The National Association of Software and Services Companies plans to introduce by this year-end a common certification in terms of skills and knowledge, that matches industry requirement, for youngsters aspiring to enter the booming business process outsourcing industry.

Delivering the keynote address at an interactive seminar on 'Beyond BPO,' organised by BPO firm 24/7 Customer in Bangalore, Nasscom President Kiran Karnik said the certification, which would be universal across the country, was being planned in consultation with the industry.

"We are working with the industry. The first part would be ready in the next few months, by the end of this year," he told youngsters, both working in the BPO industry and aiming to join the sector.

He said the certification would help both aspirants and industry in terms of quality people and it would be spread across the country so as to reach talent more widely.

Karnik said another certification for those currently employed within the BPO sector was being planned which would enable them to move up the ladder in handling people.

He said Nasscom was integrating existing certification practices for the BPO industry in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala and make it universal.

Urging the media to look the BPO industry beyond call centres, Karnik said, within the call centres, there were areas which required more skill and specialisation, and Indian firms were proving in this sphere.

"We have created a great reputation of providing first rate services and this has made our customers wanting more from us," Karnik said, adding, "this reputation has also caused us problems in finding the right kind of people, which is fuelling this growth."

Karnik said the BPO industry, which was about four years old in India, had registered exports of $3.5 billion last fiscal with a growth of 45 per cent. The growth target for the current fiscal was 40 per cent.

He said the BPO industry offered good pay and training, but, hastened to add: "It is a challenging job."