SCInc. Certification FAQ


Who developed HDI's Certification series?
The open standards committee members who helped develop the standards included representatives from a wide variety of leading organizations including Interim Technology, NEXRAD, Pikes Peak Community College, Help Desk Solutions, Inc., KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Bank of America, TRG, Entex Information Services, Inc., Hyrax, TriPole Corporation, Goldstein & Taylor, User Support Consulting, Branson & Associates, Service Management International, MCI Worldcom, and Help Desk Institute.

Who developed the official course materials?
SCInc. was commissioned to develop all original course materials for HDI certification seminars. 

Why is it important to become a certified help desk professional?
To name a few:

• Increase ability to perform on the job
• Professional recognition by peers and employer
• A sense of professional accomplishment
• The promise of better job security
• Professional advancement and promotion
• New employment opportunities

Why would my employer find help desk certification important?
Employers also value help desk certification for a wide variety of reasons:

• Improved ability of employees to perform on the job
• Certification indicates that an employee has a level of competence that is recognized and warrants the respect of the industry and customers
• Certification indicates that a new hire will know the technologies and processes required to perform the job well
• Certification instills customer confidence and leads to increased customer satisfaction
• Employers can save money and increase productivity by hiring only certified professionals
• Certification is an important step toward industry self-regulation and the standardization of acceptable service levels

What will I be tested on?
HDI and the committee have identified a comprehensive set of objectives for each of HDI's Certifications. These objectives focus on five primary areas, including the industry, people, technology, process and problem solving. The objectives for each test are posted on our Web site.

How can I prepare for the test?
Some of you have been in the field long enough that you feel comfortable taking the test without formal training. That is fine and we welcome you to take the test at one of the thousands of testing locations around the world. (See testing locations below) However, for those seeking formal training, we recommend:

• Public Training Classes (through SCInc. Certification and Training Events)
• Onsite Training (through SCInc. Onsite and Customized Training)
• Online Training (through SCInc. e-University)
• Live Webinars (through SCInc. Webinar Training)

We invite larger corporations to participate in SCInc.'s Onsite Training Program, which can save training dollars and eliminate travel expenses. For very large organizations, we recommend our Online Certification Training or our live webinars. This open and flexible approach allows you to control the manner in which your staff can move up the certification ladder. For individuals, we recommend either SCInc. Certification and Training Events, live webinars, or online training.

How much does it cost to take the test?
The cost of the exams is $99.00 (US/Canada), $134.00 (International) and $156.00 (Japan).

Where can I take the test?
Testing is available through Prometric Testing Centers. Call 877-370-4093 for more information, or visit www.2test.com to determine the location nearest you. When scheduling an exam, please refer to the chart below to determine the appropriate test code: