On March 29th, local time [1], IBM announced the launch of the world's first developer certification for quantum computer programming [2]. This is the first quantum computing certification project ever. Obtaining this certification indicates that you have mastered the basic skills of using Qiskit, which is essential for building and running quantum programs.
Quantum computing will change the way we solve computer problems. In the past few years, the industry has developed rapidly. The global summer school [3] held by IBM Qiskit in 2020 was attended by thousands of people and more than 600,000 people had installed Qiskit [4], an open source quantum software development kit developed by IBM.
A market research report predicts that by 2030, quantum computing will become an industry worth 65 billion US dollars, resulting in a large number of new quantum jobs [5].
Through the IBM Quantum Developer Certification released yesterday, IBM provides a way for people with various development backgrounds to obtain Qiskit programming certification, enabling them to use their quantum coding skills to gain potential opportunities in this new workforce background.
Figure 1 | IBM Quantum Developer Certification (Source: IBM)
Anyone can program real quantum computing hardware through Qiskit, and only requires Python and basic knowledge of linear algebra as a prerequisite.
Since IBM launched Qiskit in 2017, thousands of users have used Qiskit to develop applications, maintain and improve the code, and participate in online/offline hackathons, summer schools and other educational opportunities to revitalize Open source community. After this, IBM believes that it can focus on higher places.
With IBM's quantum process, the company seeks to build a global, diversified, cloud-based developer ecosystem that can bring quantum computing skills to their own communities and industries.
For the entire quantum community, this is an exciting opportunity to show potential employers the programming of your sperm computer. For employers themselves, it can also prove that they are building a quantum workforce. At the same time, this certificate can also be included in the scope of recruitment considerations.
Those in technical leadership roles should pay attention to the certificate because it will help develop quantum computing-related businesses in their organizations. Through the Quantum Developer Certification Program, IBM hopes to help people who are interested in working in this field increase their income potential.
Participants need to obtain IBM Quantum Developer Certification through the Pearson VUE platform and complete all 60 exam questions. The exams are provided globally in English.
Those who pass the exam need to have experience in using Qiskit to create and execute quantum computing programs on IBM quantum computers and simulators, and have the ability to perform these tasks with little product documentation, support or peer assistance.
IBM’s statement yesterday covered the first in a series of certifications, focusing on demonstrating familiarity with quantum computing and the use of Qiskit to build and execute quantum circuits.
For example, the following sample question is taken from a part of the certification exam, requiring developers to perform measurements based on different bases and apply various rotations to the initialized qubits in a given quantum state to find the probability of the result. Answering this question requires familiarity with the measurement of pure quantum states, quantum gates and different bases.
The IBM Quantum Developer Certification will tap skills such as these to examine the familiarity of the staff with building quantum computing applications. The certification will also be developed along with IBM quantum hardware and software, and certified personnel will be able to use the most advanced hardware and application modules.
Figure 2｜Example of test questions (Source: IBM)
The exam fee is $200, but the IBM Qiskit team understands that the costs associated with the certification exam are relatively high, so IBM will provide vouchers for the first 1,000 community members who take the test for the first time.
Readers who are interested in the certification can fill out the form [6]. With more and more certification opportunities, the scope of supply of vouchers will be expanded in the future.
Exam preparation related
The test language is English, with a total of 60 questions. Candidates can take the test through the Pearson VUE platform [7]. The test mainly examines whether candidates can use Qiskit to define, execute and visualize quantum circuits, realize single-qubit and multi-qubit gates, and understand their impact on quantum circuits. Candidates also need to use Qiskit's basic characteristics to write quantum programs.
Before the exam, candidates should understand how to create, execute, and visualize the results of quantum circuits. Candidates should have a certain understanding of how to build quantum state models and how to use complex vectors and matrices to evolve quantum states. Candidates should also have a certain understanding of Pauli matrix and quantum state measurement probability, and be familiar with common circuits that produce Bell states.
Interested readers can learn about related content through IBM Quantum Composer[8] and IBM Quantum Lab[9].
During the exam preparation period, IBM recommends using the textbook "Learning Quantum Computing with Qiskit"[10], focusing on Chapters 1 and 2. In the review phase, IBM recommends viewing the IBM Quantum Lab tutorial, focusing on the circuit and simulator parts.
