So what exactly is ISO 9001?

ISO 9000 and ISO 14000 standards are implemented by some 887 770 organizations in 161 countries. ISO 9000 has become an international reference for quality management requirements in business-to-business dealings, and ISO 14000 is well on the way to achieving as much, if not more, in enabling organizations to meet their environmental challenges.

The ISO 9000 family is primarily concerned with "quality management". This means what the organization does to fulfill:

- the customer's quality requirements, and
- applicable regulatory requirements, while aiming to
- enhance customer satisfaction, and
- achieve continual improvement of its performance in pursuit of these objectives.


The ISO 14000 family is primarily concerned with "environmental management". This means what the organization does to:

- minimize harmful effects on the environment caused by its activities, and to
- achieve continual improvement of its environmental performance.


Why do you need to know this?

ISO 9000 is sweeping the world. It is rapidly becoming the most important quality standard. Thousands of companies in over 100 countries have already adopted it, and many more are in the process of doing so. Why? Because it controls quality. It saves money. Customers expect it. And competitors use it.

ISO 9000 applies to all types of organizations. It doesn't matter what size they are or what they do. It can help both product and service oriented organizations achieve standards of quality that are recognized and respected throughout the world.

There are some PMP Exam questions that touch on ISO standards. This small piece of knowledge may help you in understanding those questions a little better.

Interesting Article

I'm vearing away from the principle action of this Blog, the PMP Certification, for an article that I feel is worth reading.

The Ten Commandments of Project Management
They'll lead your company to the promised land of project-based culture.
James M. Kerr

Here's an outline of what Kerr refers to as the Ten Commandments of Project Management:

1. Thou Shalt Narrow Project Scope
2. Thou Shalt Not Suffer a Fat Team
3. Thou Shalt Require Full-Time Business Participation
4. Thou Shalt Establish Project Review Panels
5. Thou Shalt Not Provoke Burnout
6. Thou Shalt Seek Outside Assistance as Needed
7. Thou Shalt Empower Project Teams
8. Thou Shalt Use Project Management Tools
9. Thou Shalt Reward Success
10. Thou Shalt Not Tolerate Quick-and-Dirty Work Efforts


You can read the full article HERE

Pass this test....

The Project Management Professional Certification, offered by the Project Management Institute, is currently the premier certification to have in the world of Project Management. . No matter what your view on the worth of the certification, there is undeniable proof that it is in demand. Visit monster.com or careerbuilder.com; search for Project Manager as the job title and see exactly how many employers prefer if not require this certification for employment consideration.

PMP ranks #4 on years Hottest Certifications to have according to Certicities.com

PMI’s PMP title made a strong showing this year, rising from its debut stop at No. 10 last year, thanks in part to even stronger buzz for this industry-neutral title within the IT community. Our contributors like it as well. The title placed at No. 4 on Neilson’s personal top 10 list for 2006, and Barkl placed it at No. 5. “There’s always a need for those who understand project management,” he said.

Dulaney agrees, saying there’s a lot to like about this title, which he placed at No. 8 on his personal list. “The recent updates to this certification have kept it current,” he commented. “[It’s] useful for administrators, engineers -- just about anyone.”


There's no denying it, if your a project manager, right now, PMP Certification is one to have.




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Website News

Updates to the Exam Simulator


Hello All,

I wanted to take a moment and drop a quick note to update our readers about the new version of our PMP Exam Question Simulator that will be made available soon. We are making a number of additions to help maximize usability and minimize study time. As you all know, we had been delivering our content through the CMS system called Moodle. Moodle is a great tool, but we've made a decision to transition to new software with greater functionality and a new sleek look and feel.

With the new software, our exam simulator customers will be able to register, view different lessons and be able to take a test after completing each lesson.

Lesson and Testing Features:

The lessons are composed of a combination of text, images or video. If you answer the question incorrectly a pop-up window will appear that corresponds to the section that the question addresses. The system will also help you count the number of attempts it takes you to get an answer correct. After a lesson is complete you will see a summary page that displays each question and the number of attempts it took you to complete the question.

