It's 2006, so why is there no Project 2003 certifications?!?!?!?!

[Disgusted]

The title says it all...

I'd like to find a training class that can culminate in not only knowledge
but something for the old resume - certification.

How many years do we have to wait for a Project 2003 cert.? If it's the
same as 2002, then call the cert. 2002/2003:
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/officespecialist/project.asp

Must we wait for Office 2007 for this or what?!

 

[Steve House]

AFAIK MS completely abandoned the idea of a MOUS-style user certification
for MS Project. They didn't share their reasoning with us but my guess is
it is because software knowledge is only a part of the picture when it comes
to knowing what you're doing with project management. One doesn't need the
skills of a professional writer to know all there is to know about MS Word
and a test on the software is a valid indicator of someone's qualifications
for a job in word processing. But MS Project is a totally different kettle
of fish and for a certification exam to have any meaning as an indicator of
readiness for a job as a project manager, it would have to test one's
knowledge of both the software itself plus the theory, principles, and
disciplines of formal project managment. That's what Comptia's IT Project+
and PMI's PMP exams are all about and why there are MBA programs in Project
Management. I think MS realized that certification programs from
institutions such as International Institute of Learning, Boston University,
PMI, Marguette, etc, and university business colleges could cover the
required theory, practice, and software skills far better than an exam
focussed strictly on software skills alone such as with all the other MS
certification exams could do. A test based on just the working of the
software would be a misleading indicator of one's qualifications.