TOGAF Certified, Now What?
Architects worldwide continue to grow and validate their skills with two globally recognized certifications – paving the way for career growth, salary progression, valuable peer recognition, and opening doors to alluring enterprise architecture (EA) opportunities.
The Open Group Certified Technical Specialist (Open CTS) Programme and The Open Group Certified Architect (Open CA) Programme stand as a testament to the continuous 'professionalisation' of the EA discipline. These certifications are logical steps for architects who have earned their TOGAF certification and are keen to advance their careers further.
Both programmes necessitate architects to present a comprehensive portfolio of evidence and case material from their previous assignments, which subsequently undergoes a thorough peer review process. These programmes focus on evaluating a variety of skills, including technical and problem-solving abilities, experience, and interpersonal skills.
Stuart Macgregor, CEO of The Open Group SA, explains that "these two peer-reviewed certifications are employed by the world's leading enterprises as an objective measure of capabilities."
He adds, "Certified individuals often find they can unlock new growth opportunities and engage in the most fulfilling assignments."
These programmes, being vendor-neutral, portable, and globally recognized, enable architects to access a different salary bracket compared to their non-certified peers. Indeed, Open CA and Open CTS accreditations frequently feature on 'highest-paid' lists of international salary benchmarks in the IT sector.
Certified professionals contribute significant value to EA companies by providing clients and potential clients with reliable assurance of skills, and aiding organizations in tackling the most complex and challenging EA tasks.
To cater to enterprise architects' varied levels of industry experience and specialisation, Open CA is available at three levels (Certified, Master, and Distinguished) and across four different streams – Business Architect, Digital Architect, Enterprise Architect, and Solution Architect. This gives each certification a distinct character.
Upon achieving the certification, individuals join a community of over 5,000 certified professionals from 180 companies in more than 60 countries worldwide.
Open CTS also enjoys considerable popularity, with over 3,000 certified professionals from a diverse range of organizations in more than 50 countries worldwide.
For more detailed information on all the Open Group certifications – including Open CA and Open CTS – please email open-group-sa-info@opengroup.co.zaza.