All test questions will be choosen randomly from our database, muxh like the actual PMP Exam. Real time results will be available after finishing the test and you can see your history and rank after completing test.


Our PMP certification exam preparation tool is designed for students to prepare PMP candidates for the Project Management Institute’s (PMI) Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam. Readysetpass.com includes an online based PMP exam simulator. With readysetpass.com students can gauge the candidate’s readiness for the PMP exam.

Our exam simulator includes over 1000 practice questions covering all PMBOK knowledge areas. All of our questions have been developed and peer reviewed by PMP certified instructors with years of experience preparing PMP candidates. The question bank is updated regularly to ensure the questions are up to date, and most accurately reflect the current PMP exam.

Visit www.readysetpass.com today to ensure your PMP Success!

Does the PMP Have Value?

Foote Partners LLC, an IT workforce research company, assesses the skills and pay of more than 35,000 IT professionals in over 1,800 North American and European companies. In a recent survey, they found that the Project Management Professional certification provides the best bonuses for IT professionals, averaging 15% of base pay.

Just what is a PMP certification and why does it add so much value to the people who hold it? The reason is mostly due to the fact that the Project Management Institute issues the certification. The Project Management Institute, or PMI, is a global organization, with chapters in all but about four countries throughout the world. PMI has a rigorous criteria and a very difficult exam which potential PMP's must pass before they can become certified.

There are two categories of people who can pursue PMP certification. The first category is for those who have college degrees. People in this category must have 4,500 hours of continuous, non-overlapping project management experience for 36 consecutive months within the past five years. The second category includes those project managers who have not attended college. People in this category must have 7,500 hours of continuous, non-overlapping project management experience for 60 months over an eight-year period. Both categories must also prove that they have participated in 35 hours of project management training within the past ten years.

Project Managers who meet either category must file an eligibility application with PMI. Once PMI reviews an application and determines if a candidate is eligible, they release an eligibility letter. A candidate then receives the eligibility letter to take the PMP certification exam.

The certification exam is a difficult one. The industry standard pass rate is rumored at 60%.

Presently there are in excess of 200,000 PMI members, with many others joining PMI to pursue the PMP certification.

Based on the salary increases experienced by IT professionals with the PMP, this credential carries some clout and is capturing great interest. Membership statistics from PMI indicate that the Computers/Software/DP and IT industries are the top two industry areas among PMI members, with about 15,000 and 12,000 members respectively in each industry category (estimated in 2005).

In whatever way people prepare to become certified Project Managers, the benefits are immeasurable to both the employee and the employer. Employees are rewarded with increased salaries, job promotions, and in general, better job prospects. Employers who use PMP's are assured that they have hired Project Managers who have a core competency in Project Management and the requisite experience to perform as a project manager. Studies have shown that projects managed by people who are not certified Project Managers have only a 25% chance of success, whereas projects run by those who are knowledgeable in Modern Project Management tools and techniques - as are people with the PMP certification - have a 75% success rate.


Who do you think companies would prefer to have at the helm of their projects?






Technorati

So Your Thinking About Taking the PMP Exam?

The intent of the PMP Exam is to ensure a thorough understanding of project management knowledge as set forth by the Project Management Institute (PMI).

Before applying for the PMP Exam you must satisfy certain Educational Requirements:

Bachelor's Degree - 4500 Hours
No Bachelor's Degree - 7500 Hours

This 4500 or 7500 hours of project time is to be non-overlapping and based on time spent on the project itself, not the overall project duration.

You must have at least 35 hours of formal Project Management Education. A training certificate of at least 35 contact hours of Project Management training (Contact Hours) is required to register for the exam. Our PMP Exam Prep Tools provide you with the required Contact Hours! You can submit your application prior to completing your training, as long as the contact hours are completed prior to sitting for the exam. We'll provide you a certificate denoting 35 contact hours upon completion of our course.

