In which decade did the support industry begin offering certification programs for help desk professionals?

The support industry began offering certification programs for help desk professionals primarily in the early 1990s. During this decade, the rise of personal computing and the increasing complexity of technology created a growing need for skilled professionals in customer support and issue resolution.

As more companies recognized the importance of providing effective technical support, formal certification programs emerged as a way to standardize knowledge and skills within the industry. These certification programs aimed to validate the expertise of help desk professionals in handling customer inquiries, troubleshooting technical issues, and providing support for software and hardware.

Furthermore, this era laid the groundwork for the expansion of the IT support profession, encouraging ongoing education and certification as critical components for career advancement. This focus on certification addressed the skills gap and helped to elevate the legitimacy and professional standards of the help desk and technical support roles within organizations.