For what it's worth here is my take on both the certifications and the
classes. Keep in mind I both teach and wrote some of the ACSA course
material, so the more people that take the classes (for me at least) the
better.
Anyone that makes their living with Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server can
pass ACTC. Get the (free) SAG from Apple, buy Schoun's book, spend your
own money on the tests if your employer is too cheap. You should pass.
DO NOT spend your own money on the classes. If your employer will spring
for it I encourage that- the instructors are for the most part high
quality and you will come out knowing more than just the certification
material. But if your sole objective is to become ACTC certified (and
everyone should be) and you have to take 7 days worth of classes to do
it, you should find a new career. (this of course does not apply to the
people forced into IT roles. I feel your pain).
The ACSA is a different matter. It's a lot harder. Taking the class will
seriously lessen the prep time necessary to pass. Once again, though,
unless your employer is paying, the classes are a little steep. Gut it
out and study. Get the (free) SAG from Apple, buy my book, and glance at
the Admin Guide every once in awhile when your mind needs a break (the
group that writes the Admin Guide and the group that writes the
Certifications are separate, and the materials are not much related). *
In the future this might change, but the market right now does not
really reward you for having ACSA after your name, it's not worth
spending your own money on 10 days worth of classes (which you'll
probably have to take vacation for.) Maybe in a couple years, maybe if
Apple markets the certifications better than it has in the last two
years, that will change. If your employer is willing to pay, though..
once again, that changes things, you should sign up for a class tomorrow.
So- to sum up- generally I encourage people to spend their own money on
the tests if they have to, but don't worry about the classes unless your
employer is paying. This actually fits in Apple's vision for training,
which is primarily targeted at institutional customers and the people
who service them. Or at least that was the case when I met with the
marketing folks last time.
*Incidentally I met with some of the Docs folks at the last Lisa. I am
convinced they're doing the best they can with the constraints placed on
them, and the docs will get a lot better post Tiger.
Michael Bartosh
Essential Mac OS X Server Administration
O'Reilly, forthcoming
http://www.pantherserver.org/buy
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