Document your skills with additional certifications
As the flow of MCSEs from Microsoft's certification pipeline continues to increase, IT professionals feel mounting pressure to differentiate themselves from the MCSE masses. One approach is to continue down the certification path that got these professionals their jobs to start with. In many cases, this path leads to additional certifications by companies other than Microsoft or Novell.
The successes Microsoft and Novell have enjoyed in marketing their education products have not gone unnoticed by most of the large software and hardware vendors. Companies such as Intel, Cisco, 3Com, Computer Associates (CA), and HP are gearing up proprietary certification programs. This trend might give you the opportunity to complement your technical experience and knowledge of some of these network-related products with official recognition.
When I researched the subject of non-Microsoft/Novell certifications for "MSCE for Windows NT 4.0" (July 1997), I found 49 network-related certification programs. My research for this article uncovered 96 certification programs. Revisiting the Web sites for the original 49 certification programs, I found that 21 certification programs were no longer in existence. The related Web sites (if they still exist) give no hint of what happened. Other programs, such as Bay Networks' certifications for Certified Specialists and Certified Experts, have been absorbed into successful merger partners' programs (Nortel Networks acquired Bay Networks).
Selecting the Certifications You Need
As you contemplate obtaining an additional certification, make sure you address five key questions. These questions are how does the certification enhance your abilities and professional growth, what collateral benefits will you realize from the certification, what is the cost of the certification you want to obtain, what is the recertification time frame, and how difficult will obtaining the certification be?
Professional growth. Your goal with certification isn't simply to add an entry to your résumé. Vendors design certifications to test knowledge of product use and functionality. One of your principal criteria for deciding to get certified on a product should be that you presently use the product or will likely use it in the future as your job duties expand.
Collateral benefits. Because some certifications support specialized products only marginally related to NT, such certifications might provide little return on your investment dollar. To avoid these marginal certifications, concentrate on product recognition. Will other IT professionals recognize your certification as something of value? Put your research skills to the test: Conduct an Internet study. Through Usenet news groups and other Internet resources, determine what other professionals think about the certifications you are considering.
Cost of certification. The MCSE certification's popularity has spawned a booming industry providing third-party MCSE certification services. These services include training centers, test preparation services, software publishers of computer-based training materials, and online training providers. As an MCSE candidate, you have numerous choices for training, and costs vary substantially depending on the method you choose. With companion certifications, your choices are more limited. Some certification programs require you to attend vendor-produced instructor-led courses before you can obtain certification. The cost of these courses might be prohibitive unless your employer is covering part of the cost.
Recertification time frame. Retesting fees and the costs associated with retraining to pass exams can be a major expense. Microsoft has adopted a reasonable approach to address this recertification problem. For example, systems engineers certified in NT 3.51 don't have to take new certification exams until Microsoft retires the NT 3.51 exams. Microsoft has announced that the retirement date of these exams will be 1 year after the release of the exams for Windows 2000 (Win 2K). Some complementary certifications have a much shorter life cycle; for example, Compaq's ASE program requires annual recertification.
Level of difficulty. How difficult obtaining the certification will be depends on several factors, including courseware and product availability, your experience with the product, the product's complexity, the number of exams the vendor requires for certification, and the difficulty of the exams. Certification requirements such as those Cisco imposes for its CCIE certification (i.e., practical testing in a laboratory) have proved to be a substantial barrier for professionals seeking certification. A high level of difficulty is not all bad, however. A difficult course might have a direct effect on how the industry views your certification.
So Many Choices
With so many training options available, you might have difficulty choosing the most beneficial educational track. The time and money you invest in a new certification will be considerable, so don't take your decision lightly. Let's look at four categories of certification: hardware-related certifications, OS certifications, advanced enterprise networking certifications, and other related certifications.
Hardware-Related Certifications
The hardware-related certification category includes certifications that relate more to system hardware than to software. However, even these certifications entail a software component because computer hardware components depend on software to function properly.
A+ and Network+. The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA), a consortium of large hardware and software manufacturers, developed the well-known A+ certification for PC technicians. A+ requires you to pass two certification exams. One exam covers system hardware components, and the other exam relates to the DOS, Windows 3.1, and Windows 95 OSs. (For more information about A+ certification, see Kurt Hudson, "A+ Certification," page 73.) CompTIA made Network+ available in April 1999 as a vendor-neutral networking certification. Network+ requires you to pass one exam.
Intel certifications. Intel provides several certifications related to its product line. Most people think of the company as just a CPU manufacturer, but Intel has a host of network-related products, including hubs, routers, switches, NICs, and enterprise network management software. The Intel Certified Integration Specialist (ICIS) certification has two paths: desktop-server and networking. The desktop-server certification requires five exams; the networking certification requires six. Intel also has a more advanced certification known as the Certified Solutions Consultant (ICSC). This certification concentrates on network and desktop-server design and business solutions. Successful applicants must pass three certification exams.
Compaq certifications. The Compaq ASE program provides three levels of certification. The first level, Associate ASE certification, allows six different specialties: Intel/NetWare Specialist, Intel/ Windows NT Specialist, Intel StorageWorks Specialist, Critical Problem Resolution Specialist, Workstation Specialist, and Communications-LAN Specialist. Depending on the specialty, Compaq requires two to four successful exams to achieve Associate ASE status.
The second level of certification is the Compaq ASE certification. In addition to achieving Associate ASE status, candidates must provide proof of their expertise on a networking OS (CNE or MCSE status fulfills this requirement).
The third level, Compaq's Master ASE certification, generally requires completion of ASE status along with one to three additional certification exams. Certification specialties include Enterprise Management, Enterprise Storage, High Availability and Clustering, Internet/Intranet, Messaging and Collaboration, and database specialties relating to Baan, SAP, Oracle, and SQL Server.
3Com certifications. This hardware vendor has adopted a different approach to training, providing graduates with a Master of Network Science (MNS) designation. 3Com permits six different tracks for its MNS designation: LAN Solutions, LAN Solutions Plus, WAN Solutions, Remote Access Solutions, Network Management, and Network Architecture. Each track has specific requirements, including a Web-based preassessment exam you must pass before you can take the requisite courses. After you complete the courses, 3Com gives you an opportunity to take the hands-on MNS exam. You must take the instructor-led courses if you want to obtain the MNS credential.