* Is the PHP certification worth it?
PC: Interesting. Which PHP or other certifications did you obtain? What motivated you to obtain such certifications?
MG: So far I obtained the Zend PHP certifications for version 4 and 5. I also have taken other certification exams in the past, such as the Oracle DBA. Currently I am preparing myself to take the PMP exam (Project Management Professional).
Several factors motivated me to obtain these certifications, such as: getting a qualification that can differentiate me as a professional, recognition in the market, professional networking, personal satisfaction, and searching for new challenges.
PC: So, do you think it is worth for all PHP developers to obtain the PHP certification or just in certain situations? Do you think the market is valuing more the PHP professional that obtained a PHP certification?
MG: I recommend getting a PHP certification to all professionals that work with this language, in order to have something outstanding in their resume. I do not recommend it to those that think that the certification just by itself will provide immediate advantages. I think the same about any other of certification, the PHP certification is not an exception.
The Brazilian market is valuing this new type of certification very slowly. Several factors may explain why the PHP certification is not so well spread in Brazil and other countries, like for instance: the fact that the exam is only available in English, the cost of the exam, etc..
Currently, there are some learning centers in Brazil that train Web development specialists with focus on PHP, on which one of the classes is precisely about preparing to take the Zend certification exam.
* How to take the certification exam
PC: What about the rest of the world? Do you know if the PHP certification may be obtained easily in any part of the world? Can you give a brief overview of the of the steps a PHP developer has to give to obtain the certification?
MG: The exam is taken by Pearson Vue. They have many centers around the world authorized to take the exam. The sign-up process is done on the Internet, including the payment and scheduling of date of the exam.
http://vue.com/
The first step consists on going to the Pearson Vue site and choose the Zend certification exam. Next the candidate must purchase a voucher, which costs USD $125, using an international credit card.
Right after that, the candidate will receive a special key that he may use right away to pick an authorized center and take the exam or within a time frame of 1 year, so he can choose a place to take the exam near where he lives and whenever is feels ready.
PC: You are talking about the Zend certification exam. So, Zend elaborates the exam and Pearson Vue, takes the exam, right?
MG: Correct, Pearson Vue takes the exam, not only of Zend, but also of other companies and topics. They are not restricted to IT.
PC: I suppose that is why the exam may be taken in many countries. Interesting. Is the Zend certification the only kind of PHP certification, or do you know others?
MG: The only official exam that I know is from Zend. Other companies may apply their own processes to certify PHP professionals, but as far as I know they are not sanctioned by Zend.
PC: OK, but is there any other company well known by the PHP community that certifies PHP professionals besides taking the Zend certification exam?
MG: I know there is another company named BrainBench that has PHP certification exams but I am not familiar with their processes. It seems they provide certification exams for all sorts of IT topics. The exams seem to be taken on the Internet, which does not inspire much reliability in the results.
MCSE Overview
The Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certification shows clients and employers that you are skilled in designing, implementing, and administering infrastructures for business solutions based on Windows Server 2003 and Microsoft Windows 2000 Server. Implementation responsibilities include installing, configuring, and troubleshooting network systems.
If you want to be certified on newer Microsoft technologies, such as Exchange Server 2010, Windows Server 2008, or SQL Server 2008, you should pursue the Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) certification. And if you have the MCSE on Windows Server 2003 certification, you can upgrade to the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) and Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) on Windows Server 2008 certifications.
MCSE candidate profile
An MCSE candidate should have one to two years of experience in designing, installing, configuring, and troubleshooting network systems.Why get certified?
Earning a Microsoft Certification helps validate your proven experience and knowledge in using Microsoft products and solutions. Designed to be relevant in today's rapidly changing marketplace, Microsoft Certifications help you utilize evolving technologies, fine-tune your troubleshooting skills, and improve your job satisfaction.
Whether you are new to technology, changing jobs, or a seasoned professional, becoming certified demonstrates to customers, peers, and employers that you are committed to advancing your skills and taking on greater challenges. In addition, certification provides you with access to Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) resources and benefits, including opportunities to connect with a vast, global network of MCPs.
CISCO The Cisco CCNA network associate certification validates the ability to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot medium-size routed and switched networks, including implementation and verification of connections to remote sites in a WAN. This new curriculum includes basic mitigation of security threats, introduction to wireless networking concepts and terminology, and performance-based skills. This new curriculum also includes (but is not limited to) the use of these protocols: IP, Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP), Serial Line Interface Protocol Frame Relay, Routing Information Protocol Version 2 (RIPv2),VLANs, Ethernet, access control lists (ACLs)
CCNA Certification
Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA®) validates the ability to install, configure, operate, and troubleshoot medium-size route and switched networks, including implementation and verification of connections to remote sites in a WAN. CCNA curriculum includes basic mitigation of security threats, introduction to wireless networking concepts and terminology, and performance-based skills. This new curriculum also includes (but is not limited to) the use of these protocols: IP, Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol (EIGRP), Serial Line Interface Protocol Frame Relay, Routing Information Protocol Version 2 (RIPv2),VLANs, Ethernet, access control lists (ACLs).
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