What you are suggesting is product-based testing, i.e., something along the CCIE or MCSE lines. Do we really want LOPSA to get into this area? This doesn't really go in the direction of professional certification, but *does* require constant updating and oversight.
Also, it is already possible to get training and certification in most packages, including Apache. Google for 'Apache training' or 'Apache certification'. If you want product-based certification, I'd suggest something more general like the RHCE (Red Hat Certified Engineer - other companies have similar programs) which are already recognised in the industry. That, plus a list of satisfied clients on your resume should be sufficient to convince prospective clients of your expertise. I don't believe that this field is quite ready for it yet, but when LOPSA does get into the area of certification we need a broader-based 'systems administration' program.Product based exams are for 'technicians', wide-scoped professional exams are for 'engineers'. This organisation is about moving forward the profession of systems administration, which means that we need to look more like engineers than technicians. - Richard Michael Tiernan wrote: > I've recently joined the ranks of the /looking for other means of > paying the bills/. In trying to do what I can to keep a roof over my > head, I'm turning to the fine art of freelancing to suppliment my > unemployment benefit. During this process I've become painfully aware > of the lack of venues for those of us with system admin skills who > aren't "coders" _first_ and admins _second_. My observation is > isolated to the UNIX view of the world but I suspect that our > bretheren of non-UNIX ilk share the frustration. > > I'd like to suggest that this is a place where *LOPSA* might be able > to increase what I believe the marketing types call _/Brand > Recognition/_. What if *LOPSA* could create a partnership with an > online testing company, *like* brainbench (or any of the other > organizations like that), where *LOPSA* will review (correct if > appropriate) and then endorse their test. In exchange, the testing > company can use the *LOPSA* "stamp" of approval and we can get reduced > rate access to these tests /(with a limited lifetime on how long we > can claim the credentials before taking the test again.) > / > Under this "plan", I can put on my resume, LinkedIn, etc. webpage that > I'm "certified" (/wrong word but you get the point/) by /$TESTERS/ as > having met a series of minimum qualifications because I've taken their > test which is approved by *LOPSA*. This would also allow us to > "collect" their badges so that, as a fer-instance, I can have five > years of the badges for proving my competence with system security > based on their test which has been "approved" by *LOPSA*. We can also > use their tests for other things to help bolster our qualifications. > > As a freelacer, my putting a bid in to tune someone's slow /Apache/ > installation will have a bit more credibility since *LOPSA* has helped > to prove my qualifications. Others will attempt to follow suit if this > actually takes off. > > I think it is also obvious that this can be extended any number of > ways, including creating a stairway to higher certifications. > > This is my thought, maybe not put the best way but I hope that this > will instigate some positive discussions about how we can separate us > and our members from the rest of the teeming masses. > > Thank you all for your time. > -- > << MCT >> Michael C Tiernan. > Is God a performance artist? > http://www.linkedin.com/in/mtiernan > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > _______________________________________________ > Discuss mailing list > [email protected] > http://lopsa.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/discuss > This list provided by the League of Professional System Administrators > http://lopsa.org/ > _______________________________________________ Discuss mailing list [email protected] http://lopsa.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/discuss This list provided by the League of Professional System Administrators http://lopsa.org/
