The value of Lotus product certifications
May 31st, 2007
With the release of Notes 8 around the corner, it's perhaps pertinent to consider getting your R7 certification.
I have started to question the value of certification. Does being certified actually mean that you know more, or are more skilled, than someone without certification. My experience would tell me a loud NO. Some of the best Lotus Notes developers I've worked with didn't have certification, and some of the worst did have certification. In fact I remember working with a guy who had passed an R5 web exam but didn't know the first thing about developing a web site. I think the value is lessened ever further by practice exam software. It's so easy just to pay your money, practice on the software for a couple of hours and then pass the exam.
So why get certified then? Perhaps as a sign of commitment to Lotus/IBM? It would be nice if IBM/Lotus would compensate or subsidise Business Partners for their Lotus Notes certification costs. It's not a huge cost but at approx. $1200 it's a annoying amount to pay for something that seems to have little benefit.
($1200 = 2 x practise test + 2 x exams fees + the cost of my time to study and the go and take the exam)