Certification Watch: CompTIA's Network+

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Oracle Corporation Launches Associate, Master Level Certifications
In order to bring the benefits of the already popular Oracle certification program (more than 100,000 certified) to a broader audience, Oracle is launching two new levels of certification for Oracle 9i: The Oracle Certified Associate (OCA) and the Oracle Certified Master (OCM). The Oracle Certified Associate is an entry-level Oracle qualification requiring successful completion of two exams ($125 each). The Oracle Certified Master is an advanced qualification for Oracle Certified Professionals and requires students to take a practicum exam on-site at an Oracle University education center.

NWCET to Assume Major Role in the Future of CIW Certification
Starting in 2002, the National Workforce Center for Emerging Technologies (NWCET) will take a leadership role in the continuing development of the Certified Internet Webmaster (CIW) certification program created by ProsoftTraining. ProsoftTraining will continue the day-to-day management of the program, but the NWCET will set the objectives from which future exams will be developed. This will bring greater assurance that CIW certifications will closely match industry needs. Currently there are over 30,000 CIW holders worldwide. The CIW program was started in 1997.

SAGE Launches Hybrid Systems Administrator Certification
Systems Administrators have a fresh option to add to their training and certification arsenal. The Systems Administrators Guild (SAGE) premiered the first level of its new certification program at the LISA conference in San Diego on December 6. Level one, called cSAGE, requires candidates to complete an affidavit of experience, plus pass two exams in a single sitting. The first (core) exam is vendor-neutral, the second is platform-specific. Starting March 26, 2002, testing will be offered worldwide through VUE centers . Future levels will certify more advanced and specialty skills.

Multiple Certifications Worth More $$$, Says Certification Salary Survey
IT professionals holding a single certification have an average income of $49,852, while individuals with two or three earn seven percent more, and those with six or more certifications report even higher incomes – $64,560 on average, according to Certification Magazine’s just released 2002 Salary Survey.
The survey, which drew conclusions from 1,623 respondents to an email survey, also found that 73% of respondents plan to earn additional certifications in the year ahead. Additional sections of the survey explore how certification relates to promotions and raises, and lists the top 10 Certifications for having impact on salary increases. Find the full report, complete with graphs, on the Certification Magazine Web Site .

Revised CompTIA Network+ Exam To Go Live January 31, 2002
Following the predicted timetable, the most recent revision of CompTIA’s Network+ certification exam will be released in final form on January 31. The new exam will cover the following four areas: Media & Topologies (20%), Protocols & Standards (25%), Network Implementation (23%)and, Network Support (32%). Detailed exam objectives can be found (in PDF format) on CompTIA’s Web site .

Check Point Renames Certifications
Following a path blazed by other certification programs that are striving to spare their certified professionals from potential legal hassles, Check Point has removed the word “Engineer” from all of its certification titles and the word “Expert” will now be used. According to a company spokesperson, this is because there are certain locations in which it is illegal to promote yourself as an engineer without a degree in engineering from an accredited university. Check Point won’t be issuing replacement certificates for those who already have them, but new certificates will reflect the change.

Past Issues of Certification Watch

Experience Now Required

G.I. Bill Reimbursement News

Microsoft Builds Bridge To MCSE, MCSD

Novell Changes Tack

The complete current issue of Certification Watch can be found at GoCertify.com.

Anne Martinez is the author of Cheap Web Tricks: Build and Promote a Successful Web Site Without Spending A Dime and Get Certified and Get Ahead: Millennium Edition she is also the founder of GoCertify.com.