Why certifying IT workers won't help

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Licensing

My first "certification" was the FCC First Class License in the late 60's. It was tough, took two trys. But actually it had the same flaws as the MCSE etc. I remember the questions that failed me on my first trip to Atlanta: concerned operation of a multivibrator DC-AC inverter that had been used mostly in taxi cabs to power vaccuum tube based radios which had not been seen since 1950. The real purpose of all licensing and qualification tests is to throw the ring to a preselected group, hopefully to the experienced and knowledgable but sometimes, as you suggest here, for political reasons. I would agree that the fixation on certification opened the door to admitting cheap foreign workers by giving management "proof" that they are equally qualified. I guess foreign MCSE's are equally "qualified", unfortunately. On the other hand, once past the HR hurdle some of those people are truely hard working and have excellent training in basic theory which some of the USA technicians skipped or were denied by schools with a "get them out the door and get them hired" orientation rather than a true education goal. Enthusiasm and grounding in the basic skills produces great technicians. In India if the fan stops they take it apart and fix it. In America they throw it in the trash and buy a new fan. Which approach do you think teaches your son to troubleshoot? And in case you are wondering I was born in the USA. Great song.

Posted by: Tinkerer62   Posted on: 05/07/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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