7/24/2002 -- Earlier this year, the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) announced it was developing a new certification, Home Technology Integrator+ (HTI+). Unlike previous certifications from CompTIA (A+, Network+, Linux+), it's a bit difficult to see just what is meant by home technology integrator. More importantly, it may be difficult to see if this fits into a certification path that you may be on. So this month, we're going to give an overview of this new certification from CompTIA, and more importantly, try to ascertain if it's in your best interest as an IT professional to pursue it.

The Background on HTI+
According to CompTIA, HTI+ certification grew out of the home consumer's interest in the concept of a "connected" home environment -- e.g., certain devices and home subsystems that can manage everything from lights to environmental controls to home entertainment units from a central computer system, possibly accessible through the Web. Obviously, having such a compete home system requires a variety of "subsystems" to be linked together. Thus, this certification would certify individuals that would be qualified to integrate such systems into a home.

The certification itself was born out of a partnership with the Internet Home Alliance (IHA), which is a consortium of industry companies (e.g., Cisco, CompUSA, Best Buy, Panasonic) that in one way or another are responsible for manufacturing or selling components of these systems. Both CompTIA and the IHA hope that the industry at large will use this certification to qualify individuals responsible for installing and troubleshooting such systems.

What HTI+ Certifies
When the certification is released this fall, CompTIA says that the title's exams will test candidates' installation, integration and troubleshooting competencies in a variety of areas, including:

• Home Security
• Audio/Video
• Computer Networks
• Electrical Wiring
• HVAC (Heating/Air Conditioning Systems)
• Cable/Satellite, Broadband
• Telecommunications,
• Commercial Wiring

There will be two HTI+ exams: Residential Subsytems, and Systems Infrastructure and Integration. Both will begin the beta process shortly.

Is HTI+ a Benefit To You?
CompTIA's vision for the HTI+ certification is that it will raise the hiring standards for people who work in this industry of home technology integration. It wants HTI+ certificate holders to be thought of as employees who can optimize their time and skills, and deliver a better service to their companies and customers through possessing the necessary skills to work in the home technology and home integration industry.

But here's where we get to the meat of it all: Is HTI+ right for you? If you're a typical CertCities.com reader, probably not. Unlike most of CompTIA's other certification titles, this one's not meant for the network administrator population at large. This is an exam track that is set up for individuals such as home technicians and service people who are employed by companies like Sears Service or Dial One Service. Its skill set is more in line with those who are actually going to implement the hardware and components that will exist in a home environment. From this author's perspective, it is not a core set of skills that would promote an individual who is working in an IT capacity in either an organizational, business or corporate capacity.

Nonetheless, the HTI+ certification is filling a niche for home technicians as the technology in the home environment continues to grow and evolve. If you are considering a career in that arena, then the HTI+ certification may be a good way to illustrate that your skills stand apart from others in this profession. Whether it increases in popularity or not significantly depends the degree to which home technology and appliances become accepted into mainstream home lifestyles now and in the future -- and whether the companies hiring the technicians that will install and troubleshoot such systems adopt HTI+.