You’ve explored the career opportunities in data centres. Now comes the practical question: which course should you choose?
With names like DCCA, CDCA, CDCP, CDFOS and CDFOM, the options can look confusing at first. The easiest place to start is with your background, the knowledge you need and the work you want to do.
At IBTC Data Centre Academy, courses are grouped into Foundation, Intermediate and Professional levels. Here’s how to approach your choice.
Foundation: get to know the industry
If you’re new to data centres, your first step is to understand how they work.
Our Foundation-level Data Centre Certified Associate (DCCA) course introduces the environment, its terminology and the systems that keep it operating. The credential is awarded by Schneider Electric University.
No prior experience is needed, making it an option for people exploring the industry for the first time. It can also help learners with a technical background connect their existing knowledge to data centre operations.
The course is self-paced and studied online, with tutor support and a personal course monitor.
Consider this option if you want an introduction to data centres before deciding where to develop further.
Intermediate: build a broader technical understanding
You may already have some relevant knowledge but need a more structured understanding of the data centre environment.
The Intermediate-level Certified Data Centre Associate (CDCA) course provides a further training option, with live online classes delivered over three months.
It forms part of the EPI certification offering, accredited by EXIN.
Your qualifications and experience will help determine whether this is an appropriate starting point. An advisor can help you assess that before you enrol.
Consider this option if you’re looking to develop your understanding through a longer programme with scheduled classes.
Professional: focus on your next development goal
Professional courses cover different areas of data centre knowledge and responsibility. Your choice should reflect the work you want to prepare for or the skills you need in your current role.
IBTC offers three options:
- Certified Data Centre Professional (CDCP): a professional certification focused on data centre infrastructure.
- Certified Data Centre Facilities Operations Specialist (CDFOS): focused on facilities operations.
- Certified Data Centre Facilities Operations Manager (CDFOM): focused on facilities operations management.
These courses use live online classes, with CDCP delivered over two days and CDFOS and CDFOM over three days.
A short course can cover demanding material, so check the entry requirements and expected knowledge with an advisor. The course title and duration alone won’t tell you whether it suits your experience.
Consider these options if you have a clear development goal and want training relevant to a particular area of data centre work.
Three questions to ask before choosing
1. What knowledge am I bringing?
Think about your studies and work experience. Have you worked with electrical infrastructure, cooling, IT systems or facilities? How familiar are you with the way those systems operate together in a data centre?
Be specific about what you know and where you need support.
2. What do I want to achieve?
You might be exploring a new industry, preparing for a career move or developing skills for your current responsibilities. Being clear about your goal makes it easier to assess whether a course will help you reach it.
3. How will the learning fit into my schedule?
Self-paced study offers flexibility, while live classes give you scheduled learning time. Compare the format, timetable and preparation required with your other commitments.
Also check what the fee includes. IBTC’s data centre courses include one exam sit and unlimited tutor support, with specialist recruitment access available after successful graduation.
Find your starting point
You don’t need to work out the pathway from course names alone.
Share your qualifications, experience and career goals with an IBTC student advisor. We’ll help you understand the options and identify an appropriate starting point.
