CompuServe Messages

Steve: Interesting discussion here. I'd like to offer another viewpoint. I see certification as an evaluative tool that shows that a CAD user knows the product, but has also kept current with the upgrades and the new tools that increase productivity. A user with lots of experience runs the risk of not being familiar with all the new goodies that can be a big benefit. I personally know of several CAD jockeys that have been using AutoCAD for many years. They get their job done, because they're using the same tools they learned 5 years ago. I'd bet they know nothing of some of the basic tools that could be a big help to them, like grips and selecting entities by Fence (as an example). Certification is tied to a specific release of AutoCAD (right, Bill?), so the user getting certified (or is that certifiable? <g>) needs to be up on ALL the ins and outs of the program. I think if I was an employer presented with two chioces: a new graduate with a certificate in hand, or an experienced user with no certification, it would be a tough call. -KLF