Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the esports industry has continued to thrive and grow since last year. We’ve got esports scholars, female esports teams, and even the inclusion of esports to the SEA Games as an official medal event to help the industry become a mainstream sports title.
It just feels right to further hone the pillars of esports, which the newly-formed Esports Certification Institute (ECI) is all about.
This international organization was founded by former Dignitas Chief of Staff Ryan Friedman and former Houston Rockets VP of Esports Sebastian Park to standardize talent acquisition in esports. ECI aims to do this by offering certification in esports knowledge.
“Despite massive industry growth in the past five years, securing a career in esports is still often more about who you know than what you can do,” explained Friedman. “By offering a certification in esports knowledge, companies will be able to easily identify highly skilled and qualified applicants, ultimately creating an industry where everyone is given equal opportunity to succeed in esports irrespective of personal circumstances.”
The Esports Certification Institute will administer a merit-based examination to test the proficiency of anyone who’s looking to get a job in esports. The inaugural exam will consist of 120 multiple choice questions and one essay and tests across three components: Esports Knowledge, Statistical Literacy, and Problem Solving.
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The ECI exam questions will be prepared by the institute’s advisory board, including industry leaders like Evil Geniuses CEO Nicole LaPointe Jameson, FlyQuest CEO Tricia Sugita, and Gen.G CEO Chris Park, and Cloud9 VP Donald Boyce.
“Similar to standard financial certifications, candidates demonstrate their knowledge and skills through a rigorous examination to ensure critical competencies necessary to work in esports,” said Sugita.
Candidates who have passed the exam will not only get a certificate but will also receive regular guidance from the advisory board to ensure long-term success in the industry.
To help prepare examinees for the test, ECI will offer a study guide under a pay-what-you-afford model where the proceeds will be used to enable low-income applicants to access the test.
Aside from the test and certification, the ECI will also launch educational esports programs and networking opportunities for anyone who’s interested in pursuing a career in esports.
You can visit the Esports Certification Institute’s website to know more.
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