Today I got my Master IT Architect certificate by the Open Group.
The program requires applicants to demonstrate skills and experience against a set of conformance requirements through written applications and peer interviews. There are no training courses to attend, and no written exams to complete.
The Open CA program is:
- The most trusted independent benchmark for validating an IT, Business and Enterprise Architect’s skills and experience
- A distinctive, peer-reviewed, vendor-neutral, globally recognized, portable credential
- Used by the world’s leading enterprises as an objective measure of capabilities
- A proven guide for filling critical roles and responsibilities
- An outstanding career move
There are 3 levels of certification in Open CA. They are:
- Level 1: Certified
- Level 2: Master
- Level 3: Distinguished
If you have worked as an architect for some time (think 3 years is minimum) than you can give it a shot. There is a template that needs to be filled out. You need to answer on many questions and write 3 experience profiles. All that must not exceed 50 pages. And believe me that is a very challenging task. Trying to fit several years of your career and all the projects you worked on during that time on just 50 pages is very tough.
Also, don’t underestimate the effort needed to write it. It took me over 2 months to finalize the whole package. Members of the certification board are saying that it takes 1 page per day. So, 50 pages is 50 days, that’s approx. 2 months.
Once you have submitted your package, and paid 1.250 Eur, you then enter the review process that takes about 2 months as well. If they accept your submission you will then be appointed to a certification board that is consisted of 3 distinguished architects.
The interview is about 3 hours long, an hour per each board member. They are really nice people and they are not trying to trap you or make your life hard. They just want to make sure that the stuff you wrote is actually done by you.
So, my advice – go for it! It’s well worth all the time and money spent. After all, it’s the crown of your career up to now. Also, you will have 50 pages summary of you have done in the past 8 years. Things get forgotten easily, this is a nice way to keep them documented.
Nemanja Kostic 