R8.5 recertification question

I was looking to get recertified for 8.5. I have advance R7 certs. I just saw on IBM’s website …

Have attained IBM Certified Application Developer - Lotus Notes and Domino 8 and pass exam 951 IBM Lotus Notes Domino 8.5 Application development Update

Does this mean that R7 certs will no longer count for R8.5 recertification?

Subject: R8.5 recertification question …

If I understood you correctly, you had the R7 advanced, and took the “normal” R8.5 update.

I have no clue if there is an advance update R8.5.

You should email to certify@us.ibm.com to confirm this. Or in the forum inside IBM Training. Although they don’t respond that much there. You should rather send an email. They respond quickly to that.

I am waiting for the cert cards!

Subject: RE: R8.5 recertification question …

No, I was quoting IBM’s site …

“Have attained IBM Certified Application Developer - Lotus Notes and Domino 8 and pass exam 951 IBM Lotus Notes Domino 8.5 Application development Update”

Is there still an upgrade exam fro R7 to R8.5?

Subject: RE: R8.5 recertification question …

I read it the same way you did. It looks like we have to take the upgrade exams from 7 to 8, then from 8 to 8.5, a two-step process. At least the requirements on the certification site certainly look that way.

Which raises the question: If I certify in 8.0, can I then upgrade to 9.0 in one step when it comes out, or will 8.5 upgrade be required first?

By contrast, I was able to upgrade my certs from R5 to 6.5 in only one step. There was no requirement to certify in 6.0 first.

Subject: No, IBM has decided to rip us off

No. According to that Greenberg person from the training company that is always posing here, you cannot go from 7 to 8.5. You have to go from 7 to 8 and then from 8 to 8.5.

Which, frankly, is a big pile of suck, and a clear case where IBM has decided to pad its revenue stream and the folks in the training industry’s by making you do both a 8 AND a 8.5 upgrade. But hey, that’s why everyone loves IBM … they’re not afraid to be obvious and blatant about taking advantage of the people developing with their product, are they …

Subject: RE: No, IBM has decided to rip us off

If the upgrade path eventually allows a one-step upgrade from 8.0 to 9.0, then the obvious solution is to do those two, and not bother certifying in 8.5 at all.

I would find it hard to imagine that there are many customers who would require, or even place much value on, having certs in both 8.0 and 8.5. I never heard of anyone asking for 6.5 certs from someone who already had 6.0.

Subject: RE: No, IBM has decided to rip us off

It doesn’t seem likely that if they’re going to require 8 to get to 8.5, that they would then skip 8.5 as a required step to 9.

I mean what are you going to do, wait until 9 comes out and they announce the certification paths, to find out IF they allow you to skip 8.5 ? And your plans/preparations go on hold until you find out if that thin chance pans out ?

RIDICULOUS, IBM

Subject: RE: No, IBM has decided to rip us off

I have advanced certs in app dev & sys admin from 4 - 7.

I missed the update from 4 to 5 and had to take 8 test all over again. I’m not doing that again.

This is the end on my Domino certifications!!! This should be enough plus 12+ years. Screw the certs!

Subject: RE: R8.5 recertification question …

No. According to that Greenberg person from the training company that is always posing here, you cannot go from 7 to 8.5. You have to go from 7 to 8 and then from 8 to 8.5.

Which, frankly, is a big pile of suck, and a clear case where IBM has decided to pad its revenue stream and the folks in the training industry’s by making you do both a 8 AND a 8.5 upgrade. But hey, that’s why everyone loves IBM … they’re not afraid to be obvious and blatant about taking advantage of the people developing with their product, are they …