CDIA+ & Document Imaging Certs

rcoop

Is there anyone out there that has or is interested in this CompTIA certification (or aware of others that exist)?

I'm currently pursuing it as it is complementary to my job, and hope to have it by the end of March 2005. I also have completed two vendor-specific exams for a company called Kofax (Now I'm a Technical Solutions Specialist in their Ascent Capture product, as well as in their Ascent Advanced Forms products). I'm studying as well to take a third of their certification exams for their Internet Server product, which will give me a KC3 (Kofax Certified Capture Consultant) designation.

It would be nice to hear of anyone in the Document Imaging industry here, and other certifications or training that would be advisable.

There doesn't seem to be the same amount of material out there for CDIA like there is for the rest of the CompTIA certs, so if anyone knows of any resources ($$$ or otherwise) please post them here.

I've currently plunked down the dollars for the Specialized Solutions Inc
CDIA+ training material (350 page eBook, Testing software, and CBT). It looks really nice, but it cost a chunk of change.

Take Care,
Rcoop

rcoop

It seems as though there really aren't many resources or interest in the Document Imaging certs that are out there. Besides Kofax, I'm sure there are a few additional vendor-related certs, such as for Documentum and FileNet... I did find another vendor neutral one though,

The Information Capture Professional (ICP) from TAWPI
Website: http://www.tawpi.org/icp.html

Well, I'm scheduled to take CompTIA's CDIA+ tomorrow (12/18/04), and hopefully I'm prepared enough to pass.

Thanks to Webmaster (and the site) as the only place I could find a voucher for the CDIA was GetCertified4Less (although the process wasn't fun). Hopefully you got credit for it (I did get the TechExams members additional $1 off, so there is a record of me).

I'll comment more once I've got my results from tomorrows experience. It is amazing how much new lingo is in the Document Imaging / Document Management side of IT/IS... Tcat's PDF that's bundled with the GetCertified4Less voucher was pretty funny (he make reading boring stuff fun)... as he related his taking of the 2002 CDIA+ Beta exam and failing... we'll see if his pain is my glory.

Take Care,
Rcoop

rcoop

Passed with a 760. Not too tough of a test, but definitely helps to know the terminology and how to do the math problems, there are just enough that you won't pass otherwise.

The test was 85 questions, only single answer multiple choice, with 90minutes to complete. I finished in about 61 minutes.

There are temendous opportunities in Document Management / Document Imaging systems, especially for those with good computer and network knowledge. I currently work for an international software manufacturer in their professional services division, and go into a number of company and government sites using these systems.

If anyone is looking to get started in IT/IS and has decent attention to detail and some basic trouble shooting or critical thinking skills, simply look for an entry level position at a company with these technologies. You'll get the necessary lingo down quickly, be applying a good amount of your technology knowledge, and usually getting a decent company's name on your resume. Imaging departments don't pay a ton for their entry-level jobs, usually somewhere between $9 - $16 (US) per hour, but normally you get training on some very high-end expensive software, learn a businesses true workflow, understand the automation of that workflow, and be able to leverage that knowledge if you continue to study and achieve certification in other IT areas; from security to project management.

For those with experience in other areas of IT/IS, this is a ripe market, my company (and its competitors), and even our resellers are hiring like crazy. After helping to sell a company I worked at for 14 years in both IT and management (I was the Vice President); I took certification exams mainly to see what value they had for people I was hiring with them on their resume. After the sale of the company, I was like many over the past few years, unemployed, with a family to take care of, and no degree from MIT... a little worried that I might need to relocate to find a decent job... after going on just a few interviews I received three offers (and I wouldn't have to move... and better yet, I didn't have to take a reduced salary and work my way back up to what I was before.)
Needless to say, it felt great to have to decide what job to take, and after pondering on the choices with my wife I decided on the one I'm currently at, not because of the salary as it was a bit lower than the other two offers, but for the company, the job, and how it would help me grow. To date, I am anything but disappointed, the company is what it presented itself to be, and the free soft drinks, Starbucks, popcorn, and pretzels definitely add to the positive experience.

So anyone looking for a way to break into the IT field, advance their career, or learn a whole new area (semi-cutting edge)... look into jobs within the whole Knowledge Management / Business Intelligence / Workflow / Document Imaging/Management area.

If it's okay with webmaster, I'll post some links to the types of jobs available in the industry, as well as hopefully build some interest or discussion.

Best of luck to all,
Rcoop

rcoop

I didn't have as much time as I would have liked to study for this exam, but here is what I used:

Specialized Solutions' CDIA Ebook, practice exam, and 4 CD-ROM CBT. There are practice exams on the CBT/video training, but it isn't as up to date as the separate practice exam (it has like 431 sample questions). If you've passed your A+ and Net+ or Security+, these are all you need to study for this exam.

http://www.specializedsolutions.com/cdiaplus.htm

It is the first time I used any study material from them, and for the CDIA it was really good. Also as part of the voucher from GetCertified4Less I also got Tcat's Hot Tips for CDIA+ Exam 225-020, which was a nice supplement, but it really wouldn't be enough to study for the exam alone.

I started studying for the exam on Nov 6th, and took the exam Dec 18th. With more time, I would have been able to finish reading all the material I had and have been able to take a few more simulated exams prior to sitting for the exam... and probably would have scored a bit higher.

Although I'll be working for the next exam for the KC3 (digital capture cert) in the next month or so, I will also be starting some SQL Server classes at the local community college... don't know what will be next, the next exam in the MCSA series or the first MS SQL exam while the information is fresh (70-228 I think).

Take Care,
Rcoop

janmike

Congrats on securing this cert!

Ricka182

congrats! Good reviews also!

rcoop

Thanks guys for the congrats!

Webmaster,

I would be willing to write up some practice questions for the CompTIA CDIA+ certification if you would be interested. It is one of those certs (even as old as it is) that there aren't many resources on the web for, and I would definitely be willing to contribute to the site for.

Although Document Imaging and Document Management are fairly niche markets, it is definitely a growing industry world-wide and provides a tremendous array of tech jobs.

Although I'm currently studying for the vendor-specific KC3 cert right now, and being engrossed by Document Imaging and Data Capture with my current job as a Professional Services programmer, I definitely find writing up notes and test questions help to keep the information fresh. Teaching others is the best way to reinforce the knowledge gained from being a student.

If you have a specific format for the questions, and if you need explanations for the correct answers (some of the questions are math problems and would definitely benefit from having the solutions written out). I can guarantee that all the questions will be completely original and not a **** of any kind, but will be focused on the CompTIA objectives and similar to the formats presented on the exam.

I know the rest of my department (I'm the first with the exception of our VP, who is also a SME for CompTIA on the CDIA+) and a few clients (integrators and businesses) are planning on taking the CDIA+, it would be nice to point them here for study help and free practice exams.

Take Care,
Rcoop

rcoop

As another helpful link, I also maintain a technology acronym (and abbreviation) web site that has been helpful to many while learning new technologies. If you can't find the acronym in the list, there are also links to other Technology acronym sites on the web.

(SHS) Acronym for the Web
www.hiddenlab.com/acronym/

...and yes, it has been updated with quite a number of Document Imaging/Document Management acronyms lately 8^).

It's been going self-supported, Profanity/Pop-up/Ad-Free, since 1995... and it's soon to be celebrating it's 10 year anniversary!

Take Care,
Rcoop

rcoop

Received the typical CompTIA certification packet on Monday (12/27), about 9 days after taking and passing the certification exam. Pretty quick, especially since this is usually when the Postal Service is backed up with Christmas and Holiday mail.

Take Care,
Rcoop