You should know, it's a computer-based exam hosted by the Sylvan-Prometric Testing center. It is composed of 200 multiple-choice questions based on the Project Management Body of Knowledge or PMBOK. Test questions are randomly selected from a database of over 2000 possible questions. The test taker has a total of 4 hours to complete the exam. The intent of the test is to ensure a thorough understanding of project management knowledge as set forth by the Project Management Institute.

The newest version of the PMBOK, the PMBOK Guide-Third Edition, was released to PMI members in October 2004. In addition, the exam and the passing scores have been adjusted. The passing score for the new exam has now been changed from 81% to 61%. The exam taker must answer 106 questions out of 175 correct. 25 additional questions will be asked on the exam for a total of 200 possible questions. The 25 - pretest items will continue to be part of the exam. PMI uses these questions to understand the performance of the questions prior to counting the questions towards a candidates score. The exam taker will not know which 25 are not applied to the pass/fail score. Out of the score able 175 questions, approximately 19 will come from Initiation, 40 from planning, 47 from execution, 37 from monitor and control, 16 from closing and 16 from Professional responsibility.

Initiating the Project......11%
· Conduct Project Selection Methods
· Define Scope Document Project Risks, Assumptions, and Constraints
· Identify and Perform Stakeholder Analysis
· Develop Project Charter
· Obtain Project Charter Approval

Planning the Project......23%
· Define and Record Requirements, Constraints and Assumptions
· Identify Project Team and Define Roles and Responsibilities
· Create the WBS · Develop Change Management Plan
· Identify Risks and Define Risk Strategies
· Obtain Plan Approval Conduct Kick-off Meeting

Executing the Project......27%
· Execute Tasks Defined in Project Plan
· Ensure Common Understanding and Set Expectations
· Implement the Procurement of Project Resources
· Manage Resource Allocation
· Implement Quality Management Plan
· Implement Approved Changes
· Implement Approved Actions and Workarounds
· Improve Team Performance

Monitoring and Controlling the Project......21%
· Measure Project Performance
· Verify and Manage Changes to the Project
· Ensure Project Deliverables Conform to Quality Standards
· Monitor all Risks

Closing the Project......9%
· Obtain Final Acceptance for the Project Obtain Financial, Legal, and Administrative Closure
· Release Project Resources
· Identify, Document and Communicate Lessons Learned
· Create and Distribute Final Project Report
· Archive and Retain Project Records
· Measure Customer Satisfaction

Professional and Social Responsibility......9%
· Ensure Individual Integrity
· Contribute to the Project Management Knowledge Base
· Enhance Personal Professional Competence
· Promote Interaction Among Stakeholders

