Network Professional Association
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Since 1991 the non-profit Network Professional Association (NPA) has served as the advocate for the international network computing professional. With a focus on professionalism, the NPA's international membership adheres to a code-of-ethics and strives for continual growth. The impartial strength of the NPA is a result of vendor neutrality and self-regulation. The Association's directive is to support and promote the role of the network professional. For more information, visit www.npa.org or call 888-NPA-NPAo.
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[edit] History
In the spring of 1990 following a Novell NEST course, a newly Certified Netware Engineer from Orange County, California (Mark Loos) expressed interest in starting a CNE Association. He contacted Mark Jones, Novell CNE Program Manager and submitted the first draft of the Charter for a CNE professional association. Novell showed a strong interest and arranged a meeting in Provo, Utah where Novell also introduced five other national representatives. These six CNEs along with Mark Jones became the founding Board of Directors. Novell provided permission for the name of ‘CNE Professional Association’ and established bylaws based on the bylaws of the Novell Users Group. Offices of the CNEPA were established in Costa Mesa, CA, and the organization was officially announced in January, 1991. The first seven chapters initiated were: Orange County, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC.
By the end of 1991, membership had reached 600 with 12 functioning chapters. Given the CNEPA’s limited resources, growth stalled and it became apparent that the fledgling organization could not sustain itself without financial assistance.
Novell, seeing an opportunity to lead the growth of an industry professional association, helped the CNEPA close their offices in California in May, 1992, and relocate to Novell’s Provo location. At that time, several Novell employees took on volunteer positions to aid development of the independent organization, and six temporary employees were hired full time using Novell funds.
In June, 1992, the first CNEPA newsletter, Network News, was published, and two months later, the first Hands on Technology Labs were staged at NetWorld Dallas with the help of Novell and HP. In March, 1993, the first sponsors of the CNEPA were announced at BrainShare: Blue Lance, Brightwork, Hewlett Packard, Novell, Univel, and WordPerfect.
During board elections in November, 1993, at the request of Novell Services as custodian of the organization, Novell’s board seat was officially relinquished, leaving seven member elected volunteer board members.In March, 1994, both Novell Services and Novell Education informed the board that is was time for the Association to change its name and continue on its path as an industry-based professional association. In June, 1994, with the endorsement of Novell and all other sponsoring vendors, the official name, Network Professional Association (NPA), was announced.
February 1997 marked the organization's relocation to Chicago, operated by association management firm, Association Management Systems. In December of 1999, the NPA moved to Tustin, CA, operated by association management firm, Gayle Stewart Enterprises and is currently managed by Accent on Management in Columbus, OH.
In 2002, the NPA launched the "Awards for Professionalism" at Networld+Interop. The awards program honors individuals for their outstanding achievements in network computing.
2003, NPA is a founding partner in Culminis, a Microsoft and IT initiative to bring education, products and opportunities to IT professionals through a channel of user groups and professional associations.
October 2005, NPA introduces the Certified Network Professional (CNP) certification. The redesigned program includes verification of education, certification, experience, employment,and contains an ethics component.
[edit] Member Benefits
[edit] Certified Network Professional Program
The CNP is the professional designation for Information Technology Networking professionals internationally. It is being released in October 2005, by the international Network Professional Association (NPA). Until now, IT networking practitioners were without the benefits such a professional designation offers. We want this designation to be recognized as the seal of approval for our profession in the same way that the Certified Public Accountant or CPA is recognized as the seal of approval for accountants.
The CNP will be an internationally recognized designation and we are working with other countries' certifying organizations to make it so. In today's global economy, success for International companies depends on professionals acquiring and maintaining universally accepted standards. Working with the world's leading IT professional organizations, the NPA represents the interests of IT Networking practitioners in ongoing discussions concerning the harmonization of international IT standards.
