CompTIA and its background

Comptia (standing for the Computing Technology Industry Association) is a not for profit trade association, it was created in 1982 by five large computer dealerships and originally called ABCD (standing for the Association of Better Computer Dealers, Inc).

Over the course of the eighties, ABCD laid the groundwork for many of CompTIA’s current programmes and membership benefit schemes.
ABCD subsequently changed its name to the Computing Technology Industry Association. The new name was designed to more closely reflect the association’s evolving role in the information technology (IT) sector and in the business landscape of the USA and the world at large. The nineties saw a period of prolonged and extensive growth for the association as it broadened the scope of its interests and activities in order to better serve the needs of the ever growing and diversifying IT industry. Its interests expanded to encompass the areas of networking, UNIX, imaging, mobile computing, and multimedia. The recruitment of a full time Director of Public Policy allowed CompTIA  to monitor and take positions on public policy issues.

Currently CompTIA has established itself as a leading global provider of professional certifications within the IT industry. CompTIA holds the Chair and manages the Initiative for Software Choice.