IT certificates, which do not relate to individual manufacturers or products but attest to overarching knowledge, are available for users and IT specialists. The certification of skills and knowledge is carried out according to defined standards. These certificates thus create transparency and a comparative framework for the ICT and professional world, which can provide advantages, especially when applying for a job.
The certificates and the associated examinations are developed by international and national organizations. The examinations can usually be taken online or at partner schools. The partner schools also offer corresponding preparation courses.
If you want to make the extent of your ICT skills visible as a user, have them confirmed with a certificate. Two certificate groups have been established in Switzerland for this purpose: ECDL (European Computer Driving License) and SIZ (Swiss IT Certificate).
ECDL and SIZ are product-neutral, i.e. they are based on working with several operating systems (Windows, Mac, Linux) and programs from various manufacturers (Microsoft Office, Adobe, etc.).
Both certificates attest to user knowledge at several levels from basic to advanced. They differ in the areas of application:
If you want to prepare yourself for a career in IT and document your steps on the way to becoming an IT professional independently of specific products and manufacturers, you can obtain a CompTIA certificate.
The certificates of the international Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) are aimed at IT specialists and attest to basic or extended specialist knowledge and practical experience in various IT disciplines.