What is IT Certification? IT Certification provides an independent verification of a certain level of expertise (skills and knowledge) in a particular area of Information Technology. The programs are meant to identify the necessary skills for an individual to perform their job competently and most important, successfully in specific areas of IT Technical areas include Database Administration, Programming, Engineering, Networking and Internetworking. It provides professionals with industry recognized and valued credentials.
Which certification programs are very popular? Popular certification sponsors / programs are: Oracle Corporation (Oracle Certified Professional - Database Administrator), Cisco Systems / Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Microsoft Corporation / Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE), Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA)/A+, Sun Microsystems/Sun Certified Programmer for the Java Platform (Java 2).
Which is the best certification or the most profitable certification? One cannot really say that one certification is better than the other. Some certification programs enjoy much wider recognition than most, but that won't mean others won't prove valuable to you. It is a matter of matching your interests, work goals, time availability and financial resources to a certification program. It is better to choose a certification that fits in with your career development plans rather than choosing any popular certification program.For example, someone with interest in programming or database administration can go for either Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD), Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA), Java or Oracle certification, or the combination of two or more of the above certifications. However, for someone with an interest in a networking environment may choose to go for Network +, Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) in Windows 2000 Professional, Windows 2000 Server, Network Infrastructure and Directory Services or Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), or the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA). Just in the same manner, someone who intends to be a computer service professional can go for the A+ certification (a vendor neutral certification.
Is certification the only route to a successful career in IT? No. But it can be viewed as the shortest and easiest way of getting a credential valued by the IT industry. More so, the point to keep in mind is that, the essence of going for certification is to empower you with the needed IT tools so as to be able to improve on your job performance and bring about increase in your company's productivity. Therefore, certification will be valueless if after having acquired IT certification, you cannot use it to improve on your job performance and increase your company's productivity.
Must I go through training in order to be certified? No, but training assists the students and provides easy, simple and quick way of getting certified. Training also brings about cost saving on IT training materials. It is therefore better and safe to go through training in order to be certified. Jidaw Systems Limited (MasterComputers) offers all kinds of IT training. Jidaw Systems Limited training has been tried and tested with a high record of success in certification exams. At our training center, for some certification courses students are given an original textbook and CD.
What are the types of Exam format in use? The tests are conducted over the Internet in varying formats. Adaptive Exam Format: - this testing format works by evaluating the test-taker's most recent answer. A correct answer leads to a more difficult question while an incorrect answer leads less difficult question. This process continues until the test targets the test-taker's true ability. · Fixed-length Exam Format: - this testing format delivers certain number of questions to its takers, giving a specific time to complete the exam.
Is training alone enough for me to go and do the IT certification exams? No. IT certification exams, aside from training, demand the right attitude, time, hands-on experience and extra-effort on the part of the students.
What is the process for getting certified?
1. Read the objectives for that exam
2. Read any recommended exam study guide
3. Complete any study/training classes and materials
4. Get hands-on experience
5. Review/practice tests
6. Register for the exam
7. Take the exam
Where will I go for Certification Testing? The majority of current certification exams are administered through independent testing centers operated by two organizations: Prometric or Virtual University Enterprises (VUE). These testing centers are all over the world. NETrain is an Authorized Prometric Testing Center and Pearson VUE Authorized Center.
Which background training should I go for before starting a certification program? This first thing is that the person must be computer literate. The question is then best answered by your certification choice. For example, somebody who wants to go for MCP, MCSE or CCNA should first go for Networking Fundamentals training. While someone who is interested in programming and intends to go for MCSD, MCDBA or Oracle certification should first go for Introduction to programming training. In case of somebody who wants to do MCSE Cerification should first go for Server and Client operating system trainings. For your information, all these training are available at NETrain at affordable cost.
What is the difference between MCSE and Cisco certification and which one is better? MCSE is a certification on Microsoft product (now Windows 2003). It is all about installing, configuring, monitoring, Optimizing and troubleshooting networks that are running on Microsoft Windows 2000 operating system. Cisco, on the other hand, is a certification on Cisco network connectivity products e.g. bridges, switches and routers. It is all about installation, configuration, maintenance, monitoring and troubleshooting of the Cisco bridges, switches and routers in an internetworking and routing environment. Both certification programs are good but the combination makes the sky a stepping-stone.
FAQ's
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