Top 5 certs for 2010- Network World

Maybe you've seen this list before or maybe you just gave up on the "top n certs for this year" theme but here's the Network World's list of top 5 certs that boost your paycheck:
1. VMWare Certified Professional
2. Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist
3. Cisco Certified Architect
4. CompTIA Green Computing Certificate
5. ITIL v3 Foundations
Maybe those with a bit more know in the current state of IT would disagree? I personaly found no.4 highly questionable to be on the list at all and putting Cisco on 3 and not higher an indication of sponsorship of this whole review and not a reflection of how things really are... no.1 also raises brows (taking the prep course required in order to take the test- seriously?!), but maybe it's just my impression?
The article: 5 hot IT certification picks for 2010

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Hyper-Me

No.1 raises eyebrows, not because its not a very worthwhile cert, but because you are taking a 3000$ hit right off the bat just to get it. So I hope they are factoring in the "raise" you'll get offsetting that 3000$ buy in.

RobertKaucher

Hyper-Me wrote: »

No.1 raises eyebrows, not because its not a very worthwhile cert, but because you are taking a 3000$ hit right off the bat just to get it. So I hope they are factoring in the "raise" you'll get offsetting that 3000$ buy in.

Hyper, I'm a little shocked you didn't have something to say about listing MCTS. I mean really MCTS is not a certification. It's more of a title. MCTS: Windows 7 Configuring is a certification. Listing MCTS is far too generic.

Hyper-Me

RobertKaucher wrote: »

Hyper, I'm a little shocked you didn't have something to say about listing MCTS. I mean really MCTS is not a certification. It's more of a title. MCTS: Windows 7 Configuring is a certification. Listing MCTS is far too generic.

MCTS is a certififcation, but I would think that MCITP should be in that spot rather than just "MCTS".

RobertKaucher

Hyper-Me wrote: »

MCTS is a certififcation, but I would think that MCITP should be in that spot rather than just "MCTS".

So my question is then which one? This is why I say it's more of a title. MCITP has the same issue. Which one?

"Which certifications do you have?"
"MCTS and MCITP"

That says nothing to me. Puting MCTS as number two is worthless.

Hyper-Me

RobertKaucher wrote: »

So my question is then which one?

Well EA, EMA, DBA would be the biggies.

I dont know about "boosting your paycheck" but any MCITP would stand out, to me, over its MCTS' individually.

Id rather have someone thats MCITP: EST, over just a MCTS Vista (all other things equal).

EDIT: Come to think of it, I would argue with basically the whole list. VCP for reason stated before, MCTS based on what Robert said, WTF is a comptia green IT cert?, I see more job postings for CCNP/CCVP/CCIE than I do any of the Cisco Design stuff, and ITIL is just another fad that will die out when another best practices style emerges.

veritas_libertas

RobertKaucher wrote: »

So my question is then which one? This is why I say it's more of a title. MCITP has the same issue. Which one?

"Which certifications do you have?"
"MCTS and MCITP"

That says nothing to me. Puting MCTS as number two is worthless.

and now you landed straight in the middle of one my gripes...

I am seeing listings for MCSE or MCITP lately. I mean really? I think Microsoft should have come up with something that is less of a mouth full then, "Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Enterprise Administrator"

astorrs

veritas_libertas wrote: »

I am seeing listings for MCSE or MCITP lately. I mean really? I think Microsoft should have come up with something that is less of a mouth full then, "Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Enterprise Administrator"

Hey it could have been worse knowing their past product naming decisions...

Microsoft Certified Information Technology or Information Systems Professional: Enterprise Plus Edition Administrating Engineer (MC-IT/IS-P:EPEAE)

rsutton

top 5 certs that boost your paycheck

This would imply that you already have a job, and that obtaining these certifications would increase your current salary. I wonder how they came to collect this data. The article doesn't seem to say.

veritas_libertas

astorrs wrote: »

Hey it could have been worse knowing their past product naming decisions...

Microsoft Certified Information Technology or Information Systems Professional: Enterprise Plus Edition Administrating Engineer (MC-IT/IS-P:EPEAE)

Kind of like going to the Ice Cream shop....

ColbyG

Cisco Certified Architect, hahahaha.

Hyper-Me

I'm actually quite surprised they renamed MCITP rather than going with MCSE R2: Enterprise Edition

RobertKaucher

Hyper-Me wrote: »

I'm actually quite surprised they renamed MCITP rather than going with MCSE R2: Enterprise Edition

They were going to but no one could understand the per processor licensing schemes.

pennystrader

I am not surprised at all to see the VCP as #1. We are in a down economy that is struggling and VMware and virtualization has proven it increases flexibility benefits for OS's and applications.

* Server consolidation.

* Energy conservation.

* Improving ease of management.

* Reducing backup and recovery time.

* Testing software configurations.

* Maintaining legacy applications.

* Maintaining a cross-platform office.

