Solarwinds Certification push your carreer to the next level?

I have taken an SCP - mostly because I got a free one as a perk of being an MVP.

But let me share my thoughts around SCPs and a little bit about me and exams in general....

• it isn't a recognised qualification in the UK.
• within my International based company it gains no recognition nor reward for passing it.
• If I'd had to pay for it myself then my company would not have reimbursed it as they do for a CCNA for eg
• The exams should stack e.g. If I pass NPM this year and NCM next year, then that should auto-renew my NPM. BUT THEY DON'T.
• The proctor company process stinks and they blame it all on Solarwinds when I know it is their bizarre requirements.

Was it worth me getting the SCP that I do have [NPM by the by]?

I'd have to say no. I am not an exam person. What do I mean by this? Simply put I have never been good at exams. I can learn facts, knowledge and information that if you asked me face to face about I could answer. Put me in an exam and ask me the same question then my brain seizes. This gives me an inordinate amount of pressure and stress, especially when it comes to having or even wanting to gain certifications

As mentioned above, the proctoring process did not allay this fear and the fact that I actually passed my NPM SCP remains a minor miracle. Does the process and proctoring lead me to want to do another exam then no. 1000% no. 

The proctor company have weird policies and they either ignore any attempt to discuss or aggressively rude about it and tell you they "are only doing what Solarwinds put in place". For my exam, I ended up setting up a little table in the middle of my sitting room to prove nothing was nearby regards materials to "cheat from". Their policies stated no food or drink but when questioned if I could have water I eventually got an answer that I would have to ask Solarwinds. When I reached out to the certification address I got no response and then on the day I was told "you can't wear your watch (analogue) but would I like to get a bottle of water"... 

I get they need to check you aren't cheating, but I wonder how many of us have the luxury of clear space for dedicating to do an exam.

Final thought....I have taken other online exams that are nowhere near as stringent as this and the proctors were far more chilled.

Let me also stress as a final point... this was purely my experience and it has put me off doing a second exam or even wanting to renew my current one when we get there.

HTH?

I found my rant I made 2 years ago.. that experience discouraged me from doing any other attempt so far...
RE: How was your SCP certification exam taking experience?
I never heard back from proctoring company and lost my voucher that year... 

That said... I'd be happy if I was to hear that things have changed, and people made something about it...

I'm not sure if a lot of people would see that since it is on the thwack MVP channel.

so sorry to read this, I let you know about my experience. 

so sorry to read this, I let you know about my experience.