evening
  program of studies perform significantly higher
  on the examinations than those who do not. A
  40 increase in the likelihood of passing the
  ICCP's Core I.T. Skills examination results from
  taking this form of an educational program.
• Upon successfully passing the Core I.T. Skills
  examination there are a total of 18 lower
  division college credits granted by the American
  Council on Education (ACE). For many people this
  represents significant tuition savings, since the
  18 credits translates into a full semester of
  courses

25
Services for Colleges Universities- Review
Course Exams
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements

• The Associate Computing Professional (ACP) Review
  ("exam cram") program is available for a
  customized weekend delivery at your college or
  university.
• Test takers who go through a review course for
  the ICCP examinations improve their performance
  by almost 30 on the final examinations.
• The ACP Review course is a 7-hour program, which
  helps new graduates prepare to take the ICCP's
  examinations. The second day of the course
  involves the candidates taking up to 2 ACP
  examinations.
• A similar Review Course is available for the CCP
  if you have students with appropriate work
  experience who wish to take exams for the CCP.

26
Services for Colleges Universities- ICCP Exams
As Outcome Assessment
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements

• Colleges and Universities are using ICCP
  examinations as outcome assessment of their
  teaching and curriculum. The ICCP has developed
  an affordable way to determine exit validation.
  ICCP computer based testing costs 195.00 per
  exam. By allowing colleges and universities to
  proctor the ICCP paper and pencil exams, they
  save considerable money - 129.00 per CORE IT
  Skills exam and 79.00 for Language exams. If
  your institution is a member of the ACBSP, there
  is an additional discount available.
• Once scoring is complete, the ICCP will send your
  institution an original and one copy of a
  performance profile for each exam taken.

27
Services for Colleges Universities- Results of
2 Year Study
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements

• North West Missouri State University
• Fall 1999 - 10 Exams Given
• 50 Pass Rate on Core Exam
• 0 Pass Rate on C Exam
• Notes
• Only 4 students attended Core/Language Review
  Session (all four passed Core)
• 2 Students Randomly filled in answers
• Our school did not teach OO concepts of C
• Spring 2000 - 13 Exams Given
• 7/13 (54) Passed Core Exam
• 6/13 (46) Passed COBOL Exam
• Notes
• One 2-part 5 hour Review Session for Core
• One 2 1/2 hour Review Session for COBOL
• Two students did not attend Review Session(s) and
  did not pass either test

28
Services for Colleges Universities- Results of
2 Year Study
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements

• AITP National Collegiate Conference
• Spring 2000 AITP NCC
• 11/16 (67) Passed Language Exam
• 7/11 (64) Passed Core Exam
• Notes
• One 1 1/2 hour Core Review Session
• One 1 1/2 hour COBOL Review Session
• Only ACP level counted -- not all students sat
  for a Core and Language Exam

29
Recommendations
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements

• Encourage all adjunct and full-time faculty to
  pursue the CCP designation
• Have qualified faculty present review courses for
  the ACP and CCP two or three times per year
• Encourage and support student chapters of the
  AITP, ACM, DAMA, etc.

30
Recommendations
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements

• Advanced Placement for CCP holders in
  undergraduate graduate CS/IS programs.
• Consider one semester Core Skills course as
  capstone course in undergraduate degree programs
  with follow up ACP/CCP testing (passing the core
  exam qualifies students for 18 undergraduate
  credits through ACE)

31
Recommendations
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements

• Use ICCP exams as Outcome Assessments for
  Programs
• Evaluate curricula and course content against
  subject topics and student performance on
  standardized testing

32
Discussion
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements

• I appreciate your comments and will be pleased to
  answer any questions that you may have.
• You may contact me for further discussion at
• brettchamplin_at_attbi.com
• bchampli_at_allstate.com
• [phone]

33
Acknowledgements
Introduction Overview of ICCP History of IT
Certification Market for Certification Reasons
for Certifying What is the ACP/CCP? ICCP
Services forColleges Universities Recommendati
ons Discussion Acknowledgements

• Thanks to the following for their help in
  supplying the bulk of the information used in
  this presentation
• ICCP Officewww.iccp.org2350 E. Devon Ave. Suite
  115Des Plaines, IL 60018-4610847-299-4227
• Michelle Page-RiveraSr. Performance
  ConsultantMindspan Solutions - IBM Global
  Services
• Prof. John Reynolds, PhD, CCPNorthwest Missouri
  State UniversityICCP Exams and IS Education
  Certification of Faculty and External Measure of
  Curricula