Thursday, April 24, 2008 by Niels Hartvig

The first 40 people have just taken the certification test and more are on their way and that's fantastic (see them here on a very beta'ish map). But that have also reminded us that we need to rename the courses/certifications to something else than Level 1 and Level 2.

The thing is that people tend to believe that Level 2 is better than Level 1 (are people playing too much WoW?), but it’s not. It’s two completely different things and that’s why we need your help to think of something better.

Level 1 is about implementing a website. The things you do when you get a design (whether it’s a photoshop file or an html mockup) and make it work in umbraco. Level 1 is about understanding Document Types, Templates, Stylesheets and basic XSLT macros.

Level 2 is about integrating and extending. It’s about understanding the umbraco APIs, Actionhandlers, Xslt Extensions and how .NET User/Custom Controls and umbraco work together.

Per and I have really tried to work out some new titles, but we’re stuck. So hit us with something cool and we’ll give you either a free ticket to CodeGarden or a free certification test. Add your suggestion in the comments.

25 comment(s) for “Help us rename the courses and certifications”

  1. Warren Buckley Says:

    Hmmm......

    Level 1 = Master of the Universe and everything to do with getting a site into Umbraco

    Level 2 = Jedi knight and all round great developer that uses Umbraco !

    Somehow I don't see these catching on - shame !

    //Warren

  2. Neil Fenwick Says:

    This is a tough one...

    Well I can only think that people like to associate themselves with a name that they aspire to. And its also got to be relevant to web design/development so that on a business card it will still make some sense to someone less technical.

    How about:

    Level 1: Design Analyst
    Level 2: Integration Analyst

  3. Ismail Mayat Says:

    Level 1: Umbraco system

    Level 2: Umbraco application extension

    Ismail

  4. Itamar Syn-Hershko Says:

    Well, it obviously need not to include "Plus", "Pro", "Advanced" or similar, since they sound the same as Level 1 and Level 2. Although, to be honest, Level 2 does seem to build up on Level 1, so it is "better" in a way...

    How about Umbraco Fundaments and Umbraco Extender?
    Or better - Umbraco BuilderCert for Level 1 and Umbraco DevCert, (or Extender/Enhancer) for Level 2?

    Itamar.

  5. Martin Bentzen Says:

    Level 1:
    Umbraco Certified Webdesigner (UCW)

    Level 2:
    Umbraco Certified Developer (UCD)

    For future use:
    Umbraco Certified Arhitect (For core developers etc.)

  6. Martin Bentzen Says:

    or...
    Level 1:
    Umbraco Certified Sitebuilder (UCS)

  7. Simon Justesen Says:

    Level 1:
    Umbraco Certified Integrator

    Level 2:
    Umbraco Certified Guru

    .. ok I got carried away on the last one ;)

  8. Morten Bock Sørensen Says:

    I agree with something like:

    Level 1:
    Umbraco Certified System Designer

    Level 2:
    Umbraco Certified Extension Developer

    That would sound similar to other CMS certifications.

  9. Nico Says:

    1) Umbraco Site construction
    2) Umbraco Advanced Site Development

  10. Rune Says:

    Martin Bentzen got my vote!

  11. Neil Says:

    I agreed with Itamar, even by your description, "Level 2" certified implies a more in-depth/specialist knowledge that builds upon "Level 1".

    Umbraco Certified Professional
    Umbraco Certified Specialist

    Or to blur the lines a little, hows about a little Japanese:

    Umbraco Senmonka (Specialist)
    Umbraco Honshoku (Expert)

  12. Kenneth Solberg Says:

    How about

    L1: Constructor
    L2: Developer

  13. Tim Geyssens Says:

    I second the

    Level 1:
    Umbraco Certified System Designer

    Level 2:
    Umbraco Certified Extension Developer

  14. Niels Hartvig Says:

    This is good - keep them coming.

    And then just a small comment. Level 2 is nowhere better than Level 1. I've had several great participants to the Level 2 course who didn't really know the best practices of implementing an umbraco site and that's what you learn on level 1.

    If I "just" needed a website with no 3rd party integration, I would choose a Level 1 certified over a Level 2 at anytime (but of course I'd prefer one with both certifications).

  15. Neil Fenwick Says:

    For me "Analyst" = "less technical", "more planning". It requires creative thought and interaction with the client / end-user to make something simple but brilliant - not easy.

    "Level 1" seems to be more about design and structure.

    "Level 2" is BOTH and includes more about dynamic data and integrating various other components / projects with the CMS

    So I'd like to change my suggestion :)

    1: Certified Umbraco Analyst (CUA)
    2: Certified Umbraco Engineer (CUE)

    (tried to keep them short)

  16. Neil Fenwick Says:

    ... or maybe I'm wrong and "Level 2" is *not* BOTH...

    Maybe I should do the courses and find out :)

  17. Paul Sterling Says:

    I think the idea that these are equal but different should be reflected in the titles. How about:

    Level 1 = Umbraco Certified Professional – Design
    Level 2 = Umbraco Certified Professional – Development

    … or some variation on this?

    -Paul

  18. Lesley Says:

    If you're happy that the courses have slightly different titles from the certificates, then I think that would be easier, and would allow a few more precious words for describing the courses...

    You could name the courses:
    1. Building an Umbraco website: from design to CMS
    2. Extending and Integrating Umbraco

    And the certificates:
    1. Site Creator
    2. Extension Developer

  19. Kalle Wibeck Says:

    For the level 1 course I can't imagine a better name than:
    - Umbraco Interface Developer -

    And for the Level 2 maybe:
    - Umbraco System Designer -

    And if none of these is a perfect match how about the unforgettable "[url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTQfGd3G6dg]Knights Who Say Ni"[/url]

  20. Itamar Syn-Hershko Says:

    Neil: "Specialist" still sounds somewhat superior to "Professional"...

    Neils suggested a great definition of the difference: "If I "just" needed a website with no 3rd party integration, I would choose a Level 1 certified over a Level 2 at anytime (but of course I'd prefer one with both certifications).".

    ... so, how about Umbraco Certified Developer (or Site Builder) for Level 1, and Umbraco Certified Integration Specialist, or Umbraco Certified Extensions Deveoper, for Level 2?

    Itamar.

  21. Neil Says:

    Umbraco Certified Author
    Umbraco Certified Architect

  22. Casey Neehouse Says:

    Umbraco Certified Developer

    and

    Umbraco Certified Integration Expert

  23. Jesper Ordrup Says:

    I'm thinking keep it simple:

    Umbraco Site Builder
    Umbraco Developer

    (taken from my Umbraco wanted posting - http://forum.umbraco.org/yaf_postst4431_WANTED--Umbraco-freelancers.aspx )

    They work nicely in all kinds of sentences with the relevant people and doesnt include the geeky echo that "certified" produces :-)

    If you want to you can always say: "I'm a certificed Umbraco developer".

    Kindly

    Jesper

  24. Dirk Says:

    Mmmm, I'd keep the words 'umbraco' and 'certified', so I may go with

    Umbraco Certified Developer
    Umbraco Certifief Architect

    Regards,
    Dirk

  25. Roni Biran Says:

    Hello all,
    I second Itamar on Level 2.

    Level 1: Umbraco Website Integrator
    Level 2: Umbraco Website Extender
    ????

Leave comment:


(not shown)


(optional - remember http://)