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Re: Certifications: Not worth the paper they are printed on?

From: Jay D. Dyson (jdysontreachery.net)
Date: Sun Oct 05 2008 - 18:59:53 CDT


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On Sun, 5 Oct 2008, Jon Kibler wrote:

> Yesterday I was reading a blog where someone with no security experience
> whatsoever was grousing that they flunked the Security+ exam. The
> blogger also claimed to have over 100 certifications. In my opinion,
> that many certifications undoubtedly qualifies this blogger to be the
> Poster Boy for everything that is wrong with the certification process.

First off, let's see the URL.

Secondly, let's see this list of certifications this blogger claims s/he
possesses. Suffice it to say some fact-checking is in order before flying
off the handle about the certification process being "broken."

To be perfectly blunt, just because someone *claims* they have "over 100
certifications" doesn't mean they actually do. Based on that simple
reality, I have to dismiss outright your claim that there's anything
broken about today's certifications at all.

Let's get serious: anyone can claim they've got 100 certifications or are
members of MENSA, MEGA or Dorks of America, but that doesn't prove that
they are. What's more, that they're grousing about their own personal
failures is a reflection on no-one's shortcomings save their own.

Are there clueless people who have certificates? No matter what vetting
process exists, there's always going to be book-smart and reality-stupid
people. But to claim the certification process is broken based on the
bellyaching of one person isn't just wrongheaded, it's ridiculous.

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