What CERT IT does

Cert-IT GmbH is a Bonn, Germany-based certification body founded in 2003 by a consortium comprising Fraunhofer Gesellschaft, the industry associations BITKOM and ZVEI, and the trade unions IG Metall and ver.di. The company operates with 1-10 employees and serves two principal markets: organizational certifications (ISO 9001, AZAV accreditation for training providers, and SCC safety certification) and individual person certifications for IT professionals across multiple disciplines, including iSTQB Certified Tester, iSAQB Software Architect, Requirements Engineering, Business Analysis, UX Design, and AI competencies. The company was established to address documented shortages of qualified IT professionals in Germany and operates as a bridge between industry requirements and standardized professional qualifications.

The core technology infrastructure relies on the third-party ProctorExam remote proctoring platform, which enables candidates to take certification exams remotely via webcam with identity verification and live remote invigilation. Cert-IT earns revenue primarily through per-exam unit pricing (e.g., €267.75 per KI Kompetenz exam) charged to individual candidates or sponsoring organizations, plus professional services fees for AZAV and ISO 9001 organizational accreditation. Distribution is hybrid: a self-serve online booking system targets individual professionals globally, while direct sales and a partner network — including the University of Münster Professional School, STARTPLATZ, BCS, iSAQB, and GTB — distribute certifications at the enterprise and educational level.

In 2025, the company extended its portfolio with two AI-focused certifications — KI-Kompetenz and KI Manager — designed to fulfill EU AI Act Article 4 competency requirements, in partnership with STARTPLATZ. This positions Cert-IT in a regulatory-driven growth corridor as organizations seek documented AI literacy for their workforce, though the company remains a small, niche certification body with no disclosed revenue, no external funding, and no active scale-up signals beyond product-line extension.

Name

CERT IT

Legal name

Cert-IT GmbH

Website

https://cert-it.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Cert-IT GmbH is a Bonn-based accredited certification body, founded in 2003, that issues individual and organizational certifications (iSTQB, iSAQB, ISO 9001, AZAV, SCC, and AI competency) to IT professionals, training providers, and enterprises, delivered via remote proctoring.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. IT Professional Certification Exams: Cert-IT charges fees for standardized IT certification exams including Certified Tester (iSTQB), Software Architect (iSAQB), Business Analysis, Requirements Engineering, UX Design, and AI-related certifications. Exam fees are charged per participant and include exam sitting and results notification.
2. AZAV Certification Services: Certification and accreditation services for training providers and employment agencies under AZAV (Akkreditierungs- und Zulassungsverordnung Arbeitsförderung) standards, including provider and program accreditation.
3. ISO 9001 Certification: Quality management system certification services for organizations based on DIN EN ISO 9001 standards.
4. AI Competency Certificates: Certification exams for AI competency programs including 'KI Kompetenz' and 'KI Manager' certifications, compliant with EU AI Act requirements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Cert-IT GmbH operates as a certification body (Zertifizierungsstelle) issuing standardized IT professional certifications (Certified Tester/iSTQB, Software Architect/iSAQB, Requirements Engineering, Business Analysis, UX Design, AI competency) and organizational accreditations (AZAV for training providers, ISO 9001 quality management, SCC safety certification). Examinations are delivered online with remote proctoring via the ProctorExam platform, enabling candidates to take tests from home with webcam-based identity verification and live invigilation.

Product overview

CERT IT operates as a certification body (Zertifizierungsstelle) for IT professional qualifications and organizational quality standards. The portfolio includes two main categories: organizational certifications for companies (ISO 9001, AZAV for training providers, SCC for safety compliance) and individual person certifications for IT professionals (Certified Tester/iSTQB, Software Architect/iSAQB, Requirements Engineering, Business Analysis, AI Competency, UX Design). All certifications can be taken via online proctored remote exams using ProctorExam software, enabling candidates to complete assessments from home. The company recently launched AI-specific certifications (KI-Kompetenz, KI Manager) aligned with EU AI Act requirements in partnership with STARTPLATZ.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AZAV Trägerzulassung Accreditation service for training providers under the German Employment Promotion Act (Arbeitsförderungsgesetz), enabling providers to offer publicly funded vocational training and continuing education programs.
• AZAV Maßnahmenzulassung Certification of specific training measures under AZAV standards, ensuring compliance with quality requirements for publicly funded education programs.
• ISO 9001 Zertifizierung Quality management system certification based on DIN EN ISO 9001 standard, verifying organizational processes meet international quality requirements.
• SCC Zertifizierung Safety Certificate Contractors certification for companies working in high-risk industrial environments, now transitioning to VAZ SCC 2021 standard.
• Certified Tester (iSTQB) International software testing certification program aligned with ISTQB standards, validating competency in software quality assurance and testing methodologies.
• Softwarearchitekt (iSAQB) International software architecture certification under iSAQB framework, validating skills in software architecture design and development.
• Requirements Engineering Zertifizierung Certification validating competency in requirements engineering, covering techniques for eliciting, analyzing, specifying, and validating software requirements.
• Business Analysis Zertifizierung Professional certification for business analysts, aligned with BCS standards, validating skills in requirements analysis and business process optimization.
• Künstliche Intelligenz Zertifizierung AI-related professional certification covering knowledge and skills in artificial intelligence applications and implementation.
• UX-Design Zertifizierung Certification validating competency in user experience design principles, methodologies, and practices.
• KI-Kompetenz Zertifikat AI competency certification based on EU AI Act Article 4 requirements, providing standardized assessment for employees using or managing AI applications, with official certificate fulfilling legal training requirements under EU AI regulation.
• KI Manager Zertifikat AI management certification for professionals overseeing AI implementation and governance in organizations.
• Prüfungen mit Online-Aufsicht (Remote Proctoring) Online proctored examination service using ProctorExam software, enabling candidates to take certified exams from home with webcam monitoring, identity verification, and remote invigilation for exam integrity.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

