Certification Learning At Conferences And Trade Shows

Conferences and trade shows are a great source of certification information and training. Find out how to get the most benefit from the next one you attend.

By Anne Martinez

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Conferences and trade shows are a great source of certification information and training. A well chosen event can prove very useful both to the certification candidate and the already certified individual. Such events offer an expedient way to accomplish multiple tasks - get some training, make connections, and learn the latest and greatest breakthroughs in your field. As an added plus, you get to escape the office for a few days and enjoy a break from your daily routine.

Trade shows are brought to us by a variety of sources. Some are created by trade show companies strictly as a for-profit venture while others are operated by a particular vendor. In the world of certification, for example, MCP TechMentor is a conference that typically runs 3 days and costs $895 for regular registration. Microsoft Certified Professionals get $100 off. The sessions aren't all geared directly to certification exams, but many are.

Another popular certification vendor, Cisco Systems Inc. puts on an annual four-day event called Networkers that offers over 100 training sessions. Novell's BrainShare event costs $1595 and runs five days. Sessions include developer lectures, technical tutorials, and real world case studies.

Broader based shows have material of interest to certification candidates as well. For example, the forthcoming Spring Comdex includes a session: "Which Certifications Work and Are Worthwhile?" as well as technical sessions on specific technologies such as XML and TCP/IP.

Seminars, Sessions, and Workshops

Regardless of your certification status, by virtue of being in the information technology field you know you're going to need ongoing training over time. A conference/trade show can fill this need in two ways: through the exhibit hall and the conference program. Any computer-industry show exhibit hall is likely to include a generous selection of training vendors. This might include individual trainers, large and small companies offering online learning and classroom courses, as well as books, CD-ROM courseware, and just about any other training format you can think of. This means you have the perfect opportunity to connect with and assess multiple potential training vendors in an efficient and effective way.

The second training opportunity is through the program itself. Most trade shows offer a selection of technical courses - ranging from introductory to very advanced, depending on the expected audience - right on site. Often the more in-depth training will be scheduled just before or immediately following the event, which allows you to get in one or more full days in the classroom without missing out on the exhibit floor. This training doesn't have to be specifically offered by a certification sponsor to be right on target for your needs, but more and more you can expect to find these events offering raining directly keyed to certification programs. Because you are away from the office, you can totally immerse yourself in one or more courses for a day or more, with minimal interruption. This can be a good way to learn a lot in a little time.

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