EFI, a world leader in customer-focused digital printing innovation, today announced a new certification training program for its Fiery digital print servers, tools, and software options. Print providers now have a structured learning program that teaches them the essential skills they need to increase production capacity through enhanced staff productivity, to expand their service portfolio into higher profit jobs, and to increase customer loyalty with superior color quality and faster job turnaround. As an added benefit the Fiery Certification program validates acquired skills through a certification exam.

"Fiery technology is the world's most popular digital printing workflow and now users will benefit by having an official certification program that helps them maximize the productivity of their people and the performance of their existing digital engines," said John Henze, vice president of Fiery marketing, EFI. "Fiery Certification is an investment that returns real value to the business with the enhanced skill set of its Fiery certified employees. Increased staff know-how can allow print providers to increase operation efficiency, reduce errors, cut waste, and produce higher quality, higher-profit variable data or complex document assembly jobs."

Fiery Certification training modules and materials are exclusively developed by EFI subject-matter experts and provide a comprehensive curriculum that progressively builds knowledge on Fiery systems, tools, features and software options. Designed for new and existing Fiery users, Fiery Certification consists of two tracks — Fiery Professional Certification and Fiery Expert Certification.

The Fiery Professional Certification establishes solid foundational skills on Fiery functionality such as optimal system configuration, print job management, automated workflows, color profiles and calibration. This curriculum consists of 15 self-paced online courses and a certification exam. The entirely Web-based program is accessible anytime, anywhere and allows students to create their own learning plan around their schedule.

"The Fiery Professional Certification program is really interactive and easy to understand," said Clement Savari, a trainer at Australian National College. "It gave me a solid understanding of the Fiery workflow, and now I'll be able to pass new knowledge on to my students that they can take into their first jobs in the industry."

"The program is very comprehensive and has given me a greater understanding of key Fiery functionality," said Viorel Golea, a technical product specialist at Ricoh Canada who has completed Fiery Professional Certification. "The courses were easy to use and very interactive, with the flexibility to start and stop at my own pace. In addition to increasing my Fiery knowledge, the certification has created a stronger relationship for me with EFI."

The Fiery Expert Certification builds on the Fiery Professional Certification and provides in-depth training on more advanced topics such as the use of advanced Fiery imposition and variable data printing tools, PDF workflow optimization, complex late-stage color editing, JDF workflow integration, and more. Fiery Expert Certification offers a blended training approach with five online courses, a two-day intensive hands-on classroom training, and an online certification exam. Fiery Expert Certification develops practical application in real-world production situations for more strategic management of Fiery systems.

Fiery Professional Certification can be purchased for $250 at www.efi.com/fierypro and Fiery Expert Certification can be purchased for $750 plus travel and expenses at www.efi.com/fieryexpert. For more information on EFI products, visit www.efi.com or contact 800-875-7117.