In terms of advancement, the EITCA Academy - as an international IT competencies certification framework - regarding the programme contents comprehensiveness can be compared to postgraduate studies. It is less theoretical in its aproach than the usual university academic postgraduate study programmes and more practice oriented in order to be aligned with professional career development. While EITCA Academy Certifications attest a similar degree of skills comprehensiveness as more formal academic programmes, it holds certain advantages, as more practically oriented, flexible and conducted fully online. The EITCA Academy constitutes a series of topically related EITC Certification programmes, which can be completed separately, corresponding on their own to standards of industrial level professional IT skills attestation. Both EITCA and EITC Certifications constitute an important confirmation of the holder's relevant IT expertise & skills, empowering individuals worldwide by certifying their competencies and supporting their careers. The European IT Certification standard developed by EITCI Institute since 2008 aims to support digital literacy, disseminate professional IT competencies in life long learning and counter digital exclusion by supporting people living with disabilities, as well as people of low socio-economic status and the pre-tertiary school youth. This conforms with the guidelines of the Digital Agenda for Europe policy as set out in its pilar of promoting digital literacy, skills and inclusion.