LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y.--April 7, 2003-- Canon U.S.A., Inc., a subsidiary of Canon Inc. and a leader in imaging solutions, today received its third Industry Wide Certification Achievement Award from The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) for certifying the largest number of professionals for document imaging management. Canon also reinforced its support for professional certification in this field by announcing the release of the Canon CDIA+ Education Program for its office equipment dealers in the U.S. and Canada. Canon's expertise in the development of courseware and learning programs, along with its commitment to CompTIA's certification program, led to the creation of its turnkey solution that helps sales professionals at Canon and its authorized dealers attain CompTIA's CDIA+ (Certified Document Imaging Architect) certification. The Canon CDIA+ Education Program includes three training courses complete with assessments, coaching, recognition and tracking. Tested and refined by Canon Sales Training Division, the program has helped more than 300 Canon employees and sales professionals at the company's dealers achieve CDIA+ certification in just four years. Canon has the largest number of CDIA+ certified professionals. "For CDIA+ certification, Canon provides a multi-event program that includes extensive study along with discussion that takes a sales person from step one in imaging to passing the exam," said Mitch Bardwell, director and assistant general manager, Canon Sales Training Division, Canon U.S.A., Inc. "Our program is revised continuously to ensure that we are teaching the most current and relevant information available." According to Canon and CompTIA, neither is aware of any other imaging systems original equipment manufacturer that offers such extensive training to its employees and dealers. The achievement award was announced at the AIIM (The Association for Information and Image Management) Exposition & Conference in New York. CDIA+ is an internationally recognized competency standard for technical sales professionals and consultants in the document imaging industry. More than 4,000 people worldwide have earned CDIA+ certification. "CompTIA's CDIA+ certification is an internationally recognized credential that acknowledges competency and professionalism in the document imaging/document management industry," said Carl Bowman, CDIA+ certification program manager. "These certified professionals possess the expertise to analyze business processes and design appropriate document imaging solutions." The CDIA+ exam tests knowledge mastery of scanning, storing and output of color documents for state of the art technology and best global practices for system design and implementation. "When we bring the credential to the attention of our sales channels, all express a high level of interest in the certification," added Mr. Bardwell. "They see it as a significant differentiator for their sales teams. They also are interested in the turnkey program we offer. It saves them significant time and resources in helping their representatives to achieve certification. It is just one part of our overall sales training commitment to the multiple sales channels that sell Canon's line of office imaging equipment." Canon Sales Training offers customers a wide range of learning resources, including information and knowledge, in traditional classroom settings and online in The Canon Know How Learning Zone. A state-of-the-art online learning portal that provides access to all learning resources that cover a variety of subjects, The Canon Know How Learning Zone includes information on the technology of digital imaging, copy process, color theory and Canon-specific product modules for the complete line of Canon office machines. Canon Sales Training blends web training with instructor-led courses to deliver ambitious objectives that quickly increase knowledge level. New courses are released regularly, keeping the Canon Sales Training course catalog fresh and current.