Nortel Certification

[djtt]

I was looking at the Nortel site and thought about taking their certification courses. I looked at MICS 7.1 and it costs about 1,600.00.

I have worked on MICS for several years. Is there any advantage to taking this or other Nortel courses or for that matter Avaya, Siemens, etc. or other manufactures certification courses?

What is your experience in certification of various products?
Will it give me an advantage?

Thanks!

 

[gforce9]

I think the biggest advantage is on your resume; second in tech support. If you are certified (and you work for an authorized dealer), and the problem isn't one that you should know from the class or reading the book, they will talk to you for free. At least that's how it used to be. I'm pretty sure that even if you are certified, but don't work for a dealer, tech supports first question would be 'Do you have a credit card or P.O.?' I can't speak for other manufacturers policies, though.

 

[Johnthephoneguy]

If 2 people apply for the same job and one has certs and the other doesn't, guess who will most likely get the job?

I am not sure about the MICS, but you can go to the nortel website and it will tell you the tests you have to take for the cert. You do not always have to attend the course, they test through prometric and there are test sites everywhere.

I took the BCM test without going to the course.

JohnThePhoneGuy

"If I can't fix it, it's not broke!

 

[hawks]

I would not do the MICS because it is slowly being phased out. Spend your money on the BCM training and go for that cert.
If you are strong on any of the systems you don't need the course. You can sign up and take the assessment test for somewhere around $300 and get the certs that way.

 

[strmwalker]

try this site

http://www.prometricexam.com/920-471.htm

,you
just might like it

no problems only solutions

strmwalker

 

[strmwalker]

i forgot to tell you look at the left hand side at
the guide list at nortel it will give you all the test
you can ask for.

no problems only solutions

strmwalker

 

[djtt]

Thanks for all the advice. In my case I am a Call Center specialists I have worked on a Call Center system called Startel for almost 20 years. I decided to stop flying all over the country installing call centers and settle down for only local PBX and small key system sales and installs.

I do all the work and training myself so I am self employed and self taught on several systems. My call center training gives me a lot of experience in training the customer on how to use their system and features.

 

[djtt]

P.S. This website has been very helpful.

 

[djtt]

Will for example Nortel refer clients to local Certified installer in an area. If so then can certification place me on their referral list?

 

[djtt]

Tried

http://www.prometricexam.com/920-471.htm

but it is not a valid address.

 

[Johnthephoneguy]

That link worked for me, but you can get practice tests much cheaper elsewhere on the internet, just google the exam number and you will get hits.

JohnThePhoneGuy

"If I can't fix it, it's not broke!

 

[curlycord]

First you need to decide if want certification or just the knowledge.

There are many companies like us that offer training courses, you may get a certificate but it is not a Nortel cert.

If you want a Nortel cert then go to Global Knowledge:

http://www.globalknowledge.com/trai...ourseid=11479&catid=491&country=United+States

Keep in mind just because you took the course and received a Nortel cert does not mean you will neccessarly get access to Nortels site, you need to work for an Authorized dealer and some of your techs need to have the certs.

 

[djtt]

What if I want to get a Nortel cert. and become a authorized Nortel dealer. Are there any advantages to this? Will Nortel refer clients to me for example and can there be more than one dealer in an area?

Thanks!

 

[Deweyhumbolt]

You'll never meet their mandatory sales levels.

Adversity is Opportunity

 

[RikRodgers]

That's a familiar pain for me.

Nortel used to be more open with their product, but now you've got to be a huge corporation to partner with them. For a local interconnect, it just isn't worth it.

We service everything we install, but have to rely on our suppliers for tech support/KRS.

 

[curlycord]

Yes indeed you need to sell A LOT!

They hardly refer but your name goes on there list on the website.

 

[djtt]

Thanks guys. I think you just saved me a lot of time and money.

BTW a client that I just installed a Nortel for told me that Nortel may be going bankrupt.

 

[Johnthephoneguy]

I doubt they will go bankrupt, maybe some more layoffs though. They did just sign a 10 year 300 Million $ contract with Social Security.

JohnThePhoneGuy

"If I can't fix it, it's not broke!

 

[phoneguy427]

You would think after their fall from grace, they would let highly trained and previously certified techs access their resources and maybe sell some of their product! Especially when most of their dealers have gone bust or have been busted by Nortel in the good old days. I have been certified for CICS, MICS ,BCM200, BCM400 and BCM50, you think I can call Nortel about a problem, not a chance. They still in their Dinosaur ways think you have to be big to make them money. There are I'll bet 100 plus guys in the GTA of Toronto that are flogging Nortel equipment, 70 percent of these guys have no clue what the systems will do, but they sell it. What if Nortel had these guys selling legitimately and not out of a trunk of a distributor. Sorry a little disgruntled, I have tried to get a deal with Nortel as a certified installer, and they won't even talk to me. Get a grip Nortel, your stock is worth crap!!!

 

[RikRodgers]

They still make good equipment, which is the only reason we've stayed with them.

We're in the same boat, though. We diversified because of their unwillingness to support their product through us, but the majority of our customer base is still Norstar.

Nortel- Reopen KRS. Offer tech support- even if we've gotta pay for it.