High school students in Chicago are getting a shot at professional IT certification, reports InformationWeek. The Computing Technology Industry Association announced that nearly 500 students are enrolled in Chicago Public Schools’ Education to Careers IT program. The program includes instruction for CompTIA’s vendor-neutral certifications, culminating in CompTIA exams at three Chicago public high schools this week. Pearson VUE, an electronic testing company, is coordinating the exams. The students have prepared for certifications in computer support and networking. Those in the networking program learned to install, configure, and troubleshoot basic networking hardware, protocols, and services, CompTIA said. "On behalf of the leadership and members of CompTIA, I commend all of these students and their instructors for their strong commitment to preparing for careers in the IT industry," John Venator, president and CEO of CompTIA, said in a news announcement. "The skills these students are learning today establish the foundation for personal growth and career advancement in the future."

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