Partner Certification Program Updates - Q2 2024

We're announcing significant updates to our Partner Certification Program for Q2 2024. New specializations will be available in Cloud Migration, Security Implementation, and Data Analytics. The certification process will now include practical assessments and customer reference requirements. What are your thoughts on these changes? How can we ensure these new requirements are achievable while maintaining high standards?

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Comments

Charlie

As someone who's been through multiple certification cycles, I welcome these changes. The addition of practical assessments is particularly valuable - it ensures partners can actually deliver the solutions they're certified for. However, I have some concerns about the customer reference requirements.

For new partners or those in emerging markets, getting customer references can be challenging. Perhaps we could implement a tiered approach where references are required for higher certification levels but not for entry-level certifications. This would allow new partners to get started while still maintaining quality standards for advanced certifications.

Lina

The new specializations are exactly what we've been asking for! The Cloud Migration track is particularly relevant given the current market trends. A few suggestions for implementation:

1. Consider offering certification maintenance credits for partners who contribute to the community
2. Create a certification roadmap that shows clear progression paths
3. Provide sample practical assessment scenarios
4. Develop a partner readiness assessment tool

Also, it would be helpful to have a grace period for existing partners to meet the new requirements, especially for the customer reference component.

Charlie

I'm excited about the Data Analytics specialization - this is a growing area for our business. However, I think we need to consider the resource implications of these changes. The practical assessments will require significant preparation time and potentially additional training resources.

Could we implement a 'Certification Support Program' where partners can:
- Access additional training materials
- Schedule practice assessment sessions
- Get guidance on preparing customer references
- Receive technical support during the certification process

This would help ensure partners can successfully achieve certification while maintaining the high standards we all value.