Date:         Tue, 27 Apr 1999 14:28:39 -0400
Reply-To:     S David Riba <dave@JADETEK.COM>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@UGA.CC.UGA.EDU>
From:         S David Riba <dave@JADETEK.COM>
Subject:      Re: certification tests (long)
Content-Type: multipart/mixed;

William W. Viergever said
 
>Bottom line, as long as they keep the QP program and that the qualifying
criteria remains fairly
>the same (I've been told the program "relationship" is going to subtly
change next year [I'll have to
>attend the next San Fran mtg on said subject for full details]) *and* does
not require taking the any
>of the Cert Tests, then I've no problem.
 
Don't be so sure.  I anticipate that within two years Certification *will*
be a requirement to enter or stay in the Quality Partner Program.  The QP
Program faces the same issue that we have been struggling on SAS-L -- how do
you identify and objectively measure "quality".  I think we are all in
accord that longevity (or old age) is not necessarily a good indicator.
Satisfied clients are wonderful if you have been doing independent
consulting for a while.  What about those trying to establish a new business
or relationship?  They may not have those "credentials" already established.
Even some grizzled ol' SAS veterans can't satisfy every client every time.
How do you determine true success and differentiate it from the appearance
of success?
 
>And no one likes to flunk anything <g>.
 
Frankly, given the caliber of people commenting on SAS-L I find it very hard
to believe that most SAS-L'ers will have a problem with the baseline
Certification test.  Having taken the Beta version, if you can't pass this
test (without more than a half hour or so refresher) then you probably
shouldn't have SAS associated anywhere near your name.  Seriously, the test
measures some core knowledge so basic that I find it hard to believe that
most people with any significant SAS experience (cf all you 20 year SAS
"wonders") should have any problems at all with it.  The concept of
*requiring* the Certification test is a totally different issue than the
concept of *flunking* said test.  At least the Level 1 Certification test
should not cause anyone to stay awake nights with test anxiety.  Now the
Level 2 competency tests are a different matter.  They assume in-depth
knowledge of specific areas of speciailization -- Applications Development,
Business Intelligence, or Data Management.  Having looked at the outlines
for these tests, they *will* cause you to stay awake nights with test
anxiety :}
 
Dave
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
  S. David Riba                     INTERNET: dave@JADETEK.COM
  JADE Tech, Inc.                        http://www.jadetek.com
  P O Box 4517
  Clearwater, FL  33758
  VOICE: (727) 726-6099             A SAS Institute Quality Partner
 
                  SAS.  It's not just an attitude
 
 
 
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