Interview: Martin Bean on the Value of Certification and its Impact on America's IT Workforce

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Certifications – are they coming back and what does it mean for IT? Martin Bean, COO of New Horizons Computer Learning Centers, shares his insider knowledge.

Published 3/4/2005
By Anne Martinez

Martin Bean knows a lot about training and certification. He is the COO of New Horizons Computer Learning Centers, the world's largest independent IT training company and is actively involved in representing the IT industry in a variety of public policy issues through his work as Chairman of the CompTIA Public Policy Committee and Co-Chairman of the Technology Workforce Coalition. He also moderated the January 21, 2004 "Conversation with the President" in which President Bush addressed new opportunities for America's technology workers and discussed the National IT Apprenticeship System (NITAS). Mr. Bean is currently working with Congress on the TRAIN act that will stimulate lifelong learning in information technology. Recently, he offered to share his extensive opinions of the value of IT certifications and their contribution to the potential growth of America's IT workforce

GoCertify: IT certification seems to have lost some of the glamour it once offered to a resume, why is this and do you think it will change?

Martin Bean: I don't believe certifications have lost their glamour, rather the job market has become more competitive and employers are demanding experience coupled with certifications.

In the late 1990s there was a skill shortage measured in the hundreds of thousands and employers were clamoring to find qualified candidates. Certifications were one of the few ways that employers could sort thorough resumes at a primary level. There was a huge influx in certifications at this time. When the dot com bubble burst, a lot of employers began to feel that certifications were used to drive up salaries or lead to people moving from company to company. Employers soon desired experience along with knowledge.

So, it's not so much that certifications have lost their glamour; it's simply that a more competitive job market and certifications alone will not necessarily get you the job today as it could have in the '90s. This is why more innovative programs like the National IT Apprenticeship System (NITAS) allow you to combine and prove not only the knowledge but also the skills and experience for the job. The need for IT professionals to acquire both experience as well as certifications to get the job or move ahead in their career will most likely be the wave of the future.

In addition, one of the drivers for certifications is that technology is becoming more complex and specialized. Organizations have a need for people to specialize in areas such as IT security or networking. It will be a way to identify or map out career paths.

GoCertify: How will corporations measure the importance of certifications?

Martin Bean: One thing that has really changed is more pressure on corporations to measure and show ROI on certifications.

Employee turnover decrease
Client retention improvement
Productivity increase
Faster ramp up for employees and engineers
Reduced hiring costs
Total annual savings

GoCertify: Do corporations see a return on investment with certifications?

Martin Bean: Yes, corporations can see a return on investment as long as they adequately monitor and structure their environment and employees. To accurately determine ROI, I suggest companies take the time post-training to reinforce learning, praise employees for achieving a level of success, and use certified employees as mentors within the organization.

GoCertify: Which industries boast the most certifications and why?

Martin Bean: On a per capita basis, it would be fair to say that the industry that has the highest number of certified professionals is the IT industry itself because of the concentration of IT professionals that work in the industry and the fact that these certifications are often born out of the major IT companies. Because technology underpins just about every job in the U.S. economy, certifications are one of those interesting credentials where it will show up in just about any major industry that relies on its technology for its success; be that banking, manufacturing, biotech or healthcare. I believe that the finance industry, along with the healthcare industry are likely to be two areas with the highest concentration of IT certified people.

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