Technology Certifications: Why They Matter
As a past IT professional, I recall many days, nights, and weekends studying for technology certifications. Not because I felt the need to do this, but because the industry demanded it as validation that I had the expertise and competence to be in the field.
The certifications also gave me confidence in my abilities and created opportunities for me to be promoted into higher earning technology positions. I will admit it wasn’t easy. I often look back and wonder how I managed to do it while working full time and raising a family.
As a CIO Division, we celebrate and encourage ongoing professional development as part of lifelong learning. Many CIO Division staff see the Slack #kudos channel posts congratulating peers on their certification success but may not understand what it truly means to achieve it. I asked three of our division directors and one of their staff about their experiences gaining advanced certifications to bring greater visibility to the reasons and benefits of ongoing professional development in today’s IT world.
There are many types of IT certifications available for those who can dedicate time and effort to study, gain experience and persevere. Juan Godoy, Applications Development Programmer Analyst II, recently gained his ServiceNow Systems Administrator certification. “My decision to aim for my Certified Systems Administrator certification is twofold. First, I would prove to myself and my team that although I haven’t been a ServiceNow sysadmin or developer for very long, I’ve absorbed and studied information and used the platform enough to know it well. The second reason is, I took their quite long fundamental training, and it came with a voucher for one free test.”
“Taking exams for a ServiceNow Certified Systems Administrator (CSA) certification is not a one-and-done kind of thing,” explains David Gerlach, director of IT Service Management. “Delta exams need to be taken twice a year to keep the certification current.” The same is true for network certifications, according to Dragana Vasic, senior director of IT Architecture and Engineering. “Cisco certifications (CCNA and CCNP) must be renewed every three years, while Cisco CCI and AWS certificates (AWS Certified Architect Associate, AWS Certified Networking, Solutions Architect - Associate) must be renewed every two years.”
Most certifications require fees to maintain certification status. These fees might include coursework, online testing, continuing education, and renewal exams, which can be expensive. Godoy explains, “Even though my first try for certification was free, I wanted to be sure to pass. I believe working on the platform and going hands-on with ServiceNow developer work was the biggest help with my exam. Beyond that, I took every mock exam I could find online.” He also researched what other exam takers said about the exam. “The last thing I did was carve out a day without work before the exam.”
Opportunities for professional development at the University are vast, and in the CIO Division, certification and training are valued highly. All three directors said their budgets include funds for professional development which includes certification training, exams, and renewal requirements. Any staff member considering a professional certificate can discuss the associated costs and time commitment with their supervisor to determine if financial support is available. “The ability to pursue certification and have it supported by the University has an extremely significant impact on our ability to retain staff who are proactive about self-improvement,” explains Brendan Miller, director of Governance, Risk, and Compliance for the Information Security Office.
When asked about the benefits of having team members with certifications, Gerlach highlighted multiple reasons. “In addition to bragging rights, showcasing the success of team members’ certifications can help pave the way for future developers on our team. The deltas (periodic required exams) also ensure they stay current on recent advancements of the platform… allowing them to bring more knowledge to the table when it comes to the next-generation platform.” For Godoy, “It all paid off, and I passed the exam on the first try! Now that I’m certified, I feel it gives me more confidence in my skills with ServiceNow, puts me on more level ground with others on my team, and shows them I take the work seriously.”
Access to different professional communities and knowledge sharing across the team is perhaps one of the biggest benefits of having a certified professional onboard. Vasic explains, “Discussions regarding architectural options and solutions are on a much higher level and are more in-depth when discussed with a team that has certified members.”
In recruiting IT professionals, certification can make a difference in pushing their application forward. Vasic explains, “Certifications are definitely a big plus. Many times, people with certification have more specific knowledge for what we need,” Miller adds, “Certification is evidence of not only aptitude, but the sustained effort to commit to learning and demonstrating knowledge in a subject area.” He also feels that absent past performance in a professional capacity, certification is the next best indicator that an applicant may be a suitable candidate for a position.
Technology is constantly developing. To harness the best of the tech industry for academic, research and business, IT professionals need to know what’s coming before it’s here. Getting certified and maintaining professional expertise keeps the University industry current and is critical to hiring and retaining top technical talent. The benefit of our funded training and certification is perhaps one of the top reasons to come and to stay in an IT role in the CIO Division.