IBM has gone a step further in quantum computing with the launch of its first quantum computing certification for developers, focused on training for the development and programming of quantum computers. It is called IBM Quantum Developer Certification and focuses primarily on IBM’s software tools. It aims to provide developers with the basics of quantum programming.
The certification will focus primarily on Qiskit, IBM’s SDK for working with quantum computers. This SDK has gained quite a lot of popularity, and to date already accumulates more than 600,000 installations. But also, to achieve the certification, which will be administered through Pearson’s VUE platform, developers will also have to learn the basic mechanisms and workings of quantum computing.
According to Abe Asfaw, head of quantum education and open science at IBM, the company wants to “assemble a diverse, global, cloud-based developer ecosystem that can bring quantum computing skills to their industries and communities”. With the quantum programming certification, “companies and research institutions will find a clear path for preparing their workforce for quantum computing.”
Also, “the certificate will help those hiring for classical programming positions, and for non-programming positions, to recognize the holders of this certification as individuals who are thinking about advancing and training for the future of computing work.”
As IBM sees it, the certification is intended primarily for those in technical leadership positions in their respective companies and organizations, as they will have more skills to set the direction and weight of quantum computing in their companies. To obtain it, it will be necessary to pass a 60-question exam, which will be available worldwide on the aforementioned platform and can only be taken in English.
This certification is the first of several on quantum computing prepared by IBM. This one covers its bases, and the following ones will take as a foundation the skills covered in it to raise the level and establish that whoever possesses them is qualified for the development of quantum computing applications to solve problems of optimization, chemistry, or finance, for example. Also, the Quantum Developer Certification will not be fixed but will evolve with the software and hardware of the IBM Quantum area.
