Juniors enrolled in the Cybersecurity and Computer Technology program at the HFM Career and Technical Center now have an independent, third-party certification to add to their resumes.
New this year, the Cybersecurity program partnered with TestOut, an information technology certification company, to offer industry-based certifications to students. This spring all nine students who sat for the exam passed and earned certification. Additional certification opportunities will be available to these students as seniors.
Industry certifications such as the TestOut exams allow students to demonstrate mastery of knowledge and skills. Industry experts say such certifications can increase job prospects and marketability to employers in the fast growing cybersecurity field.
“By offering these certification exams we’re helping our students stand out when applying for entry-level positions. The certification also looks great on a college application,” said Sean Mahon, the HFM Cybersecurity and Computer Technology instructor.
The certification exams are administered during classes at no cost to families. In the past, while Cybersecurity students were qualified to sit for independent certification tests, there were none offered locally.
The certification exam covers 11 areas including operating systems, PC hardware and software, basic networking, remote access, virtualization, storage, mobile devices, security, malware detection and prevention and troubleshooting. The exam is 100 percent performance based and provides hands-on problems students must solve to pass.
Students earning certification were: Destin Ferrell from Amsterdam; Austin Wallace and Nathan Eglin from Broadalbin-Perth; Nicholas Floyd from Fonda-Fultonville, Nathaniel Cotton, Tyler Dickinson, Joshua Hoyt and Tristan McMillion from Johnstown and Ethan Ross from Wells.