Exam Questions are designed to check both key understanding and the ability to practically apply concepts. The types of question and formats you may encounter are; Situational questions which require you to rely on your knowledge, PMI (PMBOK) experience and judgment in order to answer them correctly and Conceptual in which you must apply concepts to a new situation by using more than simple memorization. (All questions are multiple choice with four possible answers). Test questions will intentionally use different terminology or alternate versions of similar questions for the same concepts to test your understanding of the topic rather than your ability to recall a term.
You may encounter: Time-consuming questions that cause you, the test taker, to feel disoriented or overwhelmed. It's particularly stressful if you encounter these types of questions early on in the exam. (The Ready Set Pass program is designed to reduce the chance of this happening by including many exam-like questions in our practice material.) Questions that require you to Fill-in-the-blank and other factual-type questions. These questions simply require the test taker to recall the definition or context of a word or set of words. (Likely worded identically as in the PMBOK Guide.) Questions in which you need to select the exception from the four possible answers. If 3 correct answers are present look for the Odd man out.
Some questions will be long drawn out short stories. Much of the text of is not essential in answering the question. The test taker will need to weed out the non-essential data. More often than not the essential data is the last sentence in the paragraph. It may benefit you to read the last sentence first. Questions that require you to perform calculations and/or draw simple diagrams. These are typically questions about earned value, cost, network diagrams, and schedules. In our estimation, around 75% of the exam questions come directly from the PMBOK Guide.
The remaining questions are derived from other reference materials and real-world situations. Solid common project sense should help you in answering these. Some key exam topics you won't find in the PMBOK but should understand are: Conflict-resolution techniques, Organizational theories, Problem-solving techniques and Theories of motivation.
You will encounter questions that will be difficult to answer with confidence. Commonly these types of questions seemed to potentially have more than one correct answer. Two or more of the answers are reasonable responses. However, there is always one best response, as determined by PMI. You should track these questions and revisit them at the end of the exam before it is submitted. Be alert about answers that reflect common project management errors and unapproved practices. It is important to remember that the answer should reflect PMIs views. Remembering this should help you rule out any common sense answers that dont coincide with the PMBOK. The test taker must sift through answers that are factually correct but are not the correct response to the question.
As a Test Taker, it is important to develop a Strategy. Anticipate that many questions will have multiple correct answers. It is your challenge to pick the best answer based on how PMI outlines the situation should be handled. Remember to answer questions from PMIs perspective, not from your real-life experience. Think, What does PMI say I should I do? rather than Whats worked in the past? The actual exam allows you to mark any question for later review. Plan on making several passes through all 200 questions of the exam. (Double-check yourself on questions that you are unsure of your answer). On the initial pass through the exam, mark any question that you are not 100% sure of the answer. On the second pass, review all the marked questions. You may discover that the answer to a given question is detailed out in another question or answer throughout the exam.
During the exam, as the test taker, you will need to manage your exam time. 200 questions in 4 hours (240 minutes) = 1.2 minutes per question. Some questions will be as easy as 15 seconds; others may take 3 or 4 minutes. You are not required to immediately take the exam when you sit down at the computer terminal. Use this time to gather your thoughts and prepare your reference sheet. Write down all formulas, diagrams, and information that will assist you with the exam. This allows you to clear your thoughts and focus better as you begin the exam. When you begin the exam process, you will initially be provided a tutorial of how to use the terminal and how to take the exam. If you feel comfortable with the information, you can pass over this tutorial quickly and begin the exam. Pace yourself and be sure to read all four answers completely. Do not just choose the first potentially correct answer you see, there may be a More right / Most right answer available. Take breaks throughout the exam. You have 4 hours for the exam, you need to complete at least 50 questions per hour and allot for periodic breaks to allow yourself to regain focus and rest.

How to prepare for this exhausting exam:

http://www.readysetpass.com/ is a PMP® Exam Preparation site featuring an online virtual classroom, a hosted PM Discussion Forum and an online Exam Simulator. http://www.readysetpass.com/ was created, is owned and managed by Certified PMP's.
Designed for maximum impact, the online classroom and materials are based on Active, Passive and Accelerated Learning, Information Chunking and Memorization Techniques. Ready Set Pass online learners are self-directed and generally already work in their chosen professions, so a lot of learning by doing happens in the way of applying their newfound knowledge to the workplace. For this reason many online learners say they learn more in online classes than traditional settings, and have better retention, too.
readysetpass.com offers low cost PMP Exam Prep materials and exam simulation which can be used as contact hours for the Project Management Institute's (PMI) Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam in a proven learning format.
Our PMP Exam Prep Materials Offer: · Earn the 35 Contact Hours (PDU's) needed to sit for the PMP Exam · Access Over 1000 simulated practice exam questions · Downloadable - Printable PMP Exam Tips & Success Guide · Learn About PMI’s approach to the PMP Exam · A Deep Dive Review of PMI’s collection of processes and knowledge areas · Get Tips on answering examination questions · Ensure you understand the PMBOK® Guide well enough to pick the most correct answer out of 4 potentially correct answers. · Realize and Achieve your Goal of becoming PMP Certified · Gain Your Professional Credentials · Gain Leverage For Greater Earning Potential · Improve Your Project Management Skills and Knowledge · Earn Greater Professional Recognition from your Peers · Demonstrate of Your Commitment to the Profession
Now Think about it... This is a powerful self-study tool, it will increase your PMI and PMP knowledge quickly and comprehensively. Simply put, it’s an extremely powerful learning aid. We've taken the time to write down everything you need to know to pass the exam. Buy Now and you'll have access to powerful PMP knowledge that will help you pass the PMP exam. We've done the work. All you have to do is study it!
Now here's the best part, as a part of our commitment to the aspiring PMP community, you can access the PMP Exam Simulator for only $20 and download the PMP Exam Tips & Success Guide for only $40 (Limited Time Offer) Simply Click Here Now to ensure you pass the PMP Exam.

