Covering the costs of certs

Johner

Will most employers reimburse you for the dollar value of a certificate exams and maintenance or is that typically just an assumed cost for the employee?

Some of these tests can be a bit pricey.

Essendon

Depends on the company, my current employer pays for all my certs and occasionally they'll cover the cost of training if they feel it'll help me do the job better. If you are a contractor, companies generally dont pay for your certs, they hire you at a premium price as it is.

Which tests are you thinking of taking?

Mind_Sculptor

I only work at my current place for about 2 weeks, is it too early to ask for them to pay for my certs?

Johner

Essendon wrote: »

Depends on the company, my current employer pays for all my certs and occasionally they'll cover the cost of training if they feel it'll help me do the job better. If you are a contractor, companies generally dont pay for your certs, they hire you at a premium price as it is.

Which tests are you thinking of taking?

From what I can gather A+ isn't a bad starting point. I know how to assemble a computer and load its OS. Network it in and the works. I however don't know the technical terms and methodology for quite a bit of it.

I just know *how* its done. A+ would refresh my memory on things I may have forgotten since high school (Cisco Comp Repair class) and get me off in the right direction. More importantly I want to demonstrate a willingness and eagerness to learn and advance.

It would be an entry level tier 1 NOC tech gig. Thinking about Network+ after that.

Psoasman

We get reimbursed at work as long as we pass and the certs will benefit the work we do.

bigmantenor

Mind_Sculptor wrote: »

I only work at my current place for about 2 weeks, is it too early to ask for them to pay for my certs?

I wouldn't think so, considering this is a question that you could ask during the interview process.

over9000

It depends on the company. When I was a contractor, they never paid for anything. My new company will pay for certs but I have to stay with them 6 months after I get them or reimburse them. (It does take a while to get vouchers though).

Just ask your manager/employer what their policy is on that. (The sooner you know, the better )

Everyone

Like others have said, it depends on the company. When I worked for a DoD contractor, they would only reimburse for certs that were required under the 8750 regulations.

When I worked at a Hospital, they would not reimburse for any IT certifications, they'd only reimburse for medical certifications.

My current job it's pretty much up to my manager. If he thinks the cert brings value to the company, he can approve it.

swild

My company requires that you have been with them for three months to get Educational Assistance, as they put it. That includes GED, college, training, certs, and enrollment in professional organizations. You first have to fill out a form stating why it would help you in your future with the company and why you couldn't get the same knowledge for free for either other employees or from a seminar. Then once your supervisor, manager, and regional HR approves it, you can get enrolled or whatever. You then have to prove that you passed with at least a B to get reimbursed, or just passed for a cert. You then have to stay with them for a year after the reimbursement payment or you have to pay them back. The limit is $5250 a year.

Even with all that, my boss's boss, the VP of Finance, just expensed the cost of my CISSP exam after I had only been there 2 months, without any paperwork, just because I asked. I've proven that I am worth the investment.

Everything is possible. I will be getting at least $5250 every year. I'm thinking pretty seriously about finishing my bachelor's at WGU.

WiseWun

swild wrote: »

My company requires that you have been with them for three months to get Educational Assistance, as they put it. That includes GED, college, training, certs, and enrollment in professional organizations. You first have to fill out a form stating why it would help you in your future with the company and why you couldn't get the same knowledge for free for either other employees or from a seminar. Then once your supervisor, manager, and regional HR approves it, you can get enrolled or whatever. You then have to prove that you passed with at least a B to get reimbursed, or just passed for a cert. You then have to stay with them for a year after the reimbursement payment or you have to pay them back. The limit is $5250 a year.

Even with all that, my boss's boss, the VP of Finance, just expensed the cost of my CISSP exam after I had only been there 2 months, without any paperwork, just because I asked. I've proven that I am worth the investment.

Everything is possible. I will be getting at least $5250 every year. I'm thinking pretty seriously about finishing my bachelor's at WGU.

Don't see why you couldn't complete your bachelors unless other things such as family is keeping you busy. Wish my job would pay for my masters. I asked my boss and he laughed at me, were cool though. He's willing to pay for certs that are inline with the technologies we support but you gotta stick around for a year or else he'll be collecting.

SteveLord

I only paid for my A+ (was between jobs at the time) and saved by using early expiry vouchers.

Since then, I've gotten the rest of them through training paid by my employer. As well as Adobe Dreamweaver and advanced Excel and Access classes. $6000+ total. Plan on asking to take a VMWare, server 2008 course as well as SQL stuff in the near future.

I wish I could be doing stuff more, but being allowed out of the office is the tough part.