Are there less certs now offered by WGU?

Daax

So I got bored tonight at work and decided to head over to WGU.edu to look again at possibly starting up my Bachelors. I noticed that each of the BiS:IT programs are only showing ~6 certifications that you will earn. The last time I was looking at them (including getting info from a councilor) you were able to earn at least 10+ certs depending on the program. Does anyone know if they have reduced the amount you are able to earn now?


~Daax~

Dakinggamer87

WGU is removing many of the Microsoft MTA and CIW certification related courses is my understanding. They are replacing them with an equivalent type of class just without a certification attached to it. However, in all honestly they are entry-level certs and won't likely do much for your resume as they aren't highly sought after from my experience and my peers opinions.

srabiee

WGU is probably saving quite a bit of money by not having to purchase so many exam vouchers as well.

Codyy

Most of the certs removed wouldn't add any weight to a resume, though I'd still rather take a cert exam over something developed by the school ..usually much more available material.

I understand its all about the money, but why reinvent the wheel? Rhetorical question.

dark3d

I took all of the CIW before they removed them from the degree plans. I will also never put them on a resume or linkedin. I don't even have them on here.

Bottom line is that they are saving money. The major benefit for you is that the courses that they replaced them with you can take online proctored. That means that you can breeze through them quickly without having to schedule outside exams.

aspiringsoul

Honestly, I've never seen a job posting that says:

"MTA or CIW certification preferred"


So....yeah, just focus on the Cisco/Microsoft MCSA/Linux/Java certifications depending on your preference.

CompTIA is good, but less ROI than the vendor exams.

anoeljr

And it also seems they're getting away from "just getting certs". I read that you have to submit a database for the database class. I like that idea better than just getting a cert.

Mike-Mike

I just removed all my CIW certs with my recent resume update

techfiend

Creating a mysql database is probably much better education then getting an mta cert. The cert pads a resume to show some sql knowledge which is important in many system positions.

Danielm7

I never even listed the CIW certs on my resume. I'm currently in the security field and I'd raise more eyebrows than anything if I listed web design certs on my resume. No issue at all with them dropping them from the requirements. My mentor had told me that a bunch of the certs were only there until WGU developed their own version of the exam to replace them.

markulous

I'll echo what others have said. While I put it in my profile on here, I wouldn't ever list a CIW cert. It's a good thing they got rid of them. The CIW material was garbage and wasn't updated very often and the home exams are so much more convenient.

5ekurity

Even though I am completed with the CIW exams @ WGU - I'm very happy to see this change. I would never put these on a resume, and I could care less whether or not I get a paper cert that says I'm certified in something by CIW.

N2IT

I'm glad to hear they a removing some of the mickey mouse certifications from the program. It should be degree focused and there is nothing wrong with aligning with the other school systems, at least more so.

While I like the progressive nature of the school, I thought they got a little too carried away with certifications. Why not just offer CCNA or networking or MCSE for systems, and forgo the smaller lower level certifications?

anoeljr

N2IT wrote: »

I'm glad to hear they a removing some of the mickey mouse certifications from the program. It should be degree focused and there is nothing wrong with aligning with the other school systems, at least more so.

While I like the progressive nature of the school, I thought they got a little too carried away with certifications. Why not just offer CCNA or networking or MCSE for systems, and forgo the smaller lower level certifications?

I like that idea. Every class doesn't need to be a certification or prepare you for a certification.

markulous

N2IT wrote: »

I'm glad to hear they a removing some of the mickey mouse certifications from the program. It should be degree focused and there is nothing wrong with aligning with the other school systems, at least more so.

While I like the progressive nature of the school, I thought they got a little too carried away with certifications. Why not just offer CCNA or networking or MCSE for systems, and forgo the smaller lower level certifications?

I like that they have CompTIA certs (well, except the Project+). It's a nice option for people just starting out so they can get a couple entry-level certs and find a job quickly.

Shdwmage

I list the CIW cert on my resume for fluff more than anything. I will probably remove it on my next revision however. I felt the one that I took was so mind numbingly stupid and a waste of my time.

N2IT

@ Markulous I think the A+ is a good one as well, not big on network, security or project. It's weird comptia is trying to occupy every space, it's annoying to me to be honest.

Anyway I agree with A+. I still contend the A+ and MCSE combination alone with experience and skills can land you a really nice job. I have A LOT of former co workers and friends who utilized this combo and it's taken REALLY nice care of them.

eSenpai

Mike-Mike wrote: »

I just removed all my CIW certs with my recent resume update

To date, the funniest thing that I have spontaneously come across in regards to this is the "CIW nonsense" line in your Cert listing.