Wishing you PMP Success,
The Ready Set Pass Team
Visit http://www.readysetpass.com/ today

PMP Exam Tips

Exam Taking Tip # 1

Doing well in Exams isn't just about learning what you are studying well, it's also about expressing what you know clearly enough that the person marking the exam can fully appreciate your knowledge. Take the opportunity to teach your friends and the people around you some of what you've studied. Set yourself a challenge to teach other people things that you are learning. Afterwards you'll know the subject even better, and you'll probably find the subject more interesting (especially if you find a fun way to teach it).


Exam Taking Tip # 2

There are distinct differences between "Accelerated Learning" and "Cramming". Accelerated learning is our preferred method, however, since cramming is a heavily used component of studying for today’s student, it's helpful to know how to make it work for you. Here is a five-step cramming process: 1) Make choices. Don't try to learn it all when you cram. You can't. Instead pick out a few of the most important elements of the course and learn those backward, forward, and upside down. Sometimes these choices will be difficult. You might be tempted to go over everything lightly. Resist this temptation. If you cover a lot of material lightly, chances are, you will recall none of it during the exam. Be courageous and choose a few important items. For example, you can devote most of your attention to the topic sentences, tables, and charts in a long reading assignment instead of reading the whole assignment. A useful guide is to spend 25 percent of cramming time learning new material and 75 percent of cramming time drilling yourself on that material. 2) Make a plan. Cramming is always done when time is short. That is all the more reason to take a few minutes to create a plan. Choose what you want to study (suggestion #1), determine how much time you have, and set deadlines for yourself. It's easy to panic and jump right in. Making a plan can save you time and allow you to work faster. 3) Use mind map review sheets and flash cards. Condense the material you have chosen to learn into mind maps. Choose several elements of the mind maps to put on 3x5 flash cards. Practice recreating the mind maps, complete with illustrations. Drill yourself with the flash cards. 4) Recite ad nauseam. The key to cramming is repetitive recitation. Recitation can burn facts into your brain like no other study method. Go over your material again and again and again. One option is to tape-record yourself while you recite. Then play the tape as you fall asleep and as you wake up in the morning. Repeat out loud what you have chosen to study until you are confident that you will be able to recall it. 5) Relax. Because you do not learn material well when you cram, you are more likely to freeze and forget it under the pressure of an exam. Relaxation techniques can be used to reduce test anxiety, both before and during the test.


Exam Taking Tip # 3

1. The most important tip that we can share with you is this: "Passing the PMP Exam is not just being able to Regurgitate PMBOK information, it's also about understanding concept and application, it's about common "Project" sense, it's about memory and knowledge retention and it's about dedication to understanding the Project Management from PMI's perspective!"
2. Learning "How to learn" is one of the greatest investments you can ever make in yourself.
3. Regular Exercise of the body is important for the mind to function at full capacity
4. Practice "Calming" breathing techniques. You may find yourself frustrated during the 4 hour PMP Exam, know how to calm you emotions and remain focus will be an important aspect of passing the exam!
5. Just prior to entering the exam room, think of a time when you were feeling particularly confident and feed off of that feeling.
6. Your state of mind during the exam is crucial to your success - Remain positive at all times!


