Certification program for RFID expands

By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 1/1/2006

As a response to the growing number of major retailer mandates to use RFID in their supply chains, a vendor-neutral certification program is being developed.

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) has announced the development of an educational seminar that would give participants the CompTIA RFID+ certification. The credential would "validate the knowledge and skills of professionals needed to meet the expected high demand for RFID talent over the next several years," says the organization.

"The industry as a whole can use the certification as proof of the foundational knowledge regarding RFID technology," says Dave Sommer, director of RFID initiatives for CompTIA. "In the past, each vendor has done its own training—we'll eliminate some of that redundancy."

Recently joining the challenge to educate RFID professionals is Zebra Technologies Corp., a supplier of business printing solutions. The company was the first to introduce an on-demand RFID printer/encoder and continues to develop industry protocols and technological standards.

Research conducted by strategic consulting firm Frost & Sullivan shows that of 500 North American companies, roughly 50% have undertaken any type of RFID initiative or plan to do so during the next 12 months. But, a shortage of skilled RFID practitioners could hamper the development of the industrial RFID implementation, according to CompTIA.

"As the number of RFID implementations continues to rise, certification will become increasingly important as a means for companies to ensure they are deploying the appropriate RFID systems to meet their business goals," says Bob Cornick, vice president of RFID at Zebra.

Zebra is not alone in its work to develop the certification. A number of third-party logistics providers, professional industry groups and technology companies are also lending expertise.

You can take a beta exam for the RFID certification on the CompTIA Web site. And, those who pass the beta examination will be awarded the certification. The current cost for the exam is $75, with the final version increasing to about $200 in March 2006, Sommer says.