# What do I need to know? **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized\ **Created:** [February 18, 2004, 12:16am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-know/101928 "2004-02-18T00:16:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Afro\_Ninja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@Afro\_Ninja](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Afro_Ninja)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 12:16am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-know/101928/1 "2004-02-18T00:16:46Z")
… to become a professional flash artist/programmer/designer? I’ve been using flash for a couple years now… Is there a good chance that I can find my self a job as a flash-only creator? I’m a good animator, and currently an intermediate AS programmer. Also, I have flash mx, not 2004. I don’t have the money to upgrade right now. I considered getting MX certification, but are employers going to care about that when I don’t have MX2004 certification? grr… a lot of you guys around here are flash gurus, do you work for companies and do flash? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 4:38am UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-know/101928/2 "2004-02-18T04:38:23Z")
Certificates are cool…but your portfolio and personality are all that really matter. I wouldn’t waste your time getting certified; that is, unless you want to teach. - And we all know teaching barely puts food on the table. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/uploads/kirupa/original/3X/6/2/621e5c11736f46532526e61be85940af4230f3e5.png) [@system](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 3:44pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/what-do-i-need-to-know/101928/3 "2004-02-18T15:44:17Z")
How do these certificates work actually ?