VMworld Session Review: VCP Certification
This session was all about the future of, and value of the VCP certification. Biggest problem? Every member of the panel were pro-VCP and pro-certification. So this lead to very poor intra-panel discussions – when everyone agrees with each other! Fortunately, there were plenty of very skeptical guys in the audience (I include myself amongst them) who were prepared to make sure this session didn’t become a yes-man/ma’am exercise.
So first up. That’s old chestnut. Q. Why do you have to an authorised VMware course to get VCP? The problem for a lot of people is getting this expensive course signed off by management – and irratation created when people who have been impleamenting VMware for 2-3 years – have to attend a training course. These guys have my unremitting sympathy!
Unfortunately, we were given a variety of lame excuses. Firstly, we don’t want the VCP to become another MCSE.
Sure – nobody who attains any qualification wants it to be undermined by some guy getting a short-cut via a brain-dump. There are lot of high-school kids out their with an MCSE. But can we really compare 1-exam to the 7 taken to get an MCSE or CCEA qualification. No matter what people say, the VCP exam is not THAT tough, and certainly does not require the same time required for an MCSE or CCEA. I know. I’ve done it.
Second, lame excuse is – that until the exam has a practical component VMware want to ensure that VCP’s have “hands-on” experience. They get from doing labs in VMware courses. Now I teach VMware courses, and in the main I love it – and they are very good. But I’m sorry, no labs is EVER going to be as good as real-world impleamentations. You simply cannot compare them. You know that, and I know that. The point of labs in class is NOT to emulate re-life configurations but give you guys some hands-on and a break from chalk & talk – and illustrate critical teaching points.
OK, griping aside. What’s the good news. Well, VMware is in the throes of developing a new certification track with an “architect” feel. Along the lines of Citrix CCIA certification. This kind of certification is aimed at designers – not at SE’s who go out there an impleament. It will probably contain a hands-on lab; not require a training course attendence and will require some other vendors high-level qualification.
Yeah, I know what your think – more damn exams!
Personally, I’m hoping VMware will develop a new certification which is something like a VCP+. Something that proves as a server guy your cut above the point-and-click guys who only have done the VCP. Now, that’s something that would appeal to me I’ve been told that this might get delivered but the emphasis is going to be on the “architect” certification in short-term. Personally, I have never really persued “architect” certifications. I probably have the right mental outlook for it – but not the correct real-world experience. On top of this – they often to much hard-work to get.
My big gripe with certification, is re-recertification. Like you, I have held many vendor certifications in my life. Do I still have them? NO! They over time all expired because they need recertifing too frequently….
The other thing I have heard bandied about amongst the education-folks with which I swim – is the promise of more CBT/Elearn and Remote Assisted Instructor Lead courses. Now, I’m actually borrowing a HP term (RAIL). This is where not just the kit for course is remote but so are the students and instructor. So, we don’t meet up in a physical classroom but a virtual one. We communicate via conferrence calls and some web-ex style presentation tool. You get to sit at work or home and learn – and get a better quality of life! Believe me, living out of hotels for 6-8 weeks to teach courses is no fun. There is only some many DVD’s you can watch – and one airport looks very much like another when your flight is delayed by airstrike in Finland!