Certification Overview

Vendor Vendors, such as Microsoft and Novell, grant certifications based on tests. For some vendors, one test is sufficient, and others require a series of tests. In one instance, you can earn a certification by attending a series of classes. The proliferation of vendor certifications have just occurred in the past few years.

Professional Many professional organizations, such as by DPMA and ASM, grant certifications through tests. In addition, some certifications can be obtained by completing a series of courses or meeting other established criteria.

Other Organizations, such as the International Programmers Guild, were organized solely to certify that a person had certain programming skills. Certification is granted on a point system and peer reviews. Points are awarded for education and demonstrated experience.

Benefits

• CustomersCertifications allow you to present a more professional image to the customer.
• KnowledgePreparing for a certification exam forces you to review ALL of the features and techniques of the product.
• PersonalSome vendors grant discounts, free products, special invitations, etc to their certified professionals.

Recertification

Sometimes, there is a complete change in philosophy. For example, Microsoft radically changed their requirements for the Solution Developer certifications to include an exam to actually reflect the interviewing and analysis skills needed to develop an end-user solution for client server and web solutions instead of just testing knowledge of the technology.

Click here for a book about professional associations, book reviews, benchmarks, and other general and detailed information concerning the computer industry. Some of the ones that I found interesting are listed below.

Microsoft, Novell, Oracle , Lotus, Powerbuilder , Sybase, ICCP, Project Management Toast Masters

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Microsoft	Microsoft offers numerous certifications for all levels of expertise from the general office user to highly technical professionals. Certified Microsoft Office User (1 or more exams) Primarily for end users. Excellent for admins. Product Specialist ( 1 exam ), Solution Developer ( 4 exams ), Systems Engineer ( 6 exams ), Trainer ( exams + experience ) For more information: Microsoft Certification page OTHERS: Novell, Oracle , Lotus, Powerbuilder , Sybase, ICCP, Project Management Toast Masters Return to Home Page
NOVELL	Novell certification is mostly for lan managers. However, preparation for the administrator exam can be effective for developers who must work with Novell lans. Administrator ( 1 exam ) Engineer ( 7 exams ) Recertification exams are required for new releases. For more information: Novell Certification page OTHERS: Microsoft, Oracle , Lotus, Powerbuilder , Sybase, ICCP, Project Management Toast Masters Return to Home Page
ORACLE	Oracle certification is for people who set up and manage Oracle databases. Oracle is an industrial strength database that runs on both mainframes and network platforms. It was the only vendor certification that I found that seemed to be obtainable without taking a certification exam. Data Base Administrator ( 1 exam ) -or- Classes ( List $8,000 ) For more information: Oracle Certified DBA page OTHERS: Microsoft, Novell, Lotus, Powerbuilder , Sybase, ICCP, Project Management Toast Masters Return to Home Page
LOTUS	Lotus offers certifications in their office and their E-Mail products. The requirements for their E-Mail products, Lotus Notes & cc:Mail, are listed below. This applies primarily to E_Mail managers and programmers. cc:Mail Specialist ( 2 exams ) Lotus Notes Developer ( 3 exams ) Lotus Notes Administrator ( 3 exams ) Lotus Notes Consultant ( 3 exams ) Lotus Notes Specialist ( 5 exams ) For more information: cc:Mail & Lotus Notes Certifications OTHERS: Microsoft, Novell, Oracle , Powerbuilder , Sybase, ICCP, Project Management Toast Masters Return to Home Page
Powerbuilder	Powerbuilder is a language used to develop end user applications that run against industrial strength databases, such as Oracle and Sybase. It is a programmer's certification. Associate ( 2 exams ) Professional ( 2 associate exams + professional exam ) For more information: Powerbuilder Certifications OTHERS: Microsoft, Novell, Oracle , Lotus, Sybase, ICCP, Project Management Toast Masters Return to Home Page
SYBASE	Sybase is a major multi-user database that resides on network servers. Certifications are available both for the database administrators and programmers. Data Base Administrator ( 2 exams ) Performance and Tuning Specialist ( 1 exam ) Open Interfaces Developer ( 3 exams ) For more information: Sybase Certifications page OTHERS: Microsoft, Novell, Oracle , Lotus, Powerbuilder , ICCP, Project Management Toast Masters Return to Home Page
Institute for Certification of Computer Professionals	ICCP administers experience and non-vendor based certifications. It is sponsored by numerous data processing professional organizations. Certified Computing Professional Associate Computing Professional Specialties Microcomputing and Networks Management Procedural Programming Systems Development Business Informations Systems Date Resource Management Office Information Systems Systems Security Software Engineering Systems Programming Communications Languages C, COBOL, BASIC, C++, PASCAL, RPG/400 Recertification is required every three years through continuing education or exams. For more information: ICCP Certifications OTHERS: Microsoft, Novell, Oracle , Lotus, Powerbuilder , Sybase, Project Management Toast Masters Return to Home Page
PROJECT MANAGEMENT	CIPPM is an international association and center of advanced communication, research, and learning for professional project managers and those interested in project management. Credentials + Exam PMP certification is a credentials based certification with heavy reliance on rote knowledge standards in the PMBOK. The PMP certification exam and process, much like the CPA examination and process, consists of submitting an application to PMI which includes information about education, experience, etc... Upon payment of the examination and processing fee, the Certification Committee scores the application on a published point system, and notifies the applicant of approval to take the exam. The exam is approximately six hours in length with one hour allotted to each section derived from the PMBOK (currently under revision). Sections not passed can be retaken, with limitations on retakes within certain periods of time. Upon passing all sections, PMI awards certification. Local chapters provide extensive study and preparatory help, and PMI has local chapters in almost every US state locale. For more information: Project Management Certifications OTHERS: Microsoft, Novell, Oracle , Lotus, Powerbuilder , Sybase, ICCP, Toast Masters Return to Home Page
TOASTMASTERS	You become certified by giving a series of 10 speeches to your local toastmaster group. These are of varing lengths, topics and format. You can also obtain advanced certifications, and participate in local, regional and national contests. For more information: Toastmasters OTHERS: Microsoft, Novell, Oracle , Lotus, Powerbuilder , Sybase, ICCP, Project Management

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©1997 William W. Myers All rights reserved.
Please direct comments, additions or questions to: wmyers@hal-pc.org