Yet despite the numerous debates about IT certification, it's here to stay, as evidenced by the $2.5 billion in revenue the certification business generated in 1999 and projections of up to $4.1 billion by 2003, according to a research study conducted by IDC. And there is no shortage of certification programs. Almost every vendor that's ever put out a computer-related product offers certification exams. Further, vendor-neutral certification exams are available to test knowledge of general technology rather than knowledge of a specific product.
Whether you're choosing a course or hiring a certified candidate, the most value comes from programs offered by the hottest vendors, such as Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle and Sun, with the hottest products. Furthermore, the higher the level of certification, the better the compensation employees can expect and the better the job performance employers can count on.
Worth the Investment?
Certifications hold greater advantages for certain workers and in certain situations. "It's more important for consulting services and other companies selling IT services to have certified workers because companies hiring them want to see [proof of] expertise in particular areas," according to Barb Gomolski, an analyst with Gartner.
Even if you're not in consulting services, there are still some good reasons to get certified. If you're an experienced IT worker, certification should lead to a salary increase or a promotion. Some companies will even set up on-site training or pay for employees to attend certification classes. Be aware of these perks when you select a job.
You can also use the opportunity to learn a new skill. Newcomers, however, should be wary of trying to use certification to jump-start their careers. Gomolski says she believes career changers with no IT experience would be better off putting their efforts in another direction to get started in the IT industry.
"If they are willing to spend the money on a certification class, then they are better off going to a company and working for free or at an intern's salary for six months to get hands-on experience," Gomolski says. "Hopefully, that will lead to a full-time job, which will probably better position their career than a certification with no experience."
A thorough look at available networking jobs posted on online job sites, such as ComputerJobs.com, Dice.com, Headhunter.net, Monster.com and TechieGold.com, backs up Gomolski's assertion -- unless you're a CCIE (Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert), in which case you're practically guaranteed a job and a six-figure salary. When certification is listed as a requirement (rarely) or a plus, the job description usually specifies x years of experience and a number of other skills.
If you're trying to decide whether to pursue a particular certification, search on a recruiting site to see what types of jobs and job descriptions come up. Essentially, certification is a way to differentiate your résumé from that of someone else with similar qualifications, to prove your commitment to your career and to the technology, and to show that you have the ability to learn and exhibit expertise in a particular area.
Major Certification Programs
The first name that comes to mind when mentioning certification programs is Microsoft. Microsoft has run the most successful certification program primarily because Windows is the most used platform in IT shops and the company offers a wide array of certifications that are realistic to attain even for those with minimal experience.
The lowest certification offered by Microsoft is the MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional), which is attained by passing any one Microsoft certification exam. It's a good starting point for a person looking to get an entry-level position, an experienced worker with no certifications or someone who specializes in using one particular Microsoft product.
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FYI
Non-IT companies anticipate the need for 643,257 new IT workers this year, which is 303,000, or 45%, fewer than last year; IT companies foresee the need for 258,332 new IT workers this year, which is 122,500, or 41%, fewer than last year.
-- ITAA
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Still, while the MCP may be a nice jumping-off point, it will not move your career very far by itself. It should be used as a stepping stone toward becoming a MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer), the cornerstone of Microsoft's certification program. The Windows 2000 MCSE track has seven exams. Four mandatory core exams test your knowledge of installing, administering, configuring and implementing the various flavors of Windows 2000 in a network infrastructure and using the enhanced directory services it offers. Then you have to pass one design-related exam from a group of four and two elective exams, which can be chosen from a list of several Microsoft offers.
Individuals who hold Windows NT 4.0 MCSEs have until Dec. 31 to upgrade to the Windows 2000 MCSEs; otherwise, the certifications will become invalid. An accelerated exam is being offered up to that time for those who passed the core exams for the NT certification; if you pass that test, you can skip the Windows 2000 core exams. But it's no cakewalk, as it covers material from all four of the exams it replaces.
In fact, Microsoft raised the difficulty of the Windows 2000 test in response to an onslaught of "paper MCSEs" -- people who memorized brain dumps from Internet sites, regurgitated the information during the test and got their certifications but performed poorly on the job.
Microsoft says it expects Windows 2000 MCSEs to have at least one year of hands-on experience and has included some real-world examples in an attempt to discourage the book memorization that has plagued the NT MCSE exams. The aim is to increase the credibility of the certification, which is intended for network and systems administrators who deploy, install and configure components of a network, design infrastructure solutions and troubleshoot system problems.
Microsoft also offers the MCSD (Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer) and MCDBA (Microsoft Certified Database Administrator) certifications, which are aimed at developers and DBAs working with Microsoft products. Neither of these certifications has garnered nearly as much popularity as the MCSE; around 13,000 people hold each of these certifications, whereas 350,000 people have NT MCSE certifications.
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