CIW is run by a for-profit company, Prosoft Learning, which, in turn, is owned by VCampus. According to Prosoft Learning, direction and content of the exams and courseware is influenced by a 'CIW Advisory Council', a group consisting of representatives from various academic and commercial enterprises.
For those wanting to demonstrate knowledge and proficiency in the latest Internet technologies, concepts, and job skills, CIW offer a range of certification tracks to suit most levels, each mapped to various job functions.
The list of CIW certifications are:
CIW Associate - basic knowledge of Internet technologies, Web authoring with XHTML, project management, and network infrastructure and troubleshooting.
CIW Professional - skills related to a particular discipline such as Web site design, security, server administration, application development or database management.
Master CIW Designer - cutting-edge design concepts and tools, industry standard design tools such as Dreamweaver and Flash, site maintenance, authoring and scripting languages, content and digital media creation, and B2B and B2C e-commerce Web site standards.
Master CIW Administrator - identification of network architecture, infrastructure and server administration, network administration skills and network security implementation.
Master CIW Web Site Manager - basic networking, Web site design techniques, Web authoring and scripting languages, and server administration.
Master CIW Enterprise Developer - Web-enabled enterprise application development, e-business solution implementation, database management, distributed object computing, scripting and programming languages, and language theory.
CIW Database Design Specialist - foundational knowledge of common database platforms, plus universal database design principles and SQL.
CIW Security Analyst - strategies and tools for protecting an organization's assets and operations.
Candidates can begin their CIW journey by taking the CIW Associates exam. This exam has no prerequisites of its own (anyone is free to take the exam irrespective of experience or prior education), but the CIW Associates certification is a prerequisite for all the other CIW certification tracks with the exception of the CIW Security Analyst (that exam requires a prior, advanced, networking credential from a list of acceptable options) and the Database Design Specialist.
While CIW certifications do not officially expire, the rate at which web technologies develop and evolve means that there is likely to be an unofficial 'market' shelf life. CIW do update and revise their courseware and exams although some certification tracks are more up-to-date than others.
All CIW exams can be taken at Pearson VUE and Prometric testing facilities. Always check with your nearest testing facility about the availability of the exam you wish to take. Payment for the exam must be made at the time of booking by credit card, discount exam voucher, or check, and exam fees vary from country to country.
Free CIW Study Guides and Practice Questions
