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<DIV><SPAN class=223335416-25022003><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2>Steve,</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=223335416-25022003><FONT color=#0000ff
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=223335416-25022003><FONT color=#0000ff size=2>Some
bureaucracies look very favorably on degrees and certificates. Some look
very favorably on your past performance. Which type are you now
at and which type are you looking at for a better paying
job?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV><!-- Converted from text/rtf format -->
<P><SPAN lang=en-us><B><FONT color=#0000ff>Charles Wortz</FONT></B></SPAN>
<BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#0000ff>Software Development
Division</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#0000ff>Texas Education
Agency</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#0000ff>1701 N. Congress
Ave</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT color=#0000ff>Austin, TX
78701-1494</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT
color=#0000ff>512-463-9493</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT
color=#0000ff>CWortz@tea.state.tx.us</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN lang=en-us><FONT
color=#000000>(SELECT * FROM users WHERE clue > 0)</FONT></SPAN> </P>
<DIV></DIV>
<DIV class=OutlookMessageHeader lang=en-us dir=ltr align=left><FONT face=Tahoma
size=2>-----Original Message-----<BR><B>From:</B> Steven W. Erbach
[mailto:serbach@new.rr.com] <BR><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday 2003 Feb 25
10:56<BR><B>To:</B> dba-sqlserver@databaseadvisors.com<BR><B>Subject:</B> Re:
[dba-SQLServer]MCDBA<BR><BR></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Allan,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I can appreciate the structured learning bit. I was
wondering because I had a conversation with a good friend who, in the past,
always kept up the certifications that he had. He seems to be despairing of the
cost and bother. Unless one is focused very clearly on one skill these days,
certification can become very expensive very quickly. Some--Cisco, for
example--require re-certification every two years. I just wonder what that buys
you once you get it. Continued advancement? Better-paying jobs?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I looked up MCDBA certification classes in my area
and found some being offered by another old friend of mine in the Chicago area.
The certification tests apparently cannot be taken unless one also takes the
courses. I found that a bit of a put-off.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I was also curious that, on the Microsoft site, the
MCDBA is geared for those with big company experience and big servers and big
databases. Somehow I doubt that these required courses offer anything in the way
of simulation of huge databases or multiple platform connections...or do
they?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>I've worked with PCs since 1982 and on mainframes
for a bit before that, back to 1975. It seems demeaning somehow that I cannot
take a certification test without going through an approved set of courses for
which I pay a large sum of money. I'm perfectly capable of learning SQL
Server--or anything else, for that matter--just fine on my own or in connection
with my client experiences. I guess I'm whining about having to take those
courses. If I do and if I get an MCDBA, what does it mean?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Regards,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Steve Erbach<BR>Scientific Marketing<BR>Neenah,
WI</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>"Nothing so needs reforming as other people's
habits." - Mark Twain<BR></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>