The CIW Web Certification Roadmap
Due to the very nature and expanse of the Internet, it is impossible to give credit to a single individual or organisation for its creation. It is the amalgamation of almost a century of ideas, theory, engineering and development. In the early 1900’s Nikola Tesla first considered the notion of a “world wireless system” which can be seen as the first conceptual idea of the Internet.
In the late 1960’s ARPANET was created and this was the first working prototype of the Internet. ARPANET stands for Advanced Research Projects Agency Network and the technology required for the Internet as we know it grew from this seed. The year 1983 saw researchers begin to assemble a “network of networks” and this is what later became the modern version of the Internet. In 1990 a computer scientist named Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web (www) which is commonly confused with the Internet itself. Although it is not the actual Internet, the World Wide Web is the most common way of accessing online data by making use of websites and hyperlinks. The Web is what made the Internet popular amongst public citizens and was what led to the Internet becoming a worldwide sensation that has resulted in most people using it on a daily basis for an uncountable number of purposes.
With the fast-paced development of technology that we experience in this modern era, it is essential to ensure that there are a suitable number of qualified individuals who are capable of working on, managing and protecting this vast informational resource. One of the ways in which this goal is achieved is through those people who follow the CIW Web Certification roadmap.
Who is CIW?
CIW stands for Certified Internet Webmaster and it is an organisation that develops Web technology education and certification programs for those who wish to become Web professionals. The Web technology skills offered by CIW have become so renowned that they are often considered to be the educational standard for this type of training. The CIW training is popular with governments, businesses and learning institutions around the world. The focus of CIW is on foundational curriculums for the Web which includes Web Foundation courses, Web Design courses, Web development courses and Web security courses. These are the most vital areas of Web training and CIW Web Certification will ensure that efficient and effective training is delivered to those who chose to study for a CIW Web Certification.
Why is a CIW Web Certification Important?
When beginning a career based on Web technology it is necessary to validate your skills to prove to current, and future, employers that you are capable of performing your role to the required standards. When you earn a CIW Web Certification you will not only learn the necessary skills to do what needs to be done, but also gain the credibility that comes with having an internationally recognised CIW Web Certification in your career arsenal.
The CIW Web Certification courses have been rapidly growing in popularity since the late 1990’s and CIW have consistently enhanced their courseware to reflect the “upgrades” in modern technology. One of the most popular choices for CIW certification comes in the form of their Web Design courses. Becoming a Web Designer requires intensive training and the Web Design courses that lead to CIW certification meet the requirements.
Another benefit of achieving a CIW Web Certification when looking to become a Web Designer is that the CIW Web Certification courses are developed using the best possible information which is gathered from numerous providers as opposed to a single provider. This means that earning a CIW Web Certification through one of their Web Design courses will give a Web Designer a very well-rounded approach.
It is, however, important to know that there is a lot more to the CIW Roadmap than just its Web Design courses. CIW certification comes in numerous forms and other web professionals, aside from Web Designers, can also benefit greatly from gaining a CIW Web Certification.
The CIW Web Certifications
One of the really great aspects of CIW certification is that you have multiple options throughout your studies and are rewarded for each step that you take along the journey towards becoming a web professional. This means that you can add relevant qualifications to your CV whilst you are still in the process of achieving the main CIW Web Certification that you are working towards. There are four main CIW certification options on the CIW roadmap and we will take a look at each of these below.
CIW Web Foundations Courses
The CIW certification for Web Foundations will provide just that – a solid foundation of digital literacy skills and an understanding of Internet Business, Web Design and Development as well as data networking. This is the ideal starting point for anyone who wants to become a Web Designer.
The CIW Web Certification that is gained from the courses in this series is the CIW Web Foundations Associate and there are two ways in which you can achieve this CIW certification.
Option 1 – If you chose this option then you will only write one exam after you have studied the required course which is actually three courses presented as one. Passing this one exam will result in the CIW Web Foundation Associate certification.
- Exam 1D0-610: CIW Web Foundation Associate
Option 2 – In order to add further qualifications to your CV, you can choose the second option which allows you to write a separate exam for each of the three topics that are covered in these courses. You will receive a certification for each one of the three exams that you pass and once you have passed all three exams, you will also earn the CIW Web Foundations Associate qualification. This option enables you to gain four distinct certifications when studying this series of courses.
- Exam 1D0-61A: CIW Internet Business Associate certification
- Exam 1D0-61B: CIW Site Development Associate certification
- Exam 1D0-61C: CIW Network Technology Associate certification
CIW Web Design Courses
This CIW series is the ideal route for any Web Designer who is looking to add CIW certification to their list of achievements as this is a leading series of Web Design courses. To earn this CIW Web certification, there are two exams which must be passed. Although this stop on the CIW roadmap does not present two options, it does enable you to earn three CIW certifications when you pass just the two exams. After passing each of the two exams you will receive the associated CIW certification and once you have passed both exams, you will be the proud owner of the CIW Web Design Professional certification.
- Exam 1D0-520: CIW Web Design Specialist certification
- Exam 1D0-525: CIW E-Commerce Specialist certification
CIW Web Development Courses
Next checkpoint on the CIW Web Certification roadmap is the CIW Web Development series of courses which can also be taken as one course grouping. The obvious benefits of this series is that it combines an essential set of skills such as back-end programming language, front-end scripting language and the ability to integrate these with a database. This is a wonderfully diverse range of capabilities.
Similar to the Web Design courses, this series of courses will enable you to earn a CIW Web Certification for each of the three exams that you pass whilst studying towards your CIW Web Development certification. After completing your studies and passing all three of the relevant exams, you will automatically gain the CIW Web Development Professional certification – resulting in four certifications for just three exams.
- Exam 1D0-635: CIW JavaScript Specialist certification
- Exam 1D0-437: CIW Perl Specialist certification
- Exam 1D0-541: CIW Database Design Specialist certification
CIW Web Security Courses
When it comes to the CIW roadmap to CIW Web Certification, the Web Security series is a little different to the rest. This step is divided into three stages and each one has different requirements. Although this may seem like you are taking an alternate route, bear in mind the value that can be added by a CIW Web Certification and it will be clear that it is a beneficial detour.
Stage 1: Associate – This stage of CIW Web Certification will earn you an Associate level Web Security qualification from CIW. In order to do this you will need to study the relevant course and then pass the related exam.
- Exam 1D0-571: CIW Web Security Associate certification
Stage 2: Specialist – In order to gain the certification for this stage of CIW Web Certification you will be required to pass the CIW Web Security Associate exam and provide proof of one additional certification from a third party.
- Exam 1D0-571: CIW Web Security Associate certification
- One relevant exam certification from a third party
Stage 3: Professional – The final stop on the CIW roadmap to CIW Web Certification is the Professional level. To achieve this level of CIW certification you will need to pass the CIW Web Security Associate exam and then provide proof that you have earned two exam certifications from third party organisations.
- Exam 1D0-571: CIW Web Security Associate certification
- Two relevant exam certifications from third party organisations
Although the CIW roadmap to CIW Web Certification is a lengthy journey if you go the full distance, it is well worth travelling as you have the incredible ability to accumulate a total of 14 certifications along the way. Each CIW Web Certification is valuable in itself and even if you choose to focus on only one area, you will reap the rewards that come with achieving each CIW Web Certification.