[thelist] CIW Web Certification

Janet,

From my perspective the certification doesn't mean much. I say this because
I've never met anyone who has it and never seen an job posting asking for
it.

What I would be more concerned with is whether or not they can deliver on
the promises they are making to teach you:


> Advanced Web concepts and Browser Customization
> Security and the Web
> Advanced Search Techniques
> Accessing Business Resources
> Objects, Plug-Ins, and Viewers
> Electronic Commerce Fundamentals
> Intro to HTML
> Incorporating Graphical Elements
> Hyperlinks
> Tables
> HTML Forms
> HTML and Image Techniques
> HTML and Page Accessibility
> Networking
> Networking Protocols
> LANs and WANs
> TCP/IP Architecture
> Internet Addressing
> Internetworking Servers
> Network Security Essentials
> Server-side Scripting and Database Connectivity

(What type of scripting and Database Connectiivtiy? is it coiuld fusion,
PHP, ASP??)

> Enterprise Network Security
> 
> E-COMMERCE CONCEPTS AND PRACTICES
> Electronic Commerce Fundamentals
> Ingredients for a Web Storefront
> Law and the Internet
> Security
> Payment Infrastructure
> Implementation Notes and Case Studies
> 
> DESIGN
> Design Principles
> Tools
> Beyond HTML
> Production

Jeff and Ryan made good points. Look at the way in which their own web site
was constructed. Pretty shabby. Really it's like applying to to work at a
newspaper and mis-spellig every word in your resume.

This isn't a bad curriculum. Again, though I'm concerned about the time
line, the pacing, and whether or not they can deliver.

I think the only way you will know for sure is to question people who have
attended to school and maybe the HR people at a company where you might want
to put these skills to the test.

To give you a bit of background, I was going askign the same kinds of
questions about 10 months ago. I was trying to decide if I wanted to take
the New Media program at the Vancouver Film School. The stakes were a little
bit higher, mind you. The program is 10 months long, full time and runs
$18k. The price of the tuition + living expenses + not working = a whole
mountain of debt.

What I did was take a tour of the facilities, met some people who had
graduated form the program and asked them what they thought of it, how easy
it was for them to find a job etc. I also looked at other schools offering
similar programs. That's how I came to my decision.

Hmmmm... I've been rambling on here for a while... to summarize, I don't
think the certification means much but *IF* they can teach you the things
you need/want to know it might be worth it. You're a consumer in the market
for education. Shop around.

--Steve

P.S.

> "The CIW Internet skills certification program is recognized and endorsed by
> the top three Internet professional associations:
> ?        International Webmasters Association (IWA)
> ?        Association of Internet Professionals (AIP)
> ?        Internet Certification Institute International (ICII)
> These organizations, the fastest growing professional societies in the
> world, collectively encompass the largest group of Internet professionals
> globally. "

I've never heard of any of these organizations (should I be embarassed,
folks??). I do think it is funny that they have to explain that endorsement
by these groups is a good thing. It's like saying, "Go see Mission
Impossible 2, Jeff Singer who knows a lot about movies says you should."
=)