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For Immediate Release
ACT and Certiport partner to promote digital literacy
IOWA CITY, IA (August 26, 2003) —ACT today announced a strategic partnership with
Certiport Inc. aimed at increasing the computer literacy and employability skills of the workforce.
Under the partnership agreement, ACT and Certiport will share computer-based certification and skill
assessment services at each company’s network of nationwide testing centers by November 2003, making
them more accessible to employers, instructors, students and other individuals looking to improve
their computer skills.
“Having a command of the basics – reading, writing and arithmetic – is no longer enough for high
school and college graduates. They must also be proficient in computer skills," said Tom Saterfiel,
senior vice president of corporate development at ACT. "Our partnership with Certiport will help
individuals become better prepared for the computer-dependent workforce.”
Certiport’s Internet and Computing Core Certification (IC³) exam is widely recognized as the
“gateway” computer certification. ACT will offer both the Certiport-designed IC³ and the Microsoft
Office Specialist (MOS) certification exams through its national network of over 200 ACT Centers,
most of which deliver a comprehensive array of high-stakes testing and training services, including
computer-based certifications. ACT embraced IC³ because it is a quality, standards-based certification
built with broad industry participation and support. IC³ also complements ACT’s WorkKeys skill
assessment system, which measures foundational workplace skills. WorkKeys will be offered through
Certiport Centers network by November.
The partnership will allow individuals to both demonstrate and strengthen their computer skills.
Those who have strong computer skills can demonstrate them via certification, while others can improve
them with computer training courses available at both ACT Centers and Certiport Centers.
“The nation’s employers are already facing a severe shortage in qualified job applicants, a shortage
that is destined to become even more critical over the next decade. The skills gap between those who are
computer-literate and those who are not will only add to this problem,” said Saterfiel. “ACT and Certiport
are committing their combined expertise and resources to help close both the digital divide and the skills
gap.”
According to David Saedi, president and chief executive officer of Certiport, "Benefiting from ACT’s
40-plus years of distinguished history and reputation in skills assessment, our partnership brings
together the unparalleled abilities for large-scale deployment of industry-accepted assessments together
with the research-based, validated digital literacy standard of IC³. This partnership will benefit
academia in preparing individuals with the foundational skills necessary to survive in our digital economy,
just as the ACT Assessment has helped with universal adoption of knowledge-based college entrance requirements.
This partnership will ultimately influence the workforce in training, retention and development programs
for employees.”
A complete list of ACT Center locations can be found at www.act.org/actcenters.
Certiport Centers can be found at www.certiport.com/iqcenters.
About ACT
ACT Inc. is an independent, not-for-profit organization which serves millions of people each year in high
schools, colleges, professional associations, businesses and government agencies with programs and services that
help people achieve their educational and career goals. For more information,
visit www.act.org .
About Certiport
Certiport is the leading provider of global, performance-based certification programs and
services designed to enable individual success and lifetime advancement. Certiport is a pioneer
in performance-based testing, data management systems, and developing certification programs,
including IC³, through intensive research and professional validation processes. More information
is available at www.certiport.com.
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