ASQ Certification - necessary to maintain?

[Wes Bucey]

There was a comment by one of our Covers in the ASQ Living Strategy page (https://www.asq.org/cgi-bin/guestbook/guestbook.cgi) that the Cover's ASQ certifications were about to lapse.

I am intimately aware that Continuing Education Units may be earned toward recertification by merely attending monthly Section meetings and publishing articles which may or may not have anything to do with the topic of one's certification.

I am prompted to ask how many of you who already hold ASQ certifications (which enabled you to get your current job) would be terminated by your employer if you failed to maintain the certification? Do your employers keep track of your certification status and ask for proof of status at regular intervals?

If you employ folks who got the job because of their certification, would you fire them if they let the certification lapse? Why did you answer that way?

Note this inquiry is separate and apart from certifications required to be a third party auditor for a registrar.

 

[Al Dyer]

I earned my CQT in 1987 after a few years in the field. At the time I was bright eyed and bushy tailed and all was well in the world of quality control. (not assurance yet) In my mind the CQT would open doors for future growth and at least get me a raise. Upon certification my Supervisor gave me a $5.00/week raise. Oh well, I was low paid at the time anyways.

The CCQT never came up in discussion again. Maybe because the QCT is one of the lower certifications it was a moot point during my career. It never overtly helped or hindered me. I have been blessed in that I went from 1 job seemlessly into another with minimal use of formal resumes and interviews. Over the years I had a good networking structure where we all pretty much new each other and followed each other around to greener pastures and endeavors.

That was the winded way to say certifications are good but in our choosen path there are more important methods of securing and retaining employment.

Al...

 

[Rob Nix]

I received my CQE in 1989 and my CRE in 1997. The acquisition of both were actively encouraged by my current employers (at the time). For subsequent jobs, the certifications were a significant factor in their choosing me. As part of the hiring agreements, they offered to pay for all of the training / seminars necessary to maintain the certifications.

Afterwards, however, during the terms of employment, they simply trusted me to maintain them without further tracking. As to whether they would keep me or fire me, after a certain period of time my continued employment was/is based on performance more than the cert (the price of admission).

When hiring personnel for quality positions, I look at more than just a certification, but the cert is a significant factor. I've always looked at the acquisition of a CQE or CQT as an important knowledge foundation. When I've hired people without it, it became a condition of their hire that they acquire it within a specific period of time. Fortunately, I've had good, qualified people, and only had to let one go.

 

[Randy Stewart]

I received the CQT in '94, CQM in '97 and CRE, in '98. The CQT I did on my own and the others I was compensated (had to pass) by the employer. I have not kept them current and really saw no benefit in employment from them. I thought the knowledge gained was worth it.

 

[qualeety]

no asq certification and no asq membership

got my cqe (1992-paid by employer) and cqa (2001-made a bet with my boss that i can pass the exam without studying and the winning was more than enough to cover the exam fee) but i no longer maintain them for i see no use for them...if employer wants me to have cqe/cqa and is willing to pay for them, i have no problem writing the exams again.

btw, am planning to write cre this december, if my boss is willing to bet again!!!!....will see!!!

 

[Craig H.]

I think the exercise of preparing for the exams (especially the CQE, my CQMgr experience I have discussed elsewhere) was well worth the effort. I keep my certs current because things I would do anyway count. (As an aside I wonder if there is a way to get credit for the Cove?). But, the recertification fee seems high to me. What does ASQ do to earn it? The paperwork is reviewed by the sections, right?

I don't think my employer cares about certification one way or another.

 

[dokes]

Maintaining the certification isn't the right question. Continually learning something new in order to stay viable in today's fast-moving world is. If you do the latter the former is a cinch.

 

[Wes Bucey]

My point was not whether the individual remains competent in the field, either through practice or continual education, but whether the actual certification is required to be maintained for continued employment.

I, for example, don't currently retain certification in any field through choice, not inaction or laziness. That does not mean that I don't gain the pile of blue slips attesting to CEU buildup - I just don't apply for certification and/or recertification - the presence or absence of a current certification hasn't arisen in 20 years.

 

[Kevin H]

Having a CQA was probably a plus when I landed my current position. I have maintained it, and actually even went to an RAB lead auditor course on my own for professional advancement. I'm currently " in the market" so to speak, and a lot of the positions I see specify either CQE or more commonly six sigma certification. So, right now those 2 certifications appear to be entry cards.

That said, my current employer doesn't require that I maintain the CQA, nor have I had any past employer require that I achieve or maintain an ASQ certification.

Personally, I'd sooner maintain the certification than have to retake the test - loss of a good Saturday to retake, versus some occasional time spent annually to maintain it.

 

[Pataha]

I am interested in the answer to Wes' question. I am looking at taking the CQA. This is to try for those position that pay more than more current one and require a CQA cert.
I had not thought beyond that point.
Is there anyone out there that has to maintain their Cert. to ratain their position?

also, if publishing is part of it do people just rework previous articles and get them published? It seems that I have read some of these articles before, different author - same message.


Thanks,
Craig.