Certification Magazine - February 2008 - (Page 16) VIRTUAL VILLAGE Hot for ‘08? Not So Fast BEN WARDEN As 2007 came to a close, CertMag forum posters engaged in a spirited discussion involving what would be the hot certifications of the new year. Forum member Wagnerk posted his thoughts on the matter: “Because I work in education, [I anticipate] more Web-based, Web 2.0 and SharePoint integration, coupled with security, along with Internet bandwidth, reliability and the changeover for some companies from Server 2003 technology to Server 2008 technology.” He also posted a controversial list from www.knowhow-now.com that indicated the following as the hottest certifications for the year: MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional), CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate), MCPD (Microsoft Certified Professional Developer), SCJP (SUN Certified Java Programmer), CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional), CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, MCTS SQL Server 2005 (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist), RHCE (Red Hat Certified Engineer) and CompTIA Security Plus. CertMag forum member Wayne Anderson took immediate issue. “As this community well knows, I tend to be honest and forthright with my opinions: This guy is an idiot,” he said. “MCP is going to be a hot certification in 2008? No, it’s not. It was. Almost all of the new Microsoft tests are on the MCTS or MCITP track now. So, no new MCP offerings will be out there. Why would SQL Server 2005 certification be really hot next year when everyone will be transitioning to the SQL Server 2008 certification? And there are six or seven versions of the MCPD to be looking at next year! Three on .NET 2 and another three or four on .NET 3.5! As for listing each of the CompTIA certifications, I would challenge those assertions, as well, and also ask what in the world the criteria is here for a “hot” certification: The number of people who get them? The number of jobs that list that acronym? I note that this list almost completely fails to take into account the effect that DoD 8570.1 will have next year and in early 2009. This coming year is the real pressure year to make sure that IAT and IAM personnel are properly certified in order to ensure 8570.1 compliance in 2009.” Some weren’t as outspoken as Wayne Anderson but added criticism just the same. “It really is quite the eclectic mix of certs he has listed!” said CertMag forum poster Kieranm. “Looks like many of the usual players: CompTIA, Microsoft, Cisco. It’s nice to see Red Hat in there. Interesting to see the Java cert listed; I don’t know about demand, but J2ME is certainly a big thing for mobile apps these days. I worked for a company about a year ago that was starving for J2ME folks, they were even willing to take nonmobile people and fully train them on J2ME. I’m not sure how hot the CISSP will be, just given the work experience requirement. CCIE could, of course, arguably be in there. While it doesn’t have the throughput that some of the other certs see, it’s certainly steady and popular in proportion to the cost and skill level. One that isn’t there but will be interesting to watch is Juniper’s new Enterprise Routing cert, the JNCIA-ER. There’s certainly ample access to it now, what with the free courseware and exam voucher program they have been doing recently. I just tonight stumbled upon a listing at Amazon for a study guide coming in the new year.” 16 CERTIFICATION MAGAZINE February 2008 http://www.know-how-now.com http://www.know-how-now.com
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