6/12/2002 -- Will CIOs soon be getting certified en masse? Pink Elephant, a Toronto-based IT training company specializing in IT management education, hopes so.

This fall, Pink Elephant will premiere the second level of its four-tiered certification for CIOs, known collectively as IT Executive Management certification.

The four levels of certification are:

• Level I: IT Business Perspectives -- Two-day training session focusing on the essentials of IT executive management and the ITIL best practices framework for managing IT services. Exam given at the end of the seminar. Price: $2,695 (U.S.).
• Level II: Corporate Strategy -- Seven-day residential program drills down on the ITIL as well as the PinkFrame IT business model, plus more. Exam given at the end of the seminar. Will debut in September in Ottowa. Price: $5,830 (U.S.) (hotel not included).
• Level III: IT Strategic Leadership -- Participants will be required to submit a written paper outlining how the candidate implemented at least two PinkFrame components within 12 months of passing Level II. Price to be determined when launched (no date set).
• Level IV: IT Executive Management Masters Certification -- Pink Elephant will audit candidate's organization after the participant has fully implemented the PinkFrame business model. Price to be determined when launched (no date set).

In order for candidates to participate in the new Level II certification, they must have already completed its Level I title, and should have a minimum of five years of IT management experience.

According to Pink Elephant Account Manager Brian Watters, the first level of the company's certification program launched in 2000. Since then, more than 100 people have been certified on this level.

The first Level II class will debut in September in Ottawa, Canada.

More information about this certification program can be found on Pink Elephant's Web site, here. - B.N.