FIS Clear2Pay open test solutions played an important role in creating the U.S. EMV VAR Qualification Program, the banking and payments technology provider said in a recent press release. 

FIS said the program combines a chip education component and an accreditation program intended to streamline and simplify the testing and certification process for value added resellers  and idependent software vendors, according to the announcement. 

Thanks to a coordinated, industry-wide effort that included the Payments Security Task Force, the PCI Security Standards Council and the EMV Migration Forum, FIS said VARs and ISVs will be better equipped to integrate chip cards into small and midsize merchants' point-of-sale solutions in advance of the October 2015 liability shifts by major U.S. payment networks.

”We have worked intensively on flexible services to sustain these companies in their ability to serve the U.S. EMV market and meet the imposed deadline," FIS EVP and Chief Product Officer Nancy Langer said in a statement. "Acting as a true partner with in-depth expertise, we can coach, guide and provide merchants, VARs and ISVs the essential instruments and services to test and precertify acquirers and processors."

The optional U.S. EMV VAR Qualification Program consists of these key components:

• an educational curriculum that provides a clear explanation of how to implement chip in the U.S. electronic payments marketplace;
• a list of service providers independently accredited by the major payment networks to provide chip consulting and expertise; and
• a prequalification process run by the accredited service providers to help VARs and ISVs begin the implementation and testing process before they work with acquirers to achieve final certification.