Career Advancement and Continuing Education for Software Certification
Unlike many continuing education programs for software education, the SEI continuing education program is highly selective. Most students must have a bachelor's degree or the equivalent, and a number of years in the software field using a specific set of technologies before being admitted into software certification programs. The Service-Oriented Architecture Smart Team Lead option is a perfect example; admission to this software certification selection requires:
- Sponsorship by an existing SEI-certified professional
- At least 10 years of experience in the computer science or information systems management field, with two years or more of service-oriented architecture experience
- Bachelor's degree
- Fluent English
While admissions criteria are strict, the rigorous continuing education program promises to deliver an education that gives information technology professionals a serious career advantage. As Welch notes, "In most cases, an SEI Certification indicates that the individual has completed a series of qualifying events specifically tailored for the particular technology or methodology. We see an increasing demand for our students in the workplace."
Selective Admissions for IT Certification
This highly-selective environment means that many IT specialists who want or need the certifications offered by SEI will not qualify. In addition, while SEI offers a variety of courses online and on-ground in larger cities in the U.S. and abroad, many courses are only held at its main Pittsburgh campus, an inconvenience for working professionals with limited time for continuing education training.
SEI looks at the overall needs in the IT sector and develops programs in anticipation of changing trends, helping students to possess skills that keep them competitive and in demand. "New programs are currently in development for professionals in organizational resiliency and risk management, network, and cybersecurity vulnerability, secure coding, SMART Grid networks, and insider threats," Welch says.
SEI Software Certification Program Costs
Most students in this professional software certification program receive tuition reimbursement from their employers. Costs vary from as little as $499 for the examination fee for CERT-Certified Computer Security Incident Handler certification to $15,800 for non-U.S.-based students seeking Architecture Tradeoff Analysis Method certification. SEI adds a surcharge for international students; the same training is $10,550 for a U.S.-based student.
SEI Continuing Education Quick Facts
- 5 certification areas
- Offers examinations at professional conferences worldwide
- Software certification exam centers available in 79 countries
For more information, visit the SEI Certification Program website or call 888-201-4479.