Exam Taking Tip #4

1. Every Exam answer should be from PMI's view. This means your personal experiences DON'T COUNT. 2. The newest version of the PMBOK, the PMBOK Guide-Third Edition, was released to PMI members in October 2004. In addition, the exam and the passing scores have been adjusted. The passing score for the new exam has now been changed from 81% to 61%. The exam taker must answer 106 questions out of 175 correct. 25 additional questions will be asked on the exam for a total of 200 possible questions. The 25 - pretest items will continue to be part of the exam. PMI uses these questions to understand the performance of the questions prior to counting the questions towards a candidates score. The exam taker will not know which 25 are not applied to the pass/fail score. Out of the score able 175 questions, approximately 19 will come from Initiation, 40 from planning, 47 from execution, 37 from monitor and control, 16 from closing and 16 from Professional responsibility. 3. Identify and learn the PMI mindset: Many of the exam questions give you a typical project situation that a project manager faces and then you need to choose the best answer. In order to choose the best answer, think best practices according to PMBOK not your situation. This means you need to understand the role of the project manager from PMI perspective. Assume that you are in an environment where best practices rule. Where you have a project charter according to PMBOK. Where the project managers have the support that they so richly deserve. It’s a world where the PMBOK is the true guiding force and where team members perform. Where functional managers answer you when you call. Concentrating on knowing the mindset of PMI, memorizing and knowing how to apply the inputs, tools and outputs of each process, and beating the practice exam questions to death!!

www.readysetpass.com

PMP Exam Experience

In early 2005, I sat for the exam and passed on my first attempt. I had studied on my own for months using self-prep materials. In the final days leading up to my exam, I sat in on a four day prep course. I'm the anal retentive type and made overly sure I was prepared for the exam - And I'm sure glad I did.

The PMP Exam, based on the PMBOK 2000, was the single hardest test I have ever taken. I knew my friends, family, colleagues and many others were watching to see how I handled the pressure. My employer want to know that I was a clutch player under pressure.

I am a very confident project manager, but I found myself having doubt.

Receiving an Award

The single simple fact is the PMP Certification Exam is presented from the viewpoint of the Project Management Institute. and based on their publication, The Project Management body of Knowledge. Prior to beginning my PMP studies, I was only vaguely familiar with the PMI methodologies and approach to Project Management. I found it difficult to place myself in the PMI mindset. My point here is, without formal exam prep, I wouldn't have been able to fully understand and apply the prinicples contained in the PMBOK.

If your an aspiring PMP, I recommend you check out www.readysetpass.com for PMP prep options. http://www.readysetpass.com/ provides PMP Exam Readiness materials. They host an online exam simulator and a PM Discussion forum that offers advice and support for aspiring PMP's.




Taken the PMP Exam? Post your experience here. Others can benefit from your feedback. Let them know how you studied, what you studied with, how the exam was for you and how you scored.

How to get the most out of PMP Prep.

Here are 7 smart tips to get the maximum out of a PMP Prep program!

1) Be proactive - It is nice to just think about becoming a PMP certified project manager and the benefits it can bring to boost your career, but without taking any action or continuously searching for that ideal training provider, training material, training budget and training schedule, it’s all for naught. You have already taken the first step by choosing us to partner with you in your journey to become a PMP. You will be able to use PMP title after your name very soon. Simply download our PMP Prep materials and you will have already taken that vital pro-active step! Congratulations!

2) Begin with the end in mind - The PMP credential has value, because it takes experience, PMBOK knowledge and exam practice to pass the exam. Without all of these, it is very difficult. It is not easy to stay focused. Focus on the benefits you will achieve in your professional life, at the end of the next few days. Let us take the worry away. Completing the PMP Readiness program is the best way to prepare for your upcoming exam.

