CERTIFICATION FAQS

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General Certification Questions & Answers

12. Where Will I Have To Go For Certification Training?

You can go back to school or travel to a training site if you want to, but these days there are so many alternatives that it’s unlikely you’ll have to. You may have to attend some courses at a training center or school if equipment you don’t have (such as an Internet server) is used as part of a required, hands-on course. But most of your learning can be done from home, work, nearby independent training centers, or anywhere you can haul your notebook computer or printed study guide. You can thank your own career field for that--computers and technology have freed classes from the classroom. Today, training can be completed in many ways. Learning alternatives include:

Self-study texts, workbooks, and videos
Computer based training (CBT)
Online classes
Classes at an authorized or third-party training center
Community college programs

These aren’t all available for every certification, but usually there are several options to choose from. You’ll have to decide which ones will work best for you by analyzing your learning style, degree of self-motivation, and other factors.

13. Do I Need A College Degree to Get Certified?

Absolutely not. In fact, there are generally no educational prerequisites. Even lack of a high school diploma won’t bar your entrance to computer certification programs.

That’s always been one of the great things about computer work--there’s room for everyone who is capable and often even for those with marginal skills but burning passion for the field. Good educational credentials, however, will often smooth the way into the upper ranks of computer professionals and are listed as a requirement in many job postings. Larger companies, especially, seem to automatically expect candidates to hold a bachelor of computer science degree. Startups are often more flexible.

But we’ve all heard of the self-taught hacker who founded a company in his garage and moved on to become an industry mover and shaker.

It seems pretty much a continuation of that tradition that certification programs basically work like this: you fill out the paperwork and pay your money--you get in. You complete the requirements, which often include exams and sometimes a record of related work history, and you get certified.

14. How Do I Decide Between An MBA Or Certification?

You’ll have to undertake a difficult task: nailing down your goals. If working in a management capacity is important to you, the MBA might be the way to go, especially if you like to work for large corporations. Keep in mind, however, that an MBA doesn’t command as much respect as it used to. That’s probably because it’s become a more widely held and widely available credential, perhaps losing some of it’s value in the process.

If, on the other hand, you’re seeking increased pay and responsibility but aren’t necessarily attracted to the management route, an MBA might not do you a whole lot of good, and certification might be just what you’re looking for. People with top technical skills can command a premium in the job market because companies desperately need them to keep up with technology.

The bottom line is that the only person who can decide what sort of career move is best for you, is you. Ranking one opportunity above another is meaningless without doing so in the context of your personal goals and aspirations. You’ll have to figure out just what those are, research your options with an open mind, and decide for yourself.

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