New Windows Scripting Cert To Feature Interview Exam, Hands-On Assignments
2/9/2005 -- Don Jones, Windows consultant and developer who created and maintains the Windows scripting site ScriptingAnswers.com, plans to introduce a new certification program that Windows systems administrators can use to offer tangible proof of their automation and scripting expertise.
[Editor's Disclosure: Don Jones is a regular contributor to CertCities.com, MCPMag.com and other publications owned by our parent company, 101communications.]
Two credentials, Certified Administrative Script Specialist (CASS) and Certified Administrative Script Development (CASD), are expected to debut some time in March.
The lower-level track, Certified Administrative Script Specialist, will consist of a single verbal exam on core VBScript writing that can last for about two hours. This exam will be administered by a certified exam proctor by phone.
Achieving the CASS allows the candidate to proceed to the next level, Certified Administrative Script Development, which will require passing two more exams. The first of these two is a battery of script development assignments, which are parceled out over five days via e-mail. Each assignment is given at the beginning of the day; the CASD candidate then submits a final working script by the end of the day.
The final exam is an elective exam in multiple-choice format, which tests the candidates knowledge and skills using a scripting editor. Jones says that currently only WMI and VBscript are the only scripting editors being tested for in the electives, but other scripting editors will be added in the future. The exam will be delivered online.
All of the exams will cost $125 (U.S.).
An FAQ on the scripting certification is available here. You can also hear more about this certification program by listening to an interview with Jones that will be posted on MCPMag.com's MCP Radio site this Friday.  - Mike Domingo, courtesy of MCPmag.com
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There are 10  user Comments for “New Windows Scripting Cert To Feature Interview Exam, Hands-On Assignments”
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| 2/9/05: Ron from Kansas says: |
Um... Can just anyone offer certifications? Is this a Microsoft certification or just a Don Jones certification? "Hi, I have proof I'm a scripting expert, here's a certification signed by Don Jones!" I mean no disrespect to Don. His scripting articles are quite good, but the way this article is written seems to imply that Don just decided one day to start testing people on his own (for $125) and then he gets to decide if they are good or not. I'd love some clarification. |
| 2/10/05: Anonymous says: |
Will be interesting to see if this takes off. I can't see myself, or anyone going for this. An exam by phone? Who does that?? |
| 2/10/05: Don Jones says: |
Actually, this isn't a "Don Jones" certification. A fairly large number of folks who are interested in certification worked together to determine what would be tested, how they'd be tested, and so forth; it's a "community" certification by those folks. I'm merely acting as the "front" and helping to coordinate the development, since my company has significant experience in exam development (including for Microsoft). The phone interview format is designed to provide a basic knowledge interview that a computer-based exam can't. But... it isn't for everyone. It isn't even for most people, which is why a phone format is practical. It's a niche certification that only a few people will qualify for and only a few will be interested in. There's no intention of this being a superstar certification or a major program along the lines of the MCP program; it's a community-based program that focuses on a very narrow skill set. There's plenty of clarification on all this on the FAQ, which is linked at the bottom of the article. |
| 2/10/05: Ron from Kansas says: |
Interesting... But I'm not sure how the costs are worth the benefits. I am proficient with VBScript, and in fact this helped me get my last job... But I was able to convey my prowess in my resume and in the interview without a made-up certification. I mean what are your standards? You have a "community" of scripters who will decide if someone is good enough at scripting to be certified? Why is their judgement considered good enough to be handing out certifications? This seems very strange to me. Although I guess this is how CompTIA started as well, eh? Just a group of professionals coming with up with their own standards for testing, and slowly the industry accepted those standards. Still seems pretty pricey for something that currently has no real value. |
| 2/10/05: Anonymous says: |
Well keep us updated with actual numbers of people getting certified and some stories of peoples success with the cert. I really am a sceptic I 'll admit. Good luck however. |
| 2/23/06: Craig from Arlington, VA says: |
Would this certification make you a Microsft Scripting MVP? More info on MVP's http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/mvpexecsum I thought that it is funny and weird that Don Jones is acting as a front, since he isn't even acknowledged by Microsoft as a person with "recognized, credible, and accessible individuals with expertise." I understand that there is currently only five Scripting MVP's, but I would think that one them would be a better, more respected front for such a certification. Here is a list of those five recognized Microsft VB Scripting MVP's https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/communities/mvplist.aspx?Product=Visual+Developer+-+Scripting. |
| 12/2/06: Robert McDonnell from San Francisco, CA says: |
Don Jones appears to be a fairly well qualified front person based on the following information I pulled from the MVP site. I am in the process of reading through a few of his books and he appears to be the authority on Windows Administrative scripting. https://mvp.support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/ profile=F4083BCD-3B9E-4B2D-A0DB-01BD1CC15670 Don Jones is the founder of ScriptingAnswers.com and the lead scripting guru at SAPIEN Technologies. He’s the author or more than twenty books on information technology, including Managing Windows with VBScript and WMI, Advanced VBScript for Windows Administrators, and Windows PowerShell: TFM. Don has written and spoken extensively about scripting and automation for years, including columns in REDMOND Magazine, MCPMag.com, Microsoft TechNet Magazine, and more, as well as a series of scripting-related Webinars for Microsoft TechNet. Don is a multiple recipient of Microsoft’s MVP Award, and one of the industry’s strongest advocates for Windows administrative automation. |
| 1/10/08: Olivier Ntahiraja from Norway says: |
Will this certification be available to the people in other countries other than USA? if so, what are the facilities for such people? It would be nice if everybody regardeless which country does he reside in, gets access to such testing. We all need scripting proof!! |
| 1/21/08: Olivier Ntahiraja from Norway says: |
Hi, I can see that this thing might have started sometimes back in 2005. Is thare anybody who has been certified with this certification? Who can I contact to get more information about the process of registering and sitting for this exam? Olivier. |
| 2/17/08: Anonymous says: |
If this page is of no use. why keeping it on the nett? It does not get updated and hence cheating someone visiting it for the first time. I feel sad seeing it on the nett. |
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