Apple @ Work: It’s time for Apple to make certification exams free

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Apple has spent years carving out a space in the enterprise as a great PC alternative. With IT teams increasingly managing more iPhones, iPads, and Macs, Apple’s role as an enterprise endpoint has never been more critical. However, as Apple continues to grow, I question why its certifications for IT professionals aren’t free. If the company wants enterprises to use Apple, why are they charging to become certified in managing them?

About Apple @ Work: Bradley Chambers managed an enterprise IT network from 2009 to 2021. Through his experience deploying and managing firewalls, switches, a mobile device management system, enterprise grade Wi-Fi, 1000s of Macs, and 1000s of iPads, Bradley will highlight ways in which Apple IT managers deploy Apple devices, build networks to support them, train users, stories from the trenches of IT management, and ways Apple could improve its products for IT departments.

Recapping the 2022 updates to the program

In 2022, Apple introduced revamped professional training and certification programs for IT teams and support staff. The courses—Apple Device Support and Apple Deployment and Management—are a step forward in equipping IT professionals with the tools to succeed with Apple. Self-paced, online, and accessible to anyone, these programs marked a much-needed modern update to Apple’s training world.

While the training itself is free, the exams cost $149. For professionals seeking certifications for both courses, that’s nearly $300 out of pocket. I can’t imagine enough people are taking these exams for them to make a material impact in Apple’s revenue.

Apple’s goal is to sell hardware and services, not exams

Apple isn’t in the business of certification fee revenue —it’s in the business of selling hardware and services. The enterprise market for Macs and iPhones is growing because IT teams see the value in deploying Apple devices, not because someone holds an Apple certificate. Certification programs help grow Apple’s footprint by ensuring IT pros can confidently deploy and troubleshoot its products.

If Apple’s ultimate goal is to expand its enterprise reach, charging for certifications is counterintuitive. By making certification exams taken virtually free, Apple removes a barrier for professionals at small and large organizations, managed services providers, and more. IT professionals would feel encouraged to pursue certification, increasing the talent pool of Apple-trained experts.

All vendor-specific training and certifications should be free

Apple isn’t alone here. Many tech vendors still charge for certification exams, treating them as an additional revenue stream instead of an investment in their ecosystems. But the reality is that certifications are not a product to be sold—they’re a route to customer adoption. The more professionals who know how to deploy and manage your products, the better.

Apple’s training programs are already a step in the right direction. Now, it’s time for them to go a step further. By freeing certification exams, Apple can continue empowering IT teams, growing its enterprise dominance, and removing unnecessary friction for those supporting its devices daily.

My advice is simple: If Apple wants to continue expanding its enterprise influence, the certifications should support that goal, not profit from it.

Apple @ Work is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates in a single professional-grade platform all the solutions necessary to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage & protect Apple devices at work. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple.

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