11/24/2004 -- Next week the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), along with the Association for Automatic Identification and Mobility (AIM Global), will announce plans to begin initial steps in developing a vendor-neutral certification for IT professionals who work with RFID technology.

A CompTIA spokesperson told CertCities.com today that the announcement does not mean that the organization will definitely develop the certification, only that it will begin working with AAIM and others in the industry to see if there is a need for such a title. The discussions will begin next month at a meeting with industry representatives.

According to a early release of the announcement given to CertCities.com by CompTIA, the organization is considering the certification because of a shortage of professionals knowledgeable in RFID technologies. "Many companies eager to adopt the technology are beginning to be slowed in their efforts by a scarcity of qualified RFID integrators. Organizations are also challenged because many of the skills required for successful RFID implementations are not typically associated with information technology (IT) staffs. As RFID adoption grows in 2005 and beyond, the skills shortage will become ever more pronounced," the announcement states.

CompTIA gave no indication on when a final decision regarding the certification would be made.

CertCities.com will bring you more on this story as information becomes available. -Becky Nagel