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TSSB Recognizes Information Technology Skill Standards

May, 2009 - On May 12, 2009 the Skill Standards Board (TSSB) extended its recognition of national skill standards developed by the National Workforce Center for Emerging Technologies (NWCET).

TSSB policy states that recognized skill standards must be reviewed at least every five years to keep up with changes in skills required in an occupation and to ensure that skill standards do not become obsolete over time.

The NWCET skill standards were developed as a national effort with major funding from the National Science Foundation and published in collaboration with the National Center for Information and Communications Technologies (ICT Center). The skill standards describe nine occupational areas of information technology that reflect how work is typically organized in the industry, and that illustrate mobility and progression among representative job titles. They are: database development and administration; digital media; enterprise systems analysis and integration; network design and administration; programming/software engineering; technical support; technical writing; web development and administration; and cyber security.

The ICT Center, one of over 30 National Science Foundation Advanced Technology Education Centers of Excellence, leads a broad national collaborative of business and education partners to develop industrydriven curriculum to teach and train tomorrow’s IT technicians. The ICT Center’s executive director requested the extension of the skill standards’ TSSB recognition, indicating a continual use and review by industry and educators and an assurance that the skill standards continue to represent the majority of foundational skills needed by technicians working in the information technology industry.

By granting extension of conditional recognition, the TSSB acknowledges the skill standards’ continued validity and supports efforts to promote educational program development for these important occupations in Texas.

The TSSB recognized the standards in accordance with its Guidelines for the Development, Recognition, and Usage of Skill Standards (October 2006). For more information, please contact the TSSB at (512) 936-8100.