AI capability2 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Fraunhofer GesellschaftcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Co-founding partner of Cert-IT in 2003, established to address the growing need for qualified IT professionals and combat the skilled worker shortage in the IT industry.
• BITKOM (Bitkom)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Co-founding partner representing the German IT industry association, contributing to Cert-IT's establishment in 2003.
• ZVEI (Zentralverband Elektrotechnik- und Elektronikindustrie)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Co-founding partner representing the electrical and electronics industry association, contributing to Cert-IT's establishment in 2003.
• IG MetallcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Co-founding partner trade union, contributing to Cert-IT's establishment in 2003 to address IT skilled worker shortage.
• ver.di (Vereinte Dienstleistungsgewerkschaft)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2003Co-founding partner trade union, contributing to Cert-IT's establishment in 2003.
• Uni Münster Professional SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional School of the University of Münster offers continuing education at university level. Cert-IT partners to provide certification services.
• British Computer Society (BCS)coreTechnology or IntegrationThe leading IT professional organization in the United Kingdom that sets industry standards through its certifications. BCS certifications are offered through Cert-IT.
• STARTPLATZcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOne of the leading startup incubators and accelerators in NRW with locations in Cologne and Düsseldorf. Cert-IT provides official certification for the 'KI Kompetenz' (AI Competency) continuing education program offered by STARTPLATZ.
• iSAQB (International Software Architecture Qualification Board)coreTechnology or IntegrationDevelops and maintains the globally recognized standard for software architect education and continuing education. Cert-IT offers iSAQB software architect certification exams.
• German Testing Board (GTB)coreTechnology or IntegrationThe German Member Board of ISTQB responsible for quality standards for software tester certifications in Germany. Cert-IT offers GTB/ISTQB certified tester exams.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BCS (British Computer Society): UK's leading IT professional body issuing certifications like Business Analysis. Cert-IT delivers BCS exams in Germany, making BCS both a partner and a direct comparator in the IT professional certification market.
• ISTQB (International Software Testing Qualifications Board): Global standard-setting body for software tester certifications. Cert-IT delivers iSTQB/GTB certified tester exams in Germany, making it functionally a peer-level exam provider for the ISTQB ecosystem, though ISTQB itself is the scheme owner.
• iSAQB (International Software Architecture Qualification Board): Maintains the globally recognized standard for software architect certification. Cert-IT offers iSAQB exams in Germany, operating as a direct exam-delivery peer within the iSAQB certification ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Pearson VUE: Global computer-based testing and certification delivery network. Comparable through exam delivery infrastructure and partnerships with IT certification programs; competes for scheme delivery relationships.
• TÜV SÜD Akademie: Major German certification body offering ISO 9001, AZAV-related, and professional certifications across many domains. Comparable to Cert-IT's organizational certification business, but at much greater scale and broader portfolio.
• Prometric: Global test delivery and proctoring company serving IT and professional certification programs. Comparable in the test administration infrastructure that underpins Cert-IT's remote-proctored exam business.
• DQS (Deutsche Gesellschaft zur Zertifizierung von Managementsystemen): German management systems certification body, a direct competitor for ISO 9001 certification work and AZAV accreditation services. Operates at significantly larger scale than Cert-IT.
• TÜV Rheinland Akademie: Large German technical inspection and certification organization. Overlaps with Cert-IT's ISO 9001 and AZAV accreditation services, plus personnel certifications across industrial and IT domains.
• DEKRA Certification: Global testing, inspection, and certification company with strong presence in Germany. Competes with Cert-IT on organizational certifications (ISO, SCC) and offers its own person certification programs.

Regional players

• GUTcert (AFNOR Group): Berlin-based certification body offering ISO, AZAV, and sustainability certifications in Germany. Closest comparable to Cert-IT's organizational certification business with similar German market focus and scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cert-it

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CERT IT