I am a compaq ASE and Novell CNE and this arugment is something which is not new.
From the Blue Chip point of view they need income. However as a CNE I refuse to enter the MCSE arena.
Basically I consider one whom has a a CNE/MCSE does not need to fulfil a parallel cerification as the skills gained within one is repeated. Furthermore I am consider doing an MCP because they are more certiable then MCSE’s.
Why?
Because for one, they don’t expire. I value a person with many diffenentMCP’s higher then an MCSE. In the Novell Arena I am a CNE in Netware 3, and 5 but I do not have any Groupwise. So by doing a CNA in Groupwise 5.5 not only expands my portfollio but it never expires and I update WHEN I WANT and NOT WHEN NOVELL SAYS!
I see the same in MS products. If you are an MCP with say 10 differnt products. Why doesn’t that make you a more equitable product then someone with a standard MCSE.
Experence is another product which is higher then certification. I do nothave enough expirence to say I am expirence although I been in the IT industry on and off since 1996 and as a hobbyist since 1990, when I moved away from the BBC Micro Arena.
If you de-certify so what. Microsoft will only change their way when the certification paths are abandoned.
Get all the MCP’s, CNA’s etc you need and cover the topic you feel are releavant to you. Not what is suitable for Microsoft. That way you study what you want, when you want and a CV with all these differnt modules looks far more appearling then a straigh CNE/MCSE.
Finally remember treat MCP’s as modular and combine with expirence will never become out of date.