What is PhilNITS?

PhilNITS (Philippine National IT Standards) is an IT certification body in the Philippines which aims to provide an avenue for people who want to test their level of knowledge in the field of information technology. This IT certification exam was previously known as Japanese IT Standards Exam (JITSE) but then changed to PhilNITS to eliminate the notion that the standards of the exam are limited only to Japanese IT industries.


There are fourteen (14) exams given by the Japan IT Engineers Examination Center (JITEC) of the Information Technology Promotions Agency (IPA) of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan. These exams are based on the established Information Technology Engineers Skill Standards (ITSS).


In the Philippines, there are three exams given : IT Passport Exam, Fundamental IT Engineers Exam (FE), and the Software Engineers Exam (SW).


IT Passport Exam is given to individuals who have basic knowledge of information technology that all working people should commonly possess, and who perform information technology related tasks, or are trying to utilize information technology in his/her tasks in charge.


PhilNITS FE Exam requires that the person must have the ability to develop a good program by fully using different techniques related to basic level algorithm and data structures. The FE Exam also requires the person to be able to successfully carry out jobs such as program development, unit tests and system integration tests.


On the other hand PhilNITS SW Exam is given to people who have at least two years work experience in software development and who are competent in basic software, middleware and  application software.


IT Passport and FE Exams are given twice a year while SW Exam is given only once.


By passing the exam, there are benefits waiting for you. I passed the exam last October 2009 when I am still a fourth year student in the first semester. When I reached the final semester of my college life, I haven't find it hard to look for a job. Before I graduated, there was already a company waiting for me. I have a bonus to my monthly salary and that is very rare. There is also a large community of PhilNITS Passers for you to keep in touch. Plus, a lot of trainings are available.


This October 2010, another set of exams will be given. If you are interested, please feel free to visit their website by clicking the link below.


http://www.philnits.org/


Examination Centers

Manila:
Philippine Christian University
Taft Ave., Manila
Contact Person: c/o PhilNITS
Tel: (02) 898-2691 to 92, 0910-219-8335
URL: www.philnits.org, www.jitse.org

Quezon City:

Informatics International College Diliman Campus

29 North Avenue Diliman

in front of Trinoma beside SM North Edsa

contact persons: Engr. Ines M. Basaen, PH.D.

Tel 9256540 and 9255202

Fax 9277631

Mobile 09178293991

URL http://www.informaticsdiliman.com

Baguio:
University of Baguio
Gen. Luna Road, Baguio City
Contact Person: Ms. Ellen Halover

Dean,  IT Department
Tel: (074) 442-4915 loc. 175 , (074) 442-3071

Cagayan de Oro:
Capitol University

College of Computer Studies
Corrales Ave., Cagayan de Oro City
Contact Person: Ms. Christine Sevilla

Officer in charge
Tel: (08822) 726136 loc 226/270

Fax: (0882) 714341

Cebu:
University of San Carlos
Talamban Campus, Cebu City
Contact Person: Ms. Marian Sionzon
Tel: (032) 253-1000 loc. 155, 0917-914-4439

Davao
University of Immaculate Conception

Davao Cental, Davao City

c/o PhilNITS  Davao Office

Contact Person ms. Joy Alferez

Philnits Davao

DTI Region XI, 5th Floor, Minitrade Bldg.

Sales Cor Monteverde St. Davao City

Tel 082-2221625 /  0922-8148985

Naga 
Ateneo de Naga University
Ateneo Avenue, 4400 Naga city
Contact Person: Dr Allan Sioson,  Dean Colege of Comp Studies
Tel: 054-4722369

Zamboanga:

Ateneo de Zamboanga University
La Purisima St., Zamboanga City
Contact Person: Ms. Catherine Macrohon

Computer Science Department
Tel: (062) 9910871 loc 2280

Zambales

COLEGIO de CASTILLEJOS

Brgy. San Roque, Castillejos, Zambales

CONTACT PERSON: FROILAN D. MOBO, Dean, College of Information Technology

Cebu's IT and BPO Industry assessed by Tholons

Tholon's, an advisory company on global outsourcing and investments, in cooperation with  Cebu Investment Promotions Center, government, and industry was conducting an assessment of Cebu's talent pool.  This was done via on-line tests which was conducted on August 8, Sunday at 3:30-6:00pm at Room 230, 2nd Floor Main Building, UC-Banilad, Arch. Reyes St., Banilad, Cebu City (in front of Country Mall).

The results of this assessment will be used in determining where the IT industry of Cebu is now, including it's IT human resources, and help develop a roadmap for Cebu that will develop further Cebu's IT and BPO industry. Various schools and companies in Cebu attended the activity.

I was sent to the said assessment and was a little bit disappointed. I cannot successfully entered their examination page and was advised to transfer from one computer to another. However, it took me more than five times (changing computer) and more than half an hour to gain access. According to the proctor, the reason behind that issue was the slow internet connection used in the facility. Well, that was actually acceptable.

The examination contains reading comprehension and grammar, problem solving and mathematical calculations, and program code tracing. The most challenging part of the test was its strict time limitation. The time limit of those first two tests were enough. But, in program code tracing test, the limit was impossible! Maybe the time was miscalculated. Some of my workmates weren't able to take the last test because the system automatically sent the results skipping the last one.

The results of the assessment will be sent to the respective participating schools, companies and others.