The Eternal Debate – Degree = or Certification?
Will Willis
&nbs= p; On certtutor.net, one of the more common questions we get asked from prospecti= ve IT professionals is whether it is better to pursue a college degree or to g= et certifications as a means of getting into the IT field. The simple answer is to do both, b= ut that isn’t always feasible given a person’s particular situatio= n. So, let’s examine the pros and cons of each as we attempt to resolve this debate.
&nbs= p; The most obvious advantage that a college degree holds over a certification is = that the degree never expires. Whether you obtained your Bachelor’s degree= in 1962 or 2002, the degree is good for life. Certifications, on the other han= d, expire and require semi-regular updating. Another advantage to a degree is = that they are often prerequisites for management positions. Many techies, especi= ally those in their 20s, don’t foresee wanting to be in management in the future. However, I speak from experience that interests change over time. T= he hands-on network administration that is so much fun at 24 has become tediou= s by the time you’ve been doing it for 10 years. Even staff positions often have a degree requirement. Though that was greatly diminished in the late ‘90s with the dot com boom and the employee-driven employment market,= as the economy took a turn for the worse, and supply/demand now favors employe= rs, we’re beginning to see the degree requirement as a means of filtering candidates rearing its ugly head again.
&nbs= p; The most obvious disadvantage to a degree is the time commitment to obtain it w= hen compared to the time required for getting certified. Another real concern f= or IT professionals is that degrees rarely give relevant job skills, which is something certifications are designed to address. The strength of certifications is that they (ideally) reflect skills that are ready to go to work immediately. College is often more about preparing you for “how = to learn” than providing the vocational skills necessary to step into a = job right away.
&nbs= p; An advantage for certification is that it is easily obtainable through self-st= udy, so you can “set your own hours” so to speak. Likewise, if you don’t take classroom training you can certify for much less money tha= n it takes to go to even a community college.
&nbs= p; Other than the disadvantage certifications have in that they expire, the other big disadvantage is that certifications fluctuate in value, and decrease in val= ue over time. If a particular vendor certification gets popular and in high demand, you’ll see the market gradually become flooded with people certified in that particular area. The ease of obtaining certification comp= ared to a degree can in this respect also be to its detriment. The market becomes watered down, and “quality control” is such that simply having = the letters after your name doesn’t mean much after awhile. Whether it is people cheating to get certified, or people changing careers and obtaining certifications above their experience level and without the proper foundati= on, the process creates a situation where having a certification doesn’t indicate a given level of competence with a product, which defeats the purp= ose of being certified in the first place.
&nbs= p; Your life situation can naturally make obtaining a degree more or less difficult= . A person who is single and 21 will likely find it much easier to go to college than someone who is 40 with a family to provide for. However, history has s= hown that while a degree is not absolutely required to be a successful IT professional, it definitely makes it easier. While many people rightfully v= oice concerns over degree curriculums not providing enough specific job skills, college teaches a broad range of knowledge and provides experiences that are valuable in the IT world. My own degree was in history and psychology, not exactly the most technical of fields. However, I can’t count how many times I’ve drawn on what I studied in college, inside and outside of = my majors. That said, my certifications have also b= een valuable in getting me to where I am in my career.
&nbs= p; While there is no perfect answer for all situations, having experience both sides= of the equation, I’d say that if you have the opportunity to go to colle= ge and obtain a degree you by all means should. You may not understand the need for it today, but the degree will always be there for you, and it will open= up doors you may never even know were closed. Certification, as we’ve discussed, works best when coupled with experience, which makes it a logical choice to pursue after you are already in the field. Whichever way you choo= se, know that IT is an ongoing process of education and learning. Technology continually advances, and we must advance ourselves in order to stay ahead = of the game.