Setting up my own cert / course / qualif. - just curious!

Discussion in 'The Lounge - Off Topic' started by AuRoR, Apr 16, 2008.

  1. AuRoR

    AuRoR Bit Poster

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    Hi ppl,

    I just had a thought about setting up my own qualification. I don't really think im capable but just curious.

    The reason is there's no good web design certs out there. Theres the CIW which is now 3 years running without an update. Plus I don't think it's ideal either. The contents good but there could be more and I think there should be more focus on specific vendors. I wouldn't write the content myself as that wouldn't be possible but just organising it I think I could do. I can't find anything on google about it, and I imagine it would be very expensive. However I can get a loan for a business off 'The Prince's Trust' if I have a good idea. I know we have someone on here with a cert prep company and we've got plenty of knowledge between us. Im just curious and 'theoretically speaking' but you never know it could work out easier than we thought.

    Here's topics I would include (along with updates of most topics out of the ciw course) just to get started

    - Photoshop CS3 / Image editing
    - SEO i.e. Using IBP or other seo progs
    - Focus on Dreamweaver CS3
    - Design for mobile devices and hsdpa / etc.
    - All the new technologies such as the latest verions of php, sql, asp etc.
    - CSS, Div , Layers
    - The latest security threats / fixes
    - Creating Portfolios etc as little extra
    - Social Networking
    - Modern e-commerce
    - User support
    - Content management systems

    Obviously this is nowhere near complete , I assume all the standard topics from other courses aswell.

    Does anyone have any idea how this would be possible? Getting an exam body on board, implementing it, training, standardizing etc.

    To be honest I think it would only be possible with a big organisation behind it, but thats could be possible to!
     
    Certifications: GNVQ ICT, Nat Diploma IT Practitioners
    WIP: Head above water
  2. greenbrucelee
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    greenbrucelee Zettabyte Poster

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    I think you need to be rich, a member of some professional body and on good terms with some exam making type people. Also you would need something to show these people why and how getting this cert would be beneficial to and employer aswell as an employee.
     
    Certifications: A+, N+, MCDST, Security+, 70-270
    WIP: 70-620 or 70-680?
  3. AuRoR

    AuRoR Bit Poster

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    I think I might go on dragons den!
     
    Certifications: GNVQ ICT, Nat Diploma IT Practitioners
    WIP: Head above water
  4. greenbrucelee
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    greenbrucelee Zettabyte Poster

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    good idea, use their cash to create the cert :blink
     
    Certifications: A+, N+, MCDST, Security+, 70-270
    WIP: 70-620 or 70-680?
  5. Mitzs
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    Mitzs Ducktape Goddess

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    First off I would think it would be illegal to write cert exams for any adobe product. 2nd, if you just started to update CIW stuff you would have lawyers and the police knocking at your door. 3 rd your a new user here with what? 6 post behind your name. I am not about to donate my time, skills, or money to a stranger with no exp or a reputation in this field even if I did think it was a good idea.
     
    Certifications: Microcomputers and network specialist.
    WIP: Adobe DW, PS
  6. Phoenix
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    Phoenix 53656e696f7220 4d6f64

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    I dont really think there is any need for that attitude Mitz
    I think the guy knows that this isn't likely to happen, he's just asking if anyone knows the processes certs go through

    its not illegal to make official material for any product, be it adobe or what not, that would just be silly.. it wont be an ADOBE course will it? so theres no problem

    Personally I think Web design is not cert material.. hence the poor nature of the CIW
    Web Design is less about the technical aspects and more about the design aspects, you want to learn good design, good user interface practice etc, go on a degree course, not a cert course!

    That's my take on it at least
    Lets keep it friendly here please, new member or not
     
    Certifications: MCSE, MCITP, VCP
    WIP: > 0
  7. BosonMichael
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    BosonMichael Yottabyte Poster

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    The problem that you would have is the same problem CIW has: employers who hire Web developers don't care what certifications a candidate has... they only care about what you can design, which can be proven by providing an e-portfolio of sites you've developed.

    The reason that tech certifications work so well is that we CAN'T bring in a "portfolio" of networks we've administered.
     
