Earning Criteria

• Certified Technical Specialists achieve Certification by successfully completing an interview with a Level 2 or Level 3 Certified Technical Specialist, based upon a comprehensive package of information describing project and other experiences. The criteria used to decide on certification include all of the Skills mentioned above.  At Level 1, Technical Specialists must be able to demonstrate these skills at an "applied" level, perhaps with support and mentoring.
• Certified Technical Specialists have had at least 24 months of Full Time Equivalent experience, possibly with support or mentoring.
• Certified Technical Specialists have participated as a Technical Specialist in at least two successful solutions/engagements in which their artifacts were used or could have been used in the implementation of the solution/component.
• Certified Technical Specialists  have worked with at least two types of technology, technique or architecture.
• Certified Technical Specialists must have completed formal training in Project Management either through attendance at a taught course, or through self-study.
• Certified Technical Specialists must maintain their knowledge of the technology, trends, and techniques in the IT industry, and must undergo 40 hours per year of training, at a taught course or through self study, related to their Specialty.
• Candidates must already hold valid Open CTS Level 1 (or 2) Professional Communication and  Professional Development Milestone Badges plus two Experience Profile Milestone Badges, at least one of which must be in this Specialty.