Computer Support Service Owners

Certification or Licensing

There are many different kinds of certifications available to people working in computer support and consulting. No one certification, however, serves all the varying needs of computer professionals. Some consultants get certified in database design and administration. Some consultants have Microsoft certified solutions expert (MCSE) status, and within this designation, subcertifications are available in core infrastructure, data management and analytics, business applications, and productivity. This certification should only supplement an extensive computer background, not replace it. The term "paper MCSE" has evolved in the industry to describe those who "look good on paper" with their certification, but do not have the networking and computer science education and experience to back it up. Certification is also offered by organizations such as HDI and CompTIA.