Have certifications become an industry money pot?
My company currently has me going through some Azure training and getting certified. I just found out these certificates are only valid for a single year, and the exams cost nearly $200 a pop.
It reminded me of when I did the ITIL fundamentals back then, I was told it would never expire. But here we are now with ITILv5, and they’ve shifted to an expiration/renewal model too.
Look, I completely understand the need for continuous learning. Technology is always evolving, and we have to keep up. But the cost and structure of these certifications feel like an absolute scam.
Think about the overhead for these companies. There is almost zero marginal cost to host a pre-recorded training session or auto-grade a digital multiple-choice exam. The only interaction I ever receive from an actual human being is the proctor watching me take the test.
It feels less like a measure of professional competence and more like a subscription-based cash grab disguised as "professional development."