Just wondering if there is a certification for FCP like Mircosoft or Adobe has?

Apple lists FCP training providers on their FCP site. (http://www.apple.com/software/pro/training/ts_fcp.html) They offer FCP training, Advanced FCP training and FCP for Avid editors. But a word of caution, some of the providers are Apple retailers and while I have not taken their courses I'm always some what skeptical of retailers providing training. A few of the training centres appear to be affiliated with educational institutions. These might be a better course, I don't know.

I am an Avid certified advanced editor and when I took my training, Avid only used educational institutions. The training was intensive and not all the students passed the advanced course. I can't see a retailer not passing someone, for fear they might lose a future sale. Or they could make the course so easy you don't get much out of it. The best way to find out is to ask for a list of past students you can contact.

I teach photography and digital photography and I maintain a list of former students (including some faculty) that have taken my courses and I use as reference.

Jeff, are the FCP certifications as important in the industry as the Avid ones?

I would say probably not. The times are different. If you have a degree in some kind of media, communications, film & video production etc. that will carry sufficient weight. It would not hurt to have a certification from a good training source, but it's probably not worth the expense if you have a degree.

I am an Apple Certified Trainer for FCP 3 and would just like to address Jeff's comments.

I, too, was required to take an intensive three day course to receive the Apple Certified Trainer status at considerable personal expense. Less than half of the class received their certification despite the fact that almost everyone used the software professionally and most had taught it to some degree. Additionlally, each participant had laid out a considerable sum to travel and take the course. If you failed the very trying exam, you did not receive certification to train.

As an Apple Certified Trainer I cannot "certify" anyone as an Apple Pro. Nor can any other trainer from the program. Everyone who takes part in one of the Apple courses who wants certification must then pass a standardized "Certification Exam" at an Apple Authorized Training Centre. These exams are overseen by Apple and a centre that did not properly administer these exams would be likely to lose their certification. A very expensive proposition to ensure a single "happy customer".

For more information on the Apple Certification process, visit

http://www.apple.com/software/pro/training/cert_programs.html

On a personal note, I do not work for Apple, nor have I ever worked for Apple, except as a contractor. I am very proud of my status as an Apple Certified Trainer and worked long and hard for it.

Congratulations on your status as an Avid Certified Advanced Editor, Jeff. I am sure you are rightfully proud of the work you did to achieve this recognition as well.

Duane,

where did you go to get this certification?

I was invited by Apple to take the course held in Toronto, Ontario in spring 2002. More information about courses is availble from:

http://www.apple.com/software/pro/training/cert_programs.html

Apple is currently offering trainers like myself to upgrade our certification for the upcoming release of FCP 4.