3) Put first things first - For the next few days, consider PMP Readiness as your top priority. That means as few distractions as possible. Spend quality time with our PMP material and discussion board team so you can understand the knowledge areas and earn the contact hours. For the duration of your studies, we want you to be in touch with the subject by reading, listening and by testing. We’re going to go full blast on the preparation.

4) Think win-win - The PMP journey is not just taking the examination, it’s a lifetime of dedication to the project management profession. Finding the time and motivation to prepare is just the first step in your journey. While preparing you will likely experience some self-doubt. That is normal, when we learn any thing new, be it be ride a bike or the PMBOK. So forget about the doubt of whether you can make it or not. Instead, focus on the WINS you are going to have! YOU WILL WIN by having this additional credential, YOUR EMPLOYER WILL WIN because of your new credential and stature, YOUR FAMILY WILL WIN, because of your career growth and WE will do help you accomplish all of this, because we take pride in your success!

5) Seek first to understand - While preparing, you may encounter many conflicts. The conflicts of what you were practicing and thought as the best versus what the PMBOK says you should be doing. In our PMP Readiness course we differentiate between real world common practice and PMI PMBOK common practice. If there is a doubt, where the PMP exam is concerned, the PMI PMBOK perspective always wins.

6) Synergize – Become an active member of you local PMP chapter. Your insights and experiences while preparing and after gaining the PMP credentials can be shared with the rest, and theirs shared with you. Active means you attend and participate!

7) Stay Sharp - Becoming a PMP and practicing, improving on what you already learned are two different things. We will be delighted to be in touch with you regarding the very best and the latest in project management. We are working on a series of advanced project management events (offering PDU’s) to be delivered in year 2006. Keep in touch!



Wishing you the very best,

www.readysetpass.com

Increase you Marketability - Get Certified

1. Certification demonstrates your commitment to the profession. Receiving your certification shows your peers, supervisors and, in turn, the general public your commitment to your chosen career and your ability to perform to set standards. Since university degrees can no longer represent the full measure of professional knowledge and competence in today's evolving job market, certification sets you apart as a leader in your field.

2. Certification enhances the profession's image. Association certification programs seek to grow, promote, and develop certified professionals, who can stand "out in front" as examples of excellence in the industry or field.

3. Certification reflects achievement. And not only achievement, but personal achievement. A certified professional has displayed excellence in their field and fulfilled set standards and requirements.

4. Certification builds self-esteem. Association certification programs create a standard for a particular profession, complete with performance standards, ethics, and career paths. You'll begin to define yourself beyond a job description or academic degree. You'll see yourself as a certified professional who can control his or her own professional destiny and find a deep sense of personal satisfaction.

5. Certification establishes professional credentials. Since it recognizes your individual accomplishments, certification stands above your resume, serving as an impartial, third-party endorsement to your knowledge and experience. And when the public looks for individuals qualified to perform services, they seek individuals-like you-who have achieved certification.

6. Certification improves career opportunities and advancement. Certification gives you the "edge" when being considered for a promotion or other career opportunities. Certification clearly identifies you as an employee who can adapt to changes in work, technology, business practices, and innovation.

7. Certification prepares you for greater on-the-job responsibilities. Since certification is a voluntary professional commitment to an industry or field of knowledge, it is a clear indicator of your willingness to invest in your own professional development. Certified professionals are aware of the constantly changing environment around their profession and possess the needed tools to anticipate and respond to change.

8. Certification provides for greater earnings potential. As a certified professional, you can expect many benefits, but for today's down-sized, right-sized, topsy-turvy working world, salary increases speak for themselves. One association survey reported that their certified professionals earn more than non-certified professionals.

9. Certification improves skills and knowledge. Ideally, achieving certification shows your individual competence by confirming proficiency and career involvement and assuring knowledge.

10. Certification offers greater professional recognition from peers. Hear that applause? It's all for you! As a certified profession you can expect increased recognition from your peers for taking that extra step in your professional development.

Go to www.readysetpass.com for more details...