ASQ (American Society for Quality) Certification Exams - Any Real Value?

[Marc]

This is from a NG that I found interesting.
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Newsgroups: misc.industry.quality
Subject: Re: ASQ Certification Exam
Date: Thu, 16 Aug 2001 16:00:19 GMT
Organization: RoadRunner - TampaBay

Jon wrote .
> The value of the certificate? It should help you find a better paying
job.
> According to ASQ data, Certified workers earn more on average, than those
> without.

Not to be TOO cynical, but of *course* ASQ is going to tell you it's certifications are valuable. I'd like to see independent data some day.

The professional certification program has been a great way for ASQ to shift its focus from SERVING the quality community to SELLING to it. The society does little more now than sell its products and services, and publish articles that ... well, sell its products and services. Compare its output with that of Quality Digest (a free journal that's not afraid to critique Six Sigma), and you can see what I mean.

The merits of ASQ certification are murky, but it's basically "what you do with it." Some of the companies I work with think certification is a good thing, but most see it as an expensive open-book test and a way for people to litter their letterhead with lots of abbreviations.

Specifically speaking to CQA, of which I have the most familiarity, more companies (including mine) are refusing to acknowledge it at all. I want more than a Mastercard receipt for a test as evidence of someone's ability to effectively audit systems. For auditing certification, the current best means is IRCA or RAB, where the test is real auditing, not writing essays about auditing.

>maybe it helps them get the choice jobs, or maybe the ones in
> better jobs are just more motivated to certify. No matter, many employers
> will only hire those with cert's.

And many won't. In fact, I tell people to challenge companies that require it, and explain the weaknesses in the ASQ certification system to the employer. The important thing there is not to come off as a person who is making excuses for not being certified, but someone who has a legitimate position on the subject.

> ASQ has loads of info on the exams. All you need to do is ask.

And provide a valid credit card number and exiration date.

The thing is, ASQ's role has tremendous potential; it's a shame to see the quality community so ill-served by the quasi-commercial marketing machine it's become. The good thing is that there are alternatives.

CP
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Comments folks?

[tomvehoski]

I have switched jobs five times since 1996 (all my idea and all improvements to the previous). During interviews I found that interviewers were impressed that I had a CQT, CQA, CQE, and CQMgr. Most paid more attention to these than to my A.S. and B.S. degrees. I'm sure it helped with a couple jobs. Also as a consultant it helps me "prove" to clients that I know a little bit about quality.

Tom

I agree that the ASQ has probably evolved past it's original purpose and turned more to sales as its focus. The bigger benefit is with the local ASQ chapters. I was the treasurer for one in Michigan and their goal was to educate and train people at as low a cost as possible.

I have a CQT and have it noted on my resume and such. Never once have I been asked about it. Does it hurt to have the CQT? No, and I'm sure it has helped to some extent. I have found that employers and customers focus more on my other training in specialized quality fields such as auditing, APQP, FMEA, PPAP, QOS, networks etc... and past accomplishments.

ASD...

I don't believe the tests themselves to be total money generators (although I have a different stand on the "refresher courses"), there is a purpose.

As for the CEU credits, wouldn't a sane quality proffesional realize that continuing education is in their own benefit, whether ASQ certified or not?

This is not ASQ bashing on my part, just a view of my experiences, just like yours.

Have a good day.

ASD...

[JRKH]

You are absolutely correct. Continuing education should be a part of any profession. My point was simply that ASQ doesn't simply hand out certs.

As with anything else, it depends on what you do with it. If your serious about your profession it will show. I just think ASQ certs' are one way to do that.

No bashing on my part either. JMHO.

James

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Low tech is better than no tech.

[Rick Goodson]

I am not sure whether there is a value to having my ASQ certifications. Certainly the recertification forces a behavior of continuing education or other activies to 'stay current' in my chosen profession. Would I go to seminars and classes if they were not required. Sure, but probably not as often as I should.

On the other hand, my IRCA certification required that I 'prove' I have some expertise by having a log of the audits I performed. These logs are 'signed off' by the people I audit, most of which hire me because they feel I have that expertise but for the most part are not capable of making that assessment. Maybe the answer lies some where in between. I keep all of my certifications current because some customers value the ASQ certifications, some value the IRCA registration, and some value both.

[AJLenarz]

Just because one has attended a hand gun safety class and has received a certification doesn’t mean they won’t shoot themselves in the foot.

Just because one has a B.S. in business doesn’t mean they will be successful in running company.

Just because one has achieved a CQM certification, doesn’t guarantee they will be successful in managing a quality department.

But there is a level of confidence and respect that goes behind the training and certification, but no fool proof guarantee.

Originally posted by JRKH:
As with anything else, it depends on what you do with it.

I believe there is a differentiation between knowledge and wisdom. Knowledge is the sum that one has learned, wisdom is how they choose to apply it. Or in the words of JRKH.... "it depends on what you do with it".

[JRKH]

When I first entered the quality arena as an inspector, I started reading. I learned there was so much more out there than inspection. Juran, Deming, TQM, SPC etc.....
Then, as I progress in my profession I learned that my little ol' Associate degree in machine design wasn't going to do.

Guess what I found when I looked at the schools. (this was in the mid to late 1980's)
Almost nothing!! After more searching I came upon the ASQ. Finally a place where you could get credit for your knowledge, not how many credit hours you have. I jumped at the chance. Got my CQT, CQA, and CQE.

Most of these certs' require recertification every three years. Which requires proof of continuing education, or retesting. Most require a certain minimum time in the profession before taking the exam. Certification means that you are willing to take the time, and effort to learn your profession and continue learning.

I realize that more schools are offering quality as a field of study, but how many, and how magnanimous are they when it comes to cost? Didn't most of us learn our trade in the trenches?

In sum, YES certifications have been of benefit to me. And I don't believe them to be simply a revenue generator for ASQ.

I now step off my soap box.

James

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Low tech is better than no tech.

[This message has been edited by JRKH (edited 20 August 2001).]