Figure 3｜Line and simulator part (Source: IBM Quantum Lab)
Finally, IBM hopes that candidates can in-depth study of circuits, simulators and other topics. You can learn according to the following path:
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Learn about quantum registers, including the difference between classical registers and quantum registers, how to construct single and multiple qubit registers, and how to measure quantum registers as classical registers;
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Know how to install Qiskit:
https://qiskit.org/documentation/install.html；
- Able to define a quantum circuit, express the state of the qubit, and visualize the circuit:
https://qiskit.org/documentation/stubs/qiskit.circuit.Gate.html
Able to perform single-qubit gates and multi-qubit gates:
https://qiskit.org/textbook/ch-states/single-qubit-gates.html
Use barrier operations:
https://qiskit.org/documentation/stubs/qiskit.circuit.library.Barrier.html
Calculate the line depth:
https://arnaldogunzi.medium.com/how-to-calculate-the-depth-of-a-quantum-circuit-in-qiskit-868505abc104
And expand the quantum circuit:
https://qiskit.org/documentation/stubs/qiskit.extensions.Initialize.html
Able to execute a line:
https://qiskit.org/documentation/apidoc/execute.html
And understand the quantum register:
https://qiskit.org/textbook/ch-gates/multiple-qubits-entangled-states.html
And the classic register:
https://qiskit.org/documentation/stubs/qiskit.circuit.QuantumRegister.html
And measurement:
https://qiskit.org/documentation/stubs/qiskit.circuit.Measure.html；
- Learn about operators:
https://qiskit.org/documentation/tutorials/operators/index.html
And fidelity:
https://qiskit.org/documentation/stubs/qiskit.quantum_info.state_fidelity.html；
- Ability to use the simulator:
https://qiskit.org/documentation/tutorials/simulators/1_aer_provider.html
To run the quantum circuit:
https://qiskit.org/documentation/apidoc/providers_basicaer.html
Including the returned histogram, state vector and unitary matrix, which simulators are available, and how to access the backend of each simulator;
- Learn about the open quantum assembly language OpenQASM and how to use it in Qiskit:
https://medium.com/qiskit/a-new-openqasm-for-a-new-era-of-dynamic-circuits-87f031cac49
Including returning an OpenQASM string for the line and reading a QASM file:
https://github.com/Qiskit/openqasm；
- Know what is the backend:
https://quantum-computing.ibm.com/docs/manage/account/ibmq
And how to use them:
https://qiskit.org/documentation/stubs/qiskit.providers.ibmq.IBMQBackend.html
Including the overall overview of the back-end and monitoring the status of the job:
https://medium.com/qiskit/qiskit-backends-what-they-are-and-how-to-work-with-them-fb66b3bd0463；
- Finally, you should have a high level of understanding of how to visualize the results of the route. Including drawing lines and drawing data:
https://qiskit.org/documentation/tutorials/circuits/2_plotting_data_in_qiskit.html, Bloch vector and multivector, drawing Qsphere, drawing density matrix, and drawing gate plot with error rate.
There seem to be many places to learn, but the purpose of the exam is to ensure that the certified person has a comprehensive understanding of how to use Qiskit to program quantum computers.
Interested readers can follow the learning path given by IBM and refer to the links given above and in the reference section to start learning.
reference:
[1]https://www.ibm.com/blogs/research/2021/03/quantum-developer-certification/
[2]https://www.ibm.com/certify/exam?id=C1000-112
[3]https://medium.com/qiskit/heres-how-i-taught-a-quantum-computing-course-to-over-4-000-students-at-once-d2501843e9a6
[4]https://medium.com/qiskit/celebrating-2020-qiskits-best-year-yet-832ccc34d397
[5]https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/02/10/1982087/0/en/Quantum-Computing-Market-is-Poised-to-Surpass-64-988-3-Million-By-2030-P-S-Intelligence.html
[6]https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/6267499/Developer-Certification-Signup-Form
[7]https://www.pearsonvue.com.cn/
[8]https://quantum-computing.ibm.com/composer/files/new
[9]https://quantum-computing.ibm.com/lab
[10]https://qiskit.org/textbook/preface.html
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｜Editor: Wang Jiawen｜Reviewer: Ding Yan