Standardized Testing in College

A college degree is a general way to express knowledge on a subject. Taking into consideration my degree at Utica College, it can be assumed that I have gained a general knowledge of Cybersecurity involving cyber crime investigation and digital forensics. Although this degree presents a wide area of knowledge of procedures and programs involved in cybersecurity, it does not make any implications of mastering any specific procedures or programs. For this reason alone, I believe certifications demonstrate a specified knowledge that employers look for. A college degree is a valuable asset which is enhanced greatly by a certification.

Certifications such as CISSP and A+ require experience working in the area before you can be admitted for the certification exam. With a CISSP a potential employer knows that you have extreme knowledge in the area as well as a minimum of five years of professional experience. (ISC, Security Transcends Technology, 2012)

A certification can boost an individual’s ego. Having a certification can create a belief of mastering a program or procedure, creating a sense of superiority amongst other individuals who are not certified in that particular area. Due to this ego boost, it can qualify a person as a higher earner. I believe that certifications can be used as a determining factor during negotiation of salary or earning capability. In addition to an outstanding resume, certifications are a sure way to make any potential employee stand out amongst other potential employees. (Bank Info Security, 2009) A certification demonstrates a higher level of educational and experience-based knowledge that employers can use to create a more knowledge-filled work environment. Having a certification, in my opinion, can qualify a person as a higher earner based on their demonstration of knowledge for the specified area.

A certification can be valuable when it comes to establishing your professional status in a community. People look for experts to perform certain tasks for them. The community may look for certifications as a representation of the knowledge and ability to perform a professional task for them and would potentially choose a person who is certified over an individual who has no certifications.

Given the requirements for some certifications, they definitely boost credibility. If a person wants to become certified in a specific area, it requires a lot of knowledge and studying in order to take the exam. Once they practice routinely and gain the knowledge, they must then spend generally over $100 per exam in order to become certified. The level of dedication required to become certified demonstrates a sense of determination and reliability in an area. A potential client creates a sense of reliability when hiring a person to complete a task. A certification demonstrates to the potential client that a person is highly knowledgeable and skilled in the area and they are more likely to hire the certified person to complete a job for them. A certification also expresses that an individual selected a career and chose to invest in it to the fullest extent. (Bank Info Security, 2009)

Bank Info Security. (2009) The Employment Value of Multiple Certifications. Retrieved Feb. 11,

2012 from http://www.bankinfosecurity.com/articles.php?art_id=1265

ISC, Security Transcends Technology (2012) CISSP- Certified Information Systems Security

Professional. Retrieved Feb. 11, 2012 from https://www.isc2.org/cissp/Default.aspx