Security Basics mailing list archives
RE: Value of certifications
From: "Devin Rambo" <drambo () vediorps com>
Date: Wed, 16 May 2007 13:59:28 -0400
Hari wrote:
I am in the same position. I think that expiring certifications are
__extremely__ lame. If you have earned something then it's not very smart to take it away from you. It's essentially a waste of time and a con trick to generate more revenue by forcing to re-sit the same exams over and over again.<<< With all due respect, I couldn't disagree more. First, recertification requirements force those holding the cert to work to maintain the knowledge which has been certified. I don't see anyone raising objections to requiring medical professionals to undergo the periodic recertifications necessary to retaining their professional licenses, and while IT professionals *usually* are not faced with the life-or-death circumstances medical pros are faced with, I still see no good reason why certs requring high degrees of knowledge and/or training should not subject those being certified to the demand that their mastery of the material be maintained. At one point, I was a certified CCNA. Since obtaining that cert, my career has gone in a different direction from where it was headed at the time. I still have an understanding of the concepts a CCNA must know in order to obtain the cert, but I'm quite sure I wouldn't be able to pass the test in its current form without a considerable amount of study. My point is, should I be able to tell a prospective employer that I have the knowledge and skills of a CCNA? I wouldn't feel comfortable doing that, because the fact of the matter is that I'm not a CCNA any longer. Certifications are a demonstration that you possess a specific set of skills or knowledge. Why should someone be able to claim those skills or knowledge to professional organizations or prospective employers if those skills have, in fact, been allowed to deteriorate? That would certainly serve to degrade the value of the cert in question, which doesn't help anyone. And if a certain cert helps you get a job and is applicable to the work you're doing, I'm not sure why it's a big deal to recertify, since you'd presumably be keeping your skills and knowledge current on the job anyway. Devin
Current thread:
- RE: RE: Value of certifications David Harley (May 01)
- <Possible follow-ups>
- Re: RE: RE: Value of certifications nomail (May 01)
- RE: Value of certifications Simmons, James (May 01)
- RE: RE: Value of certifications David Harley (May 02)
- RE: Value of certifications Jones, David H (May 02)
- Re: Value of certifications Hari Sekhon (May 16)
- RE: Value of certifications Devin Rambo (May 16)
- RE: Value of certifications Simmons, James (May 16)
- Message not available
- Fwd: Value of certifications kevin fielder (May 17)
- RE: Value of certifications David Harley (May 17)
- RE: Value of certifications Craig Wright (May 17)
- RE: Value of certifications Erin Carroll (May 18)