Of the certificants studied, 37 percent received a promotion within the first year of attaining their primary certification. While promotion does not necessarily mean an increase in salary, it is an indicator of long-range economic benefits to be realized on the job. Of course, there does not have to be a causal relationship between attaining a certification and receiving a promotion. Of those certificants who did get promotions, most (83 percent) felt their certifications played a major role in the advancement.

It has been said that one cannot eat a title. Especially in these times of economic sensitivity, IT professionals are expecting certifications to make the cash register ring. How are such economic expectations being fulfilled? According to the study findings, certificant expectations are being met quite well.