CBIC course - anyone attended?

[wolf5370]

Hi,
anyone over there (USA) been on the CBIC course with Mstr (MicroStrategy Certified Business Intelligence Consultant) - 3 week-er?

The reason I'm asking is 'cos us poorer relations (UK) have to travel to Washington for the course as that's the only place Mstr run it. At a cost of $9750 per person in course fees plus $3000 flights and hotel plus expenses etc, not to mention the time away from project, its a little steep. For this price anmd commitment, it really has to be worth it.

So anyone been on it?
If so, how did you find it?
How was the pitch level (they only run the basic courses here - Rep essentials/Architect/Adv rep/Web API/Narrowcastor - we consider ourselves a little past these having attended some)?
Comments please?

Cheers,

Wolf

 

[OV]

Wolf,

Recently, Microstrategy has introduced a new fee structure for their education courses. For $5000/person, you can take as many classes as you wish, within a year. I believe that they also require that a company must sign at least two people for this program. You may want to check with you sales rep. about this.

OV

 

[wolf5370]

Cheers OV,
will pass it on to "the one paying the bills".
Much appreciated.

Wolf

 

[entaroadun]

The education pass program is excellent. MSI has finally realized that the key to market success is getting more MSI skilled people out there.

The CBIC is very good. They start at the lowest level, but they proceed at a pace that assumes data warehousing experience. It is very light on theory and heavy on implementation, which may appeal to you depending on your style. The course materials are excellent.

The course consists of Advanced Reporting, Project Architect, and Administration. I did the 3 week consolidated program, but it seems like the three one-week courses do add up to the whole. You may not get the CBIC designation, though.

 

[NaughtyVicar]

I took the 3 week CBIC class back in version 5 (1998). VERY tough. Fast paced, in-depth, hi-stress. In the end, after what I like to call 3 Weeks of Living Hell, I passed. The tests are not fluff, nor is the project easy. Spent most of my time studying, in class, or in the lab. When I got out, I had a good all-round understanding of the platform. I think you get more out of the class if you've been working with the product for a while. I recommend it. In fact, I'm going to submit myself again to the 3 week torture chamber to upgrade my certification to 7.2.

 

[wolf5370]

Thanks Entaroadun and NaughtyVicar (great handle!) - I think I'm slowly convincing the 'purse strings'.

Wolf.

 

[petperson]

Does anyone know if you have to take the CBIC 3 wk course, or can you split them up and then just take the certification/test courses? thanks!

 

[entaroadun]

The CBIC consists of three one-week courses, and each gets you a certificate. I believe getting all three certificates will get you the CBIC certificate as well.

You have to sit through the entire week for each, though. There's more to it than just a test. There are projects as well as an "oral exam".