I always gripe about stuff that others achieve - and I don't (damn it:-). Anyone with certification has earned it! And, everyone I've talked to that has a certificate, is gracious and knowledgeable.

My focus is a narrow range of disciplines. My primary skill is design, my second skill is development. The detailed knowledge required for for certification would blow my memory implants and spread me a bit thin. If something is outside my skills, the projects will hire an expert to handle it.

So, as you've probably guessed, I see things [mostly] from my point of view: design and development. An understanding of the double secret implementation of an arcane COM would not enhance the simple precepts that guide me through a project.

I am just jealous of the capacity others have to be such high achievers!

>I agree with what you say. Having said that - why wouldn't you do something that may give you an advantage in getting work ?
>
>
>>The point is certification and standarization, same as with ISO 9000, 9001, 9002, ... quality norms.
>>
>>Possibly. We could also make the argument that "Certification" is a "ruse" to give the "buyer" a sense that the prospect she may be considering can meet her expectations. This assumption does not always prove true.
>>
>>There may be a greater difference between "talking the talk" and "walking the walk" than we care to admit. There are people with with degrees from Yale that seem more like idiots on a stick than an academic or executive.
>>
>>Is memorizing a few words and policy papers a substitute for a "natural" (or learned) ability to build something? How would an IT manager know?
>>
>>Look at Enron - every accountant that signed off on the business plans was certified. The framed certificates on their office walls completely failed the stock holders.
>>
>>Some UT participant once had the following in his post signature:
>>"Program, program, program - or you'll wind up living in a van down by the river." - It did not say "Certify, Certify, Certify, or ..."
>>
>>Certification does two things:
>>1) Provides a false sense of security regarding the ability of the prospect to deliver.
>>2) Provides fees and commisions to those offering and "middle-manning" the the "certification" process.
>>
>>Certification has nothing at all to do with the quality of work or ability to deliver. Certification may be a cover-up for ineffectual professionals.
>>
>>RANT OFF:-)
>>
>>
>>
>>>A profit center for himself and a cost center for the one who pays (client or employer). If the work "the proffesional" does is worth more than what you pay for it, then is a profit center for the one who pays too.
>>>
>>>If you want to mean that a non-certified programmer can do the same work than a certified one, then I agree: in a lot of cases is the same work. Sometimes better, sometimes worse.
>>>
>>>But that's not the point. The point is certification and standarization, same as with ISO 9000, 9001, 9002, ... quality norms. Certification is a way to try to ensure to the customer that what he buys is complying a certain standard of quality, be it a car or a software. It does not make you a better programmer, but your customer does not know in advance whether you are a good programmer; with a certification the customer knows that at some extent you meet some requirements and expertise. That's not a bad idea.
>>>
>>>If you ask me, I'm not planning to attend any of those certification exams. Maybe it's because I'm not good enough.
>>>
>>>>Does university makes you a better professional?
>>>>It depends: Is the professional a cost center or a profit center?
>>>>
>>>>>Does university makes you a better professional? I you look at how successful has been Bill Gates after dropping college one might think that having a dregree is a painfull waste of time, that is a wiser choice to follow Gates' path. But I think that for the vast majority having a college degree does indeed "help" to be a better professional.
>>>>>
>>>>>>Do developers with certification write better programs than those without?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Hiya -
>>>>>>>IF you've been sitting on the fence waiting to take your certification exams -
>>>>>>>please note that the MCSD certification exam period expires on June 30, 2004.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Not sure what will happen after that time ..
>>>>>>>But ?
>>>>>>>If you're gonna take 4 exams to get your MCSD cert, why not take 2 more and get your MCDBA as well ?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>take a look at http://www.microsoft.com/certification
>>>>>>>and study the exam matrix. One elective exam in MCSD can count for a REQUIRED exam in the MCDBA, and one of the VFP exams counts as an elective in the MCDBA exam.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Most testing centers are at 100-125 per exam, and if you are attached to a university in any way, see if they have a testing center - you automatically qualify for a testing discount.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>Mondo Regards [Bill]