Technical Certifications: Still A Priority for VARs & MSPs?

By David Bellini 2_2

technical certification

Why do I care about certifications? Number one, my techs can get stale… getting new training is a great way to introduce them to the latest technology and to re-ignite their passion about the cool products that are new to the market. And, certs are a big selling point when you’re at the table with a prospect. They’re a must-have for your website; they show that you are a real player in the IT market, and not just another box-pusher. Also, if you play the lifecycle services game and want to collect on warranty repair work, your tech has to be certified.

Our Approach to Certification

Here at my IT company, my staff members are responsible for keeping their certifications up to date, on their own time. It’s a point of pride for a lot of my engineers, and it’s their responsibility  to make sure they stay up to date.

I know some shops grant a higher pay scale for each certification to motivate their employees to get them. Here, I will not allow them to study or take courses that will encroach on the their billable time during the day. I do give my techs a bonus when they get a new certification under their belts. I also pay for their certification study guides (and add to the library when they are done for others to use) and pay for the tests that they pass.

Really, it’s a win-win. They get what they want, and I get what I want.

Let me throw this out to you: How are you making sure your staff certifications are

david_bellini

David Bellini is president of ConnectWise. Monthly guest blogs such as this one are part of The VAR Guy’s annual sponsor program.