Best Hands-On Programs
Certifications in this category involve exams that not only test real-world skills and knowledge, but also demand that the test-takers demonstrate such skills and knowledge as a part of an exam or hands-on training. Such exams or programs are sometimes called “performance-based,” “practicum” or “laboratory” (lab) exams. Whatever name is used to identify these certifications, they all involve on-the-spot analysis and problem-solving and do their best to stage (or simulate) real-word system and hardware situations. Roll up your sleeves, and get your hands dirty while getting as close to a reality check as any certifications deliver today.
1. Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE): With more than 10,000 CCIEs certified worldwide, this nonpareil credential includes a challenging, one-day lab exam that’s still widely regarded as the toughest certification exam around. Most CCIE candidates take the $1,250 lab exam—which also requires travel expenses for those who don’t live within driving distance of one of the 10 lab test centers around the globe—more than once to get certified. While neither cheap nor easy, the CCIE remains a valued prize as certifications go, which explains why it appears at or near the top of lists of the most desired or most valuable IT certifications.
2. Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE): The RHCE exams take an entire day and include about six hours worth of what the company calls performance-based exams—where candidates must install, configure or troubleshoot Red Hat servers and related network protocols and services. Highly regarded as representative of real-world situations and circumstances, these challenging exams also get high marks from certified professionals and their employers alike. The Red Hat Certified Technician (RHCT) exam is also performance-based and gets many of the same accolades. (It originally ranked as No. 4 in this list, but was dropped as a separate entry for brevity’s sake).
3. Novell Certified Directory Engineer (CDE): Novell calls the CDE exam a practicum, which requires logging into a carefully contrived and constructed set of networking components—servers, services and directories fully populated with users, groups, accounts, access controls and so forth—to analyze, design, configure, troubleshoot and repair the directories that make them work. Successful exam takers label the exam as demanding and intense, but also as an honest test of real-world knowledge and skills.
4. Oracle9i DBA Certified Professional (OCP): With the introduction of the Oracle9i DBA program, Oracle also now requires all candidates to complete an instructor-led hands-on course that involves significant real-world interaction and problem-solving, in addition to standard multiple-choice exams. This injects the kind of hands-on component needed to qualify for this list.
5. Oracle9i Database Administrator Certified Master (OCM): This credential requires a grueling two-day practicum exam administered at Oracle University locations. The exam’s still too new for a lot of intelligence to be available, but word is that it’s demanding, comprehensive and difficult.
6. Field Certified Systems Engineer (FCSE): Sponsored by the Field Certified Professional Association (FCPA), whose mission is to provide certifications based on the principles and practices of performance-based testing, the FCSE is available for Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 2000/XP environments, with numerous additional environments slated for coverage. Initial reports describe the credential as living up to its promise to identify individuals with real-world skills and knowledge appropriate for senior system engineering positions.
7. Field Certified Systems Administrator (FCSA): A more junior-level version of the FCSE, available for Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000/XP and Cisco-based networking environments.
8. Field Certified PC Technician (FCPT): One of the Field Certified Help Desk Technician group of exams from the FCPA, this credential aims to identify individuals with real-world PC skills suitable for a bench technician, installer or help-desk professional. Numerous additional credentials in this general area are planned and should be worth watching.
9. Certified Professional Information Technology Consultant (CPITC): A certification from the Professional Standards Institute, an organization devoted to establishing performance-based credentials for all kinds of professionals, this credential covers a broad range of IT subject matter and must be supported with documentation and testing designed to measure real-world knowledge and expertise. The credential also carries hefty annual recertification requirements.
10. Cisco Career Certifications (Associate, Professional and Specialist): Although the various Cisco certifications beneath the CCIE do not include lab exams or practicums, they do make extensive use of simulation technology to include real-world problem-solving and to measure real-world skills as part (but not all) of the current exams relevant to these credentials. This makes them worthy of mention as the last item in this list.
See www.cisco.com/go/certification.
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