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Articles and content pertaining to the IT industry and certification
In The News
CompTIA + TestOut

CompTIA and TestOut join forces, accelerating the shared goal of empowering millions of students with technical training and digital literacy education

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A Letter From Noel

Former TestOut Owner/CEO, Noel Vallejo writes a letter to TestOut customers regarding the recent TestOut acquisition by CompTIA.

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Helping Utah girls discover their pathway in tech careers

Approximately 1,500 girls attended this year’s conference, hosted by industry leaders in the Women’s Tech Council.

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Certification Articles
The Same But Different: IT Certifications vs. Certificates

An IT certification typically originates from a sponsoring vendor or professional organization, while an IT certificate usually comes from an academic institution. But they're kind of the same thing ... right?

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Employers Still Want Degrees But Many Will Accept Certs Instead

There’s increasing momentum and volume in a growing chorus of voices that are recommending certification as a valid path to IT employment.

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Figuring Out a 'Certification Space' for Yourself

There’s a lot to work through when considering which credentials will shape your IT career. Ed Tittel has a method to analyze your IT specialization and figure out which credentials you should pursue.

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Academic Articles
Employers Still Want Degrees But Many Will Accept Certs Instead

There’s increasing momentum and volume in a growing chorus of voices that are recommending certification as a valid path to IT employment.

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Don't Overlook the Community College Certification Option

IT certification training is available from many sources: self-study, online, in-person courses, and at school. If you learn best from an instructor, then consider certification-focused community college courses.

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An overview of IT internships

Relevant academic qualifications alone are seldom enough to find suitable employment in the IT industry nowadays. Aspirants for tech roles need to demonstrate their ability to perform on the job. What is ...

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IT Professional Articles
Prepare for Job Interview by Researching Potential Employers

Want to get a better outcome from your next IT job interview? Get up to speed about the company where you've applied.

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How to Ask for a Raise ... and Get One

Talking about money is tricky. Especially when you want more of it, and you're talking to the boss. Don't despair: No blueprint is foolproof, but we have a plan to get you what you want.

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Find an IT Job That Suits Your Skills

It's entirely possible to have impressive IT skills and knowledge, but not have a clear sense of how best (or where best) to apply them in the workforce. Not to worry: We have some advice.

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Back

A Letter From Noel

January 9, 2023

On Monday, Jan. 9, I got together in Utah with the folks at CompTIA and sold TestOut to them. The meeting lasted only 30 minutes. Now that is going to sound quick — but the discussion on selling TestOut actually started in March 2022. That’s when I got an e-mail from Todd Thibodeaux, the CEO of CompTIA, asking whether I would be interested in selling TestOut. It took me two weeks to respond to his e-mail because I wasn't sure. That said, over the past 10 years, I have often thought that if I were going to sell TestOut, CompTIA would be at the top of my list of potential buyers. And it’s not a small list: Over those same 10 years I would receive a call at least once a month from a buyer (sometimes from multiple buyers) wanting to purchase TestOut.

What had we built at TestOut that was attractive to CompTIA and so many others? Here is my short list: 1) We have many schools buying from us. For the core CompTIA product line, I believe we own the market share. 2) We own the technology, LabSim, that we use to deliver our courses. 3) We have a remarkable team of people who develop our courses and simulations. 4) We have been in business 31 years and have a proven record. Yes, I am proud of what we have done. I started TestOut in my bedroom in November 1991 after getting laid off by Novell.

Noel and Carrie Vallejo


Today I am old and bald, but I was able to raise six children with my wife, Carrie, with what we built at TestOut. My greatest joy was working all these years with the amazing schools and educators who use TestOut products: You are the best of what this world is made of, working with our team at TestOut to give hope to your students.

I knew that CompTIA would be a good choice to carry on the legacy of TestOut because CompTIA’s mission and values are well aligned with TestOut's mission to make a difference in a person's life through education using breakthrough technology.

Thank you, CompTIA. And thanks to all of the amazing customers and friends who brought us to this point. 

Sincerely, 

Noel Vallejo

Founder of TestOut

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