"It's funny because its true." LOL.

markulous

N2IT wrote: »

@ Markulous I think the A+ is a good one as well, not big on network, security or project. It's weird comptia is trying to occupy every space, it's annoying to me to be honest.

Anyway I agree with A+. I still contend the A+ and MCSE combination alone with experience and skills can land you a really nice job. I have A LOT of former co workers and friends who utilized this combo and it's taken REALLY nice care of them.

I think the N+ is pretty good knowledge to have though, maybe not necessarily the cert itself, but the basic networking knowledge is important.

A+ and MCSE is a good combo. Really, the MCSE is just a really good cert in general.

N2IT

A+ for the HR check, but the agnostic knowledge along with the vendor MS knowledge through the server track is a solid foundation.

srabiee

I think this is a step in the right direction. Like N2IT stated, it's good to see them get rid of the mickey mouse certs that most of us don't even include on our resumes in any capacity.

I'd like to see WGU take this even further and focus only on usable certs such as the MCSA and CCENT/CCNA for the bachelors program, and then introduce certs like the CCNP, MCSE, and VCP-DCV into the masters program. Perhaps create new masters degrees focused on advanced networking, advanced system administration, and virtualization and storage, with advanced certs integrated into the program. As it stands, the MS:ISA is the only technical masters degree they have.

N2IT

@srabiee

Love the idea of MCSA and CCNA for bachelors and MCSE and CCNP for masters. It really makes a lot of sense, maybe too much for WGU to actually implement.

srabiee

lol, a lot of things WGU does doesn't make any sense

techfiend

Agree with MCSA/CCNA for BS, CCNP/MCSE for MS but I think N+, Sec+ and Project+ are good introductions to different areas of IT. Did they ever have MTA: SQL cert? If so, that's the only cert I'm disappointed I didn't get during the BS.

Before adding certs I think WGU's priority should be to diversify their study material a bit more. CBT nuggets is very tough to learn from for some students, me included, and there's no other option for MCSA that comes in the degree. At least with CCNA they have reading materials available. I'd like to see labsim and\or ucertify for both tracks.

Jasiono

Thank God that the Microsoft ones are gone, but I had to take them because of the catalog I was in. They are a real pain in the ass!
But yes, I was just placed into a new catalog and I assumed that I would have to get Linux+ as well as Project+ but that is not the case any more. There are less certs now, yes.

N2IT

Maybe they could have a general IT degree requiring no certifications and then if you do a specific track you could get the networking or system certifications.

Mike-Mike

Shdwmage wrote: »

I list the CIW cert on my resume for fluff more than anything. I will probably remove it on my next revision however. I felt the one that I took was so mind numbingly stupid and a waste of my time.

I got burned by this once. I posted it somewhere on these boards a long time ago. I have the CIW JavaScript specialist. I was in my first interview for a Network Engineer role I really wanted, and i was internal, so I had high hopes. Manager sat in on my interview too. The boss read my resume, and goes, "oh I see you know JavaScript"

me.. uhhh, not really, that's a pretty foundational level cert, i know terminology, but I would not say I "know" javascript

him.. ".... it says 'specialist' here"

me.. I didn't name the cert...


and it was all downhill from there

eSenpai wrote: »

To date, the funniest thing that I have spontaneously come across in regards to this is the "CIW nonsense" line in your Cert listing.

"It's funny because its true." LOL.

I forgot I put that. I'm pretty funny. Self high five

srabiee

^^^ I remember reading about that. Total disaster, and exactly the reason why I don't list the CIW certs within my resume.

markulous

Mike-Mike wrote: »

I got burned by this once. I posted it somewhere on these boards a long time ago. I have the CIW JavaScript specialist. I was in my first interview for a Network Engineer role I really wanted, and i was internal, so I had high hopes. Manager sat in on my interview too. The boss read my resume, and goes, "oh I see you know JavaScript"

me.. uhhh, not really, that's a pretty foundational level cert, i know terminology, but I would not say I "know" javascript

him.. ".... it says 'specialist' here"

me.. I didn't name the cert...


and it was all downhill from there

I lol'd at "I didn't name the cert".

Shdwmage

I laughed pretty hard at that interchange as well. I think that might have be today's winning post.

I only have the Web Foundations Associate. They got rid of the others so I don't have to take them anymore.

5ekurity

I think the important thing to note here is that WGU still kept all the relevant certifications. For the InfoSec path, I'd actually like to see them develop content for Encryption, C/C++, practical red team / blue team training, and a forensics/IR course (smokin' hot field right now).