At the beginning of the year when CompTIA announced the acquisition of the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP), the it promised to build a new organization — CompTIA AITP. Today, that work has come to fruition.

With the formal launch of the CompTIA Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP), the member support and advocacy organization sets out to attract and develop the workforce of the 21^st century economy.

CompTIA’s Nancy Hammervik

“America’s tech workforce is a national asset, and we need it to grow and develop so that the next wave of technology – smart cities, IoT, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence – can reach their potential,” said Nancy Hammervik, executive vice president, industry relations at CompTIA. “What CompTIA AITP represents is an organization helping tech workers of all backgrounds and education enter the workforce, grow in their skills and have successful careers.”

The new organization will help Americans navigate the pathway to a technology career, and that isn’t dependent on having a college degree. The national organization, which has chapters in 20 states, is taking a “resume to retirement” approach to helping tech workings in their careers with a blend of online and in-person opportunities, CompTIA AITP said.

Here’s how CompTIA AITP can help current and potential tech workers:

TechTalent powered by CompTIA will serve as a clearinghouse for tech jobs. According to the organization, hundreds of thousands of IT jobs regularly go unfilled, including those that don’t require a college degree. Unlike traditional search engines, TechTalent delivers actionable career path information, including job-specific, detailed data on the market demand for special skills and capabilities and relates that information to individual career goals. Not only does TechTalent connect users with job postings, it also educates them on the specific skills that employers are looking for in filling these jobs and the salaries they can expect to earn.

CompTIA AITP will help workers grow their careers through networking. Connecting peers and mentors is key to helping workers grow in their careers, as is access to a wealth of industry insight and trends. CompTIA AITP, in partnership with Lynda.com, gives AITP members access to more than 1,200 online courses, to help improve leadership and business skills, from finance and project management to communication and customer service.

CompTIA AITP’s 20 “hub” chapters enable members to expand their personal networks, share and gain information from peers in their cities or regions, and gain hands-on mentoring assistance. AITP plans to expand its local chapters.

Other benefits:

CompTIA AITP encourages those interested in the organization to become registered members. Four membership options are available: Student – free for students enrolled in college courses; IT Professional ($99/year); Educators ($69/year); and Associate ($249/year) — benefits vary by membership.