OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill.--Feb. 21, 2007-- Seven organizations at the forefront of the printing and document imaging industry are working with the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) to develop a vendor-neutral certification of technical skills for printing and document imaging products and solutions technicians, the association announced today. Organizations supporting the development of the new printing and document imaging certification include: -- Canon U.S.A., Inc., which delivers consumer, business-to-business, and industrial imaging solutions; -- Konica Minolta Business Solutions Europe GmbH, a leading provider of image information products with subsidiaries and distributors in more than 50 countries in the EMEA region; -- Lexmark International, which provides businesses and consumers in more than 150 countries with a broad range of printing and imaging products, solutions and services that help them to be more productive; -- Pitney Bowes, the world's leading mailstream technology company; -- Sharp Electronics Corporation, dedicated to improving people's lives through the use of advanced technology and a commitment to innovation, quality, value, and design; -- Specialized Solutions, which has been providing customers with quality training materials and cost effective solutions for the certification requirements of computer professionals since 1996. The company's products include video training, computer-based training, web-based training, e-books and practice exam simulators geared towards professional IT certifications; and -- Xerox Corporation, the world's leading document management technology and services enterprise. "These organizations represent the leading edge of the printing and document imaging industry," said John Venator, president and chief executive officer, CompTIA. "Their participation in the certification development process assures that this new credential will cover a solid foundation of technical skills for IT professionals working with these technologies." The new certification will address technical skills related to printers (including inkjet, laser, dot matrix, thermal, and solid Ink), multi-functional printers, scanners, faxes, copiers, networking, connectivity, and color theory. Specific certification objectives will be developed in the coming months based on the results of a job task analysis and industry surveys. "By establishing a standard method of measuring technical competencies, manufacturers can realize reduced costs for activities such as training, recruiting and hiring," said Richard Rysiewicz, vice president, services, CompTIA. "A uniform standard of performance for printing and document imaging technicians results in greater productivity; higher first time fix-rates; and, ultimately, better results for the customer." Target candidates for the printing and document imaging certification are expected to be entry- to mid-level technicians with six to twelve months of experience in the installation, connectivity, maintenance and repair and support of devices in the printing and document imaging industry. This includes service technicians, support technicians and help desk staff. CompTIA certification programs are the recognized industry standards for a broad range of IT skills. The association currently offers 13 vendor-neutral certifications. Approximately one million IT professionals around the world hold CompTIA certifications. Organizations rely on CompTIA certifications to maximize efficiency in recruiting, hiring, training and promoting IT employees. For job seekers, CompTIA certification provides them with a recognized, respected credential that signifies they have the job skills needed to run technology infrastructure more efficiently and reliably.