    Certifications: CISSP, MCSE+I, MCSE: Security, MCSE: Messaging, MCDST, MCDBA, MCTS, OCP, CCNP, CCDP, CCNA Security, CCNA Voice, CNE, SCSA, Security+, Linux+, Server+, Network+, A+
    WIP: Just about everything!
  8. Mitzs
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    Mitzs Ducktape Goddess

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    I don't have an additude yet ryan you have seen it, you know better then that. I was being honest with what I said where exactly do you see an additude? He is not asking how it is done, he asking for all us to pitch in with it including the boson boys. DREAMWEAVER CS3 and Photoshop cs3 are adobe products. How do you fig it wouldn't be a adobe course? I wasn't aware of people just off the street could write their exams for them?
     
    Certifications: Microcomputers and network specialist.
    WIP: Adobe DW, PS
  9. Lev Arris

    Lev Arris Byte Poster

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    to be honest we were discussing this at work. I think as long as u can come up with a snazzy enough cert name ur laughing.

    Mass advertising will mean employers think its great and employees all want it.

    We came up with the :

    Senior Professional I.T Pro Gold Award
     
    Certifications: A+, N+, MCDST, MCSA (270,290,291)
    WIP: CCNA ..Global Domination
  10. Phoenix
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    Phoenix 53656e696f7220 4d6f64

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    He asked a question on a forum designed for just that kind of thinking, no bodies going to write him his entire mission statement but the question could stoke some debate! his number of posts is irrelevant in this case, that was what I was referring to

    Asking questions in an exam about Adobe products does not make it an Adobe Exam, and thus does not break any rules.. if I want to go make a course that covers a bunch of software products, as long as i adhere to the terms laid out by those vendors I am well within my right to do so.. I can CALL it an Adobe test.. but I can include aspects of that in MY test.. know what I mean?

    Lets see if we cant get some interesting responses going to this Q :)
    I happen to agree with Mike, which is why I feel a degree is more suited to that sort of design discipline..
    you can have a portfolio just like any other creative profession, you don't need certs when the proof is in the pudding
     
    Certifications: MCSE, MCITP, VCP
    WIP: > 0
  11. Mitzs
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    Mitzs Ducktape Goddess

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    I think we are both interpeting his post in 2 different ways and they are both in the oppsite directions. :biggrin Are you referring to a course ware like boson. Or a cert program like comptia?
     
    Certifications: Microcomputers and network specialist.
    WIP: Adobe DW, PS
  12. AuRoR

    AuRoR Bit Poster

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    Mitzs, you are interpreting it in the wrong way(either that or you're just malicious) . Firstly do you think I am

    that stupid that I could actually come and make a sales pitch here?! Was I asking you to contribute your

    precious time & money? This is an 'off topic' forum where people talk about any random subjects, I just

    wanted to just contribute and start an interesting topic hoping people might think its interesting. Secondly, I

    didn't realize there's a limit on what a new user can do and that post count positively correlates with skill.

    You don't know what I can and cant do. (before you start im not saying im amazing but I do get paid for

    webdesign) I don't know where you got the idea that i'm coming in off the streets and asking for you to

    donate anything apart from your 'friendly' comments. Oh and thanks Phoenix. (by the way mitzs, it would be

    solicitors / lawyers only as it's a civil, not a criminal matter. Police would have no power (in uk).

    Anyway now thats out of the way lets get on to more intellectual convo..

    So do the cert providers pay royalties for a licence to adobe for example? I assumes that you could write how to use a program totally legally but of course taking material straight from the CIW course wouldn't be. All the material would have to be original but it would obviously cover similar areas.

    Phoenix yes I see your point on web design not being applicable to certs but I'll have to disagree in some ways. I have read many posts on the subject of cert vs portfolio. I believe that getting a cert would give you an extra small advantage (that might win the vacancy) over someone who just has the portfolio / experience.

    The course could be a good backbone for someone to use as a basis / syllabus to guide them. I know
    webdesign well enough (still a lot to to learn tho) I would just like to have a cert to learn the little corners of
    the subject that ive missed and the course is good for theory. I'm no expert on all the good web languages
    aswell. I will add this to my portfolio and I will be quite employable. Hopefully I wont need to ever be an
    employee as me and my dad have set up a web design company, and we're doing ok.

    Sorry for the long post only one half of it is necessary. No hard feelings Mitzs, I do hope we can get on, on an intellectual level.
     
    Certifications: GNVQ ICT, Nat Diploma IT Practitioners
    WIP: Head above water

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