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Certification Buzz - Response

Posted on Jul 22, 2005

I want to respond to a post at at CFCODER Blog. Let me state for the record that I think studying for the certification is a good thing. First off, the implication of his argument would be that you need to use every feature in every release (or at least a majority of them) to prepare for the certification exam. This is both unlikely and impractical and studying for the exam can often be an eye opener about features that you do not have a need for in your every day work. Also, I am not so sure about how many people really study that hard for certications to get jobs they cannot do. I am also unsure about which employers are hiring people with certifications and no experience in the line of work for which they are certified.I used CentraSoft's CF Exam Buster for version 5 and it certainly helped me pass the test. I also feel it helped me learn some aspects of the language while I studied. Often I would return to the book to research a question I got wrong and learn the topic more deeply.

I didn't study directly for the CFMX 6 exam, but I did read the books and taught myself about the new features with the idea in mind that this knowledge would assist my getting certified.

I also took a boot camp for the Microsoft MCDBA. I learned alot of things about SQL that I didn't know before...and no one in the boot camp was unqualified to be learning the material. In fact, it was damn difficult for those of us with experience. Many did not pass. I was able to pass the SQL exams, but not the Windows exams, and I consider myself having done well.

So where are these people with no experience or knowledge who are getting certified? Maybe my experience is different...not to say I have not met people in positions they were unqualified for...but actually none that were certified to do what they do.

Comments

I guess I should clarify a few things. I am all for certifications. However, I am not a fan of certifications just to have them. The type of people who cram to only pass the exam and get certified are probably not going to retain the material they so feverishly crammed in over the long haul. The point being is that as long as certifications reflect your knowledge of the material they are excellent to have (IMO) and can shed some insight into a potential employer as to your ability and knoweldge within the subject matter. However, if you are certified and can not back up the certification with your skills then what good is the certification? In fact, over time it could diminish any credibility the certification has and make it worth less to those of us who can back up the cert with the skills.

My original post was not a bash on people who are certified rather it was just me voicing my opinion on the fact that I do not agree with just getting a cert to have a cert. Nor do I agree that cramming or what not is the best approach to preparing for a certification exam.

By the way, I use Exam Buster also. It was a great tool to help me identify the ares in CF I thought I might have been better at, but was lacking in. It also helped me organize the topics. I took my time going through the software as well as Ben's previous book; coding my own examples and identifying real world problems that could be solved with the material in question. Eventually I felt comfortable in all the areas so I took the test and passed with advanced certification. I don't think I even looked over any books or what not before the day of the exam.

Posted By Mike Tangorre / Posted on 07/22/2005 at 12:06 PM

I was just checking out your site a little more and noticed you are a fins fan.. that is awesome! I grew up in upstate New York (Elmira area) and the big team was the Bills.. I hate them! Everytime the fins came to town I was one of the 5 fins fans getting pummled with snowballs at Rich Stadium. :-)

Anyway.. nice to see some fins fans!

Posted By Mike Tangorre / Posted on 07/22/2005 at 5:40 PM