KM professional certifications; What’s the point?
Let me go on record by saying that I absolutely do not believe that anyone interested in working within the knowledge management area should even consider worrying about getting a professional certification. In my opinion, it means nothing. Especially since any of the certifications available today are really not certifications, but training. Now, I am not against training, I think it’s wonderful and if you want to spend $2000-$4000 to get some KM training before you embark on a KM program at your company, hey – go for it! But, let’s not confuse training with professional certification. To me a professional certification always includes proving you have experience “doing” the profession as well as taking a test to ensure you have comprehensive knowledge. In addition, I may get a certificate of completion of a training program for a particular domain of knowledge, however, that in no way makes me an experienced practitioner.
Do we really need to establish a professional certification for knowledge management? Don’t get me wrong, I believe in professional certifications, but KM? Even project management doesn’t have the greatest of reputations for their professional certification of a PMP. Yes, I know many companies dangle that little certification out there for applicants to have. But the reality is, I can go and take the test and add those 3 little letters after my name and it still doesn’t mean I am an experienced practitioner. I admit, I am probably biased, since I followed the route that I recommend… take some training, read some books and then go do it!
Really, If you still think a professional certification for KM is needed, I would at least follow the HR Certification Institute model: Separate training from testing for certification, allowing anyone to do the training. Make every individual wanting a certification prove experience with proof of responsibilities. (I would even require recommendations from leadership, though HRCI does not require this.) Have the testing and certification process cost only a couple hundred dollars/euros, and require annual recertification through continued training.
Here’s the bottom line to me… If you are really experienced in KM, you know that this functional area will eventually be part of the company’s culture and just a matter of how a company does business – fully integrated into their business processes. So any type of professional certification would eventually be useless. And, when it comes to the corporate bottom line, a company shouldn’t have to hire additional people who have this certification to “do” knowledge management. If they are going to survive in the 21st century as a corporation, the company better be training all employees on these concepts, as KM builds organizational effectiveness.
Just my 2 cents worth!
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Lisa,
I absolutely agree. Certification from my perspective is little more than a money generating pyramid. I’m just sorry I didn’t think of it myself.
For KM I’d rather have a good technical writer that is able to write clear English instructions that a 5 year old can follow each and every time.
A KM certification doesn’t mean you can write for the correct audience nor does it prove your competency. It just means you can pass the exam.
In case I wasn’t clear … I agree 100% with you when it comes to certifying.