Should the Root Prompt Require a Road Test? Evaluating System Administrator Certification

Watch a thought-provoking conference talk from the 21st Large Installation System Administration Conference (LISA '07) exploring the effectiveness of certification programs versus practical skill assessment for system administrators. Learn how Associate Professor Alva L. Couch from Tufts University challenges traditional certification methods by proposing a "road test" approach to evaluating administrator competency. Examine why written tests may fall short in measuring core system administration skills and discover parallels between IT certification and driver's licensing. Delve into the importance of direct behavioral observation in assessing an administrator's true capabilities and understand what fundamental skills might be overlooked by conventional testing methods. Through this 42-minute presentation, gain insights into potential new approaches for validating system administrator expertise and qualifications.