Recently Revamped: The Certified Internet Webmaster Program

Web designers and developers familiar with the Certified Internet Webmaster (CIW) program will need to take another look as this program has recently undergone extensive changes. Certifications are offered in three tracks (Web Development, Web Design, and Web Security) and at three different levels (Associate, Specialist, and Professional).

Among the changes are:

• Each single exam leads to a certification
• New certifications have been added
• Several certifications have been discontinued
• Several certifications have been renamed

CIW Certification Organization
The new program is neatly organized with its three tracks and three levels. For example, the Web Foundation series provides a foundation for the Specialist and Professional tracks, earning successful candidates the Web Foundations Associate certification. Each track has a series of specialist certifications which when combined earn the successful candidate each of the specialist credentials and the professional credential. For instance, candidates who earn both the Web Design Specialist and E-Commerce Specialist certifications also earn the Web Design Professional certification.

Each CIW Exam Leads to a CIW Certification
Every CIW certification exam now leads to a CIW certification. While some certifications requiring passing multiple exams, each of those exams leads to its own certification. For example, if a specific certification requires passing three exams, the successful candidate will earn three certifications (one for each exam). In some cases, passing two specialists exams results in three certifications (one for each specialist exam which combine to earn the Professional designation).

Discontinued CIW Certifications
The Master CIW designation, CIW Professional, and CIW Associate Design Specialist have been discontinued as of June 30, 2011. Existing certificate holders are still considered CIW certified, despite the discontinuation of these credentials.

Renamed CIW Certifications
The CIW Associate is now called CIW Web Foundations Associate and the CIW Security Specialist is now called CIW Web Security Associate.

Among the more notable changes, the CIW Security track accepts third party certifications such as CompTIA and Cisco certifications as part of its program. This has led to some criticism in that earning two entry-level third party certifications can lead to the CIW Web Security Professional designation while other more advanced certifications such as the Red Hat Certified Engineer only lead to the CIW Web Security Specialist certification.

About CBT Planet:

If you're inspired by the new CIW program and anxious to earn your web design, web development, or security certification, CBT Planet has certification courses that prepare you for the new exams. Whether you're an individual looking to stay current with the latest professional certifications in your field or a training manager needing a convenient online employee training program for your staff, CBT Planet's instructor-led IT certification training courses are among the best ways to prepare for these new certification exams. Choose the certification desired and select from several live and self-paced learning formats such as distance learning, DVDs, online classes, and boot camps.