CRT 101: An Introduction to IT Certifications
By: Josh Evitt
Summary: In this article, I’ll discuss general information regarding Information Technology certifications. I’ll also discuss the purpose of IT certifications, as well as the benefits of obtaining IT certification.
What is IT Certification?
One definition of the term certify is “to guarantee as meeting a standard.” The term certification is defined as “the act of certifying.” So, essentially, we can define obtaining IT certification as the process of guaranteeing that you’ve met a certain standard, be it an industry standard or a vendor-defined standard. That clears things up doesn’t it?
Industry certifications have been around for many years. For example, many doctors must be “board certified” in order to practice medicine, meaning that a group of their peers have certified that the individual is capable of practicing medicine based on an agreed upon base set of standards.
We can look at IT certifications as a similar process. A vendor or group decides what skills an individual should possess in order to provide a base level of service. Typically, the certification vendor or group uses computer-based testing as a means of determining whether an individual has obtained that base level of knowledge. Other vendors attempt to simulate a real-world environment in order to test potential candidates’ knowledge. Some vendors use a combination of the two testing methodologies.
Regardless of the testing methodology used, the primary purpose of certification exams is to establish a base level of knowledge that candidates should have in order to provide support for the technology being tested. Microsoft, on its Web site, describes achieving Microsoft certification as showing “that you are a technical leader with the ability to successfully implement Microsoft business solutions for your organization or client.” In essence, this statement can be applied to most IT certifications. By achieving a specific certification, you are displaying that you are a technical leader with that particular technology.
It is important to reiterate that the benchmark set forth in a certification exam is defined by the vendor of the exam. There are literally dozens of software vendors that provide certification exams for their products, as well as several independent exam vendors that provide non-platform-specific certification exams.
Why Should You Get Certified?
As I’ve said in the previous section, obtaining an industry certification signifies that you have achieved a pre-defined level of expertise in a specific technology. In other words, the vendor certifies that you have reached a certain level of expertise with the technology being tested. Now that we have a vague understanding of what certification is, why is it worth pursuing?
Obtaining IT certifications can help you get noticed for jobs or, if you’re already employed, it can help you get noticed for raises and promotions. However, I should note here that certification alone will not guarantee that you’ll get a job or make a lot of money. In the mid-to-late 1990s, it was rumored that achieving Microsoft’s Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) credential would guarantee you a job making $50,000 (US) or more, regardless of your experience. This myth still exists to a certain extent today, but I can assure you that this is not the truth. I have met far too many people who believed this myth and spent thousands of dollars on training materials only to realize that the promise of instant riches just wasn’t true. But, IT certifications can be valuable. IT certifications can be obtained to distinguish you skills from others, to help your resume rise to the top or simply to achieve a personal goal. Some employers even require that their employees be certified.
Are There Any Downsides to Obtaining IT Certifications?
With all the advantages to getting certified, there are inevitably a few disadvantages to the IT certification process. For one, it can be an expensive process. Certification exams range from around $100 (US) to over $1,000, which doesn’t include training materials or classes. Then, after obtaining a certification, some vendors require that you remain current with their technologies, so you must periodically recertify, thus requiring more time and money. In some situations, however, employers will pay for their employees to get certified and some will even pay for training materials.
There has been a slight backlash against certifications due to people who cheat their way through the certification process by using illegally obtained answers to the certification exam questions. These individuals are often referred to as “paper certified,” meaning that they don’t actually know how to work with the technology. Consequently, many companies hire people who are supposedly experts in a technology, but can’t perform even the simplest tasks. One such example that I’ve heard is about an MCSE who did not know how to format a floppy disk! Needless to say, that company was a lot more skeptical when the next candidate claimed to be certified as an MCSE.
At this point, it is important to note that certification alone will most likely not provide you with more money instantly. Instead, certification should be one of many goals along the way to becoming a better, more knowledgeable IT worker.
I Want to Get Certified. Now What?
So, you’ve decided that certification sounds right for you. The next step is to decide the path that you want to take in your IT career. Hopefully, you already know what area of technology you want to work in, either networking or programming or maybe another area. Even better, you’re already working in a particular area. With that decision made, you can more easily determine which certification path to take. There are specific certifications for computer support, programming, networking, security, wireless technologies, project management, as well as other areas. Next, you should decide what vendor’s technology that you want to specialize in, if any. For example, if you are a programmer who wants to specialize in the Java language, then you should look towards achieving Sun’s Certified Java Programmer (SCJP) certification. In contrast, if you are a programmer who wants to specialize in the Microsoft .NET Framework, then you should look towards achieving Microsoft’s Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) .NET certification.
What if you’re new to the IT industry? If you’re new to IT or simply wanting to get a solid certification foundation, I recommend vendor-neutral certifications from the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), which can be found at www.comptia.org. CompTIA provides many entry-level certifications, including A+, Network+, Server+, Linux+ and others. I usually recommend A+ and Network+ as a starting point for many people because these certifications will ensure that you have a solid grasp of fundamental computer knowledge. The A+ exams test on basic computing skills, while the Network+ exam tests on basic networking skills. These skills can be used as a foundation for other exams and certification programs.
Once you’ve decided upon a test and are ready to take the exam, you must register for that exam. Most IT certification exams are administered by two testing providers, Thomson Prometric (www.2test.com) and Pearson VUE (www.vue.com). You can contact one of these testing providers to determine whether there is a testing center in your area. You can often register the day before you want to take the exam, depending upon the availability of the testing center.
Conclusion
Getting IT certified can be very beneficial. It demonstrates that you are a recognized expert in a specific technology. It helps you gain knowledge and prove your abilities in a particular area of IT. And, it can help you get employment or earn raises and promotions. However, IT certification is not a magic potion that should be used in lieu of obtaining real-world experience or a college education. The best approach is to combine real-world knowledge with education and certification.
This is the first in a series of articles discussing IT certifications. Future articles will discuss vendor-specific certification programs. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or comments regarding this article. Special thanks to Michael Aldridge for his help on this article.