Is Certification a Waste of Time?
Certification: Don’t Waste Your Time!
In this short piece, Uncle Bob makes some very good points about the value of certifications and why the process to obtain them can be a waste of time. Although no particular credentials are mentioned, the web site focuses on IT software practices, so we assume that the article is about certifications for that field.
For the full article, Certification: Don’t Waste Your Time! ….
Everybody Wins In The Certification Game
Everybody Wins In The Certification Game
by Davy Brion
You often hear developers complain about the value of certifications. Most certifications are worthless in my opinion, and you sure as hell don’t need to be smart or talented to be able to get certified. The only thing you really need is time. That’s it. So i can understand why so many people in this industry are frustrated with people who are either too hung up on their certifications, or the companies and/or customers who value them so greatly. But fear not, my friends, for the truth is that we can all benefit from the software certification game.
If you’re a company or an individual who’s looking for an easy way to make a few extra bucks, just create your own certification! The only reason certifications exist is to make more money and there is no reason in the world why you wouldn’t be able to do the same. Want some proof? People are paying money to go to a 2 day course which ends with them being proclaimed Certified Scrum Master. Obviously, most people who’ve actually given it some thought know that it’s a pretty meaningless certificate but hey, plenty of people are willing to pay for it, so why not take advantage?
Assessing the Integrity of Professional Certifications
Assessing the Integrity of Professional Certifications
Use any search engine and type in “fake certification” or a similar term and you will likely find offers for certification credentials in your profession of choice without any skills assessment, training, or experience required – except for a valid credit card. Obviously, entering “fake certification” will result mostly in offers for “novelty” credentials; however, many so-called “legitimate” certification credentials can be just as worthless as the fakes. How can this be so? Well, the certification industry is largely unregulated. Basically, there are no regulating agencies to enforce standards, so each certifying body can create their own. In fact, just about anyone can become a certification granting entity using a home computer and a printer. This is not to say that all certifications are phony; there are certification granting bodies that indeed have high standards, but unfortunately, most do not. For every credible and recognized certification, there are likely to be several competing ones that are unrecognized, questionable, or outright fakes. Being unregulated, the certification industry is truly a “wild west show”, making it difficult for the uninformed to identify the good from the bad. However, with a little footwork, it’s not that difficult to filter out value from the “junk”.
