Sarah Gooding
CertifyWP has launched its first credentialing exam for a WordPress Management and Design Credential. The non-profit organization was founded by Talisha Lewallen with the goals of helping job seekers better demonstrate their skills to potential employers and giving businesses a way to understand prospective employees’ skills.
The new credential costs $150 for the exam and includes three courses towards mastering frontend development:
WordPress Management and Design Credential holders have validated their understanding of important aspects of WordPress and its websites. This credential is designed for anyone who wants to work in the WordPress space or learn to build WordPress websites. Once certified, these individuals are ready to pursue WordPress Web design, e-commerce, JavaScript, databases and other fields.
Many of items under the beginner and intermediate levels of the credential essentially describe a WordPress “power user,” or someone who knows their way around the platform and its more advanced features, including skills like navigating the admin panel, hosting, web optimization, and more.
CertifyWP administers a proctored exam for the credential and those who meet the requirements will be required to re-take the exam every three years to maintain their credentialing. The exam will be updated as necessary by CertifyWP’s advisory board.
There are 110 questions in the exam, spread over three levels, as well as a practical component. The questions must be answered within 60 minutes with 80% for a passing score. Examinees do not have to take CertifyWP’s course in order to be eligible for the exam – it’s open to anyone who wants to take it.
Lewallen is also the owner of WPConnects, a company that helps military veterans get training while they are on active duty and then provides them with mentors and assistance with employment when they leave the military. In a recent WP Tavern Jukebox podcast episode she discussed how this work led to her starting CertifyWP with the help of the WordPress community.
Lewallen will also be speaking at Atarim’s Web Agency Summit on April 25, about the importance of credentials in the WordPress workforce, the differences between credentials and certificates, and how credentials can be leveraged in the search for employment.
So I have to pay $150 every three years to get some paper saying I am good with WordPress? Even though I’ve been doing it since around 2005. I have a portfolio. Interesting.
Why is this “paper” worth more than any other similar credential? What makes it worth more than the paper and ink on it?
Pro tip: Don’t buy it if you don’t need it.
Credentials aren’t a new concept. This is an option for people who are interested.
Pro tip: Yes I know this is not a new concept. I simply challenged why this one is “better” than others. I will do the same in the future for the others that will come.
There has long been a need for credentialing in the industry. I’ve been using WordPress since the beginning and know my stuff. My client’s know. But potential clients have no clue. It is just another credibility step for WordPress users.
I’m going to take the exam purely to help the effort and I would encourage others to as well.
Potential clients go to your website and look at your portfolio?
But unless you have a third party verify that the projects in your portfolio were actually done by you, your potential clients can’t tell if it’s really your portfolio. The whole point of a certification is that a third-party is involved to verify that what you’re saying about yourself is true.
Looking at the mobile view of their website I would struggle to have faith in their skill level. It is not balanced, the css is not good, and it contains virtually no information at all of value. I certainly would not be paying out that amount of money just to prove I can create a website as bad as that
If I fix the frontend issues with their website, can I get the certification for free? Or is that the practical component?
I kid (sort of). I’m surprised though that WordPress.org or Automattic never offered this sort of thing as it would certainly carry more authority than a non-profit group.
Still, for some developers, this would be a nice feather to add to their cap assuming clients hear about it and respect the merit involved.
We’re working on it!
My question is whether learnwp is moving toward this type of credentialing. They are working on alot of documentation and videos, so are they planning to do the same? If so, that cert would be more valuable
That’s the dream, but we could use some more help making it a reality!
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