CEDIA members break down the importance of their certified distinction and how it has shaped their career paths.
Krissy Budish, CIT: I was recently CEDIA CIT certified. I’ve been in the industry six years and work in sales for Pioneer Music Company. I searched for classes at trade schools and colleges and found that, outside of being an audio engineer, these types of courses just aren’t available. When the opportunity presented itself for me to become CEDIA CIT certified, I jumped on it. I went through the textbook and online modules and learned a tremendous amount. I don’t feel I would have gained this type of knowledge otherwise since I am not a field technician. It was important to me to become certified so I can learn and grow within this industry and better serve our integrators.
Jared Edwards: There is currently no other method a potential client has to delineate a highly skilled integrator from one who is not. Certification says an integrator knows what they’re doing on a much higher level, which means jobs will be conceived, designed, installed, configured, and operated the right way. A more skilled staff also reduces service calls for a business and increases profitability. Certification truly sets the employee up for career advancement and long-term success.
James Chen: Certification is crucial to ensuring a standard is being met. Currently, CEDIA is the only internationally recognized body that holds ISO/IEC accreditation in our industry, a standard recognized by nearly all countries. ISO/IEC forms the foundation for safety and insurance. If you are not at least CIT certified, you may not be operating within proper guidelines and could potentially leave yourself exposed. I would encourage all professionals working in the technology industry to look into certification through CEDIA. Certification can further protect home technology professionals from making critical errors, which may, in turn, simplify or eliminate the need for troubleshooting.
Andy Baker, CIT-SME, IST-SME, ESC-D: Certifications show a person’s commitment to developing themselves and their career, which allied trades and clients are able to recognize. The CIT’s recent ISO accreditation has the potential to create massive change in how our industry is not only recognized but valued. What’s more, the certifications are available globally for anyone seeking to work in our industry, which makes them even more attractive.
Owen Maddock, IST, ESC-D, ESC-N, ESC-T: I’m CEDIA certified because I want to do my job well and fill gaps in my knowledge. I’ve found that being certified adds weight and authority to what I’m saying when working with other qualified professionals on a build project — they’re often more likely to see it my way. Finally, it’s a point of difference between me and most of my competitors.
Mike Ranpura, CIT-SME, IST-SME, ESC-N: One of the biggest benefits to CEDIA Certification is professional development. Technology is ever-evolving, and it’s important to know that you’re staying on top of changes in the market. Certification also proves to your clients that you’re fully capable of carrying out work at their property and are competent in what you say you can do. Perhaps the best part about CEDIA Certification, though, is that it’s available to everyone, not just CEDIA members. Our line of work is becoming very popular, and these certifications ensure anyone wishing to work in this industry learns how to do things the correct way.
Frank DeFilippis: Certification separates true professionals from hobbyists. In order to properly service homeowners, certification is critical. ISO accreditation further solidifies this mission. Internationally recognized certifications bring CEDIA to a whole new level and are a massive opportunity for all of us in the CEDIA ecosystem. Even if the homeowner is unaware of CEDIA certifications or ISO accreditation, with a little research, they can easily find out that this status is the gold standard in custom electronics installation certifications.
Learn more about CEDIA certification at cedia.org/certification.
