Going Beyond Basic Training

Don Bourassa AGE: 60 EDUCATION: B.S., electrical engineering, University of California at Berkeley, 1966; University of Oregon, 1970-1971; M.S., physics, University of Hawaii 1973; M.Ed., community college education, University of Hawaii, 1977 WORK EXPERIENCE: Design engineer, Pacific Missile Range, Point Mugu, Calif. 1966-1968; Peace Corps volunteer, Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia, 1968-1970; physics instructor/professor, Honolulu Community College 1973-1989; various administrative positions at Honolulu Community College, 1989-2000; director of PCATT, 2000-present HOBBIES: Golf, swimming FAMILY: Wife, Stephanie; son, Ryan; daughter-in-law, Anna Photo: Cory Lum

When the software firm Red Hat approached Don Bourassa to establish a Red Hat Academy at the Pacific Center for Advanced Technology Training (PCATT) to provide training and certification locally, Bourassa didn't hesitate for a second. After all, Red Hat is the world's biggest provider of Linux, and Linux is the fastest growing operating system in the world.

"Our investment into the Red Hat Academy was in response to the increasing demand for Linux-certified technicians. It's a good example of how our training and certification programs reflect what the demands for technology are in the workforce. We identify the technology needs of the community, and see if we can fill them," says Bourassa, director of PCATT, which also has partnerships with several other major technology vendors, including Microsoft, Novell, Cisco Systems and Sun Microsystems. "The tech industry in Hawaii will mirror what's happening on the Mainland. There, tech certifications are almost becoming a standard for IT companies. So we've got to be sure we're offering all the top certifications, so we can build a pool of intellectual capital that we can keep in Hawaii."

Q: How does Hawaii compare with the Mainland, in terms of the types and quantities of technical certifications we offer?

I think that if you look at all the training providers in Hawaii - PCATT, CTA, TeraBiz and the rest of them - holistically, almost any certification you need, you can get here now. There are some that one has to go to the Mainland to take the examination. But we do offer a good range of certifications.

Q: What are the challenges of bringing certification programs to Hawaii?

First, you have to make sure there's a demand in the community for that particular certification. And then the challenge is to identify somebody who has the skill set who's willing to teach. And then, if there's equipment or curricula, you have to invest in that. There's a rather large investment on the part of the organization in equipment. For our Cisco program, we probably have equipment valued at more than half-a-million dollars. So cost is certainly a factor.

Q: How do you determine which certifications to offer?

We belong to the National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers. There's 150 community colleges across the country that essentially do what PCATT does - offer certifications in response to the needs of local industries. Some do manufacturing training, because the economy of the area is based on manufacturing. Some do rapid prototyping. Some do semiconductors. Our certifications are mainly geared toward IT, telecommunications, because that's what's dictated by the workforce.

Q: Do employers favor hands-on experience, college degrees or certification?

I don't want to offend anybody, but I think the idea of certification comes about because it levels the playing field. If you graduate from this college, and your colleague comes from another college, and you both have degrees in exactly the same field, the employer generally isn't sure what they're getting. But if you're both certified, at least at a minimum they know you're competent and qualified in that particular area or program. Sure, many employers say certifications are nice, we want them to have experience as well. But when you look at qualifications for jobs in IT, a lot of them, if not the majority, demand that the applicant have some sort of certification.

Q: How should employers identify the areas in IT that warrant certification?

By and large, employers know. I don't run into many employers that don't know what skill sets they need in their workrooms. If they're a networking company or an ASP or ISP, they have a pretty good idea of what their employees need. Because it's mainly IT companies that need certified technicians. Although there is an interesting phenomenon going on. There's a certification being offered on the Mainland and in Europe called the International Computer Drivers' License. You take an exam in various areas, including word processing, spreadsheets, how to use the Internet. It basically certifies that you have basic computer skills. And then there's the MOUS (Microsoft Office User Specialist) certification, which certifies that you understand basic Office software. These are nice things to have, but knowing how to use a computer is sort of like knowing how to read nowadays. If you don't know how to use one, I can't think of many jobs today where you could work.

Q: What certification trends are you currently witnessing?

The idea of certification is really starting to spread to other industries besides IT. About 10 years ago, the Department of Labor came out with the national skill standards. All sorts of areas, from manufacturing to the service industry, have developed skill standards outlining what an employee in that industry should know to do their job effectively. They use those standards to develop certifications. And it's really about accountability. If people hire you vs. someone else, they want to know they're getting their money's worth.

Q: Are there resources available for small- to medium-size businesses that want to certify their employees, but don't have adequate training budgets?

There's the Employee Training Fund. The Workforce Investment Act is also another source of funding. We do have some employers who send their employees for training and certification, although typically technicians will pay for it themselves, because they want certifications for job advancement. Also, because whatever they know now will change in about a year. That's the nature of the beast.

Q: What are the typical passing rates for certification?

I've heard some horror stories. The initial passing rate on some tests may be 30 percent, maybe even 20 percent. It depends on the test, but the exams are nontrivial. They're very rigorous. I'd say in general, IT certifications, the first time out, not everybody passes. So I think they mean something. They're not easy to get.