Certification for a Contractor

Sherry Fox

I am interested in getting Smartsheet Certified. However, I am a contractor, so there is no way my company (or the client will pay), it will come out of my pocket. I understand that, but my concern is that currently the client I work for is Medtronic, and that is where my Smartsheet account is. How does it work if I leave Medtronic and go to work for another company. How do I change my profile and certification and bring that to the new company. I am not saying it will happen, but as a contractor, what I do is "project-based", so my project could be completed at anytime. I want to know this before I prepare for the Smartsheet certification.

Matt Johnson

HIi @Sherry Fox

For the certification itself, I would have your personal email tied to your Credly account which can act like a library of certs. I can't remember the exact steps from when you pass the exam to how it goes to your Credly but I think that's how you keep your creds with you. Although I will also say that the knowledge is with you and the Cert is only good for 1-2 years depending on which one. Time flys and it will be up for renewal before you know it.

For the SS Forums profile, I was told Smartsheet can move/merge that into your new profile or maybe its as easy as changing your email and signature block in the profile section depending on the timing of when your account gets shut off.

Maybe @Genevieve P. can confirm if I got that right.😀

Sherry Fox

@Matt Johnson ,

So if I understand you correctly, when I sign up to take the certification, use my personal email, despite the fact that my Smartsheet account is setup under my business email with the current client I work for.

I ask as I have been here 2 years now w/Medtronic, and when I was hired it was for a 43 year project, so I am in my final year of my current contract. Based on that and the " Cert is only good for 1-2 years depending on which one." Please explain this statement. I am interested in the Core at this time, and I thought that one was for 2 years. I just want to have all the correct answers before I take the exam since it is on my dime.

Paul Newcome

I would suggest setting up a personal Smartsheet account and getting certified through that. That way your certifications and whatnot stay with you no matter where you go. You can also get your Community profile badges, points, etc. transferred over to the personal account. I can't remember if you have to do that before or after setting up the community profile with your personal email address, but @Genevieve P. was a huge help when I switched from a company account to a personal account.

I was under the impression that the certifications were now good indefinitely as long as you maintain some PDUs, but I could have that mixed up with something else.

Sherry Fox

I set up a personal account, so I have that done. At this point I am not concerned with transferring my SS Community info to my personal account. I will leave it with my work account until there is a reason to change. Hopefully I can roll perm here at Medtronic. However if my contract ends, I will set up a SS Community account prior to that happening so I can have my profile transferred.