That all being said I think virtualization is bigger and will continue to grow as cloud computing becomes more of a reality and data continues to grow and evolve.

cbigbrick

Going to class for VCP in May and then hopefully a cert in June.

Will be working on Cisco stuff along with CISSP after that.

Hyper-Me

I'm going to start a "donate 1$ so I can become a VCP" group on facebook.

Anyone think I can get 3000 people to donate 1 $? lol

earweed

Hyper-Me wrote: »

I'm actually quite surprised they renamed MCITP rather than going with MCSE R2: Enterprise Edition

I'm old school. Why not MCSE.1 ?

mikej412

ColbyG wrote: »

Cisco Certified Architect, hahahaha.

Has anyone (outside of Cisco) even earned it yet?

forkvoid

mikej412 wrote: »

Has anyone (outside of Cisco) even earned it yet?

I don't think the testing dates are even available yet.

Hyper-Me wrote:

ITIL is just another fad that will die out when another best practices style emerges.

ITIL has been used for quite some time, and keeps gaining steam. There's only a handful of decent frameworks/libraries, with ITIL probably be the "best" one of them.

I don't see it as just another fad at all. As far as the design stuff, that's because most designers are implementers who've fallen into design work. In the seriously large companies, I've heard of guys who are solely design with actual design certs. I can't imagine them being called for much outside of large enterprises, probably due to managers not knowing about them. It's more a serious niche, hence why you likely never see anything. I'd say most of the design guys are consultants.

Lamini

earweed wrote: »

I'm old school. Why not MCSE.1 ?

hehehe mcse ftw. xp/server2003 have at least couple years left in my work environment.

Hyper-Me

forkvoid wrote: »

I don't think the testing dates are even available yet.

ITIL has been used for quite some time, and keeps gaining steam. There's only a handful of decent frameworks/libraries, with ITIL probably be the "best" one of them.

I don't see it as just another fad at all. As far as the design stuff, that's because most designers are implementers who've fallen into design work. In the seriously large companies, I've heard of guys who are solely design with actual design certs. I can't imagine them being called for much outside of large enterprises, probably due to managers not knowing about them. It's more a serious niche, hence why you likely never see anything. I'd say most of the design guys are consultants.

Yeah, there are only so many "best ways" to do something. I'm not saying ITIL isn't worthwhile in the sense that it can lay very good framework for how things run, but it seems like very similar type products are outlined with a different name every few years. It might be ITIL today, it could be SixSigma tomorrow, or yet something else entirely.

tpatt100

I think VMware is big no idea that number 4 even existed

subl1m1nal

My 2 pennies:

1. VMWare Certified Professional - $3000 class? What about us self learners???

2. Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist - What about MCITP:EA??? You can get MCTS on Vista!!!

3. Cisco Certified Architect - Just another Cisco cert.

4. CompTIA Green Computing Certificate - Barely know about this one besides it covers virtualization and power efficiencies. Better get familiar with ROI if you're taking this one.

5. ITIL v3 Foundations - Boring. Give me something technical!!!

Cherper

subl1m1nal wrote: »

3. Cisco Certified Architect - Just another Cisco cert.

According to Cisco this is anything but "just another Cisco cert." Supposedly there are only 3 people holding this cert right now. The first opportunity to test was in February 2010. Other than that nothing is on the horizon.

Cisco Certified Architect is the highest level of accreditation achievable within the Cisco Career

Certification program. It is the pinnacle for individuals wishing to show their formal validation of Cisco technologies and infrastructure architecture.

At $15,000 for the board portion of the exam it ought to be sought after. Here is a bit more info.

Cost

The Board Exam cost is USD$15,000. Payment will be made in two parts. Login and refer to the Application & Board Exam Information Tab for more information.

Exam Environment

The exam is only offered at select locations worldwide. Qualified candidates will be provided additional information upon request. Only candidates that have a current CCDE certification may apply for this certification.

Methodology & Delivery

There are no formal training programs available for the Cisco Certified Architect certification. However, candidates wishing to attain their Cisco Certified Architect certification must meet before an in-person board made of Cisco-appointed exam committee members during which the candidate defends their proposed network solution.

forkvoid

Hyper-Me wrote: »

Yeah, there are only so many "best ways" to do something. I'm not saying ITIL isn't worthwhile in the sense that it can lay very good framework for how things run, but it seems like very similar type products are outlined with a different name every few years. It might be ITIL today, it could be SixSigma tomorrow, or yet something else entirely.

ITIL is a framework/library for aligning IT with business.

SixSigma is to improve results via standardization. Nothing to do with IT.

There's also COBIT, CMMI, ISO20k, but they each have their niches and specific purposes. eMeS knows more about them than I do.

ITIL has been around a very long time, but seeing as it's a British thing, it's only recently(past decade) seriously catching on in the US, hence why you see it as another technology fad. A large number of European-based companies are totally ITIL and have been for many years.

Hyper-Me

I guess we will see how prevalent it is in the future. Im not holding my breath, though.