That only works in certain fields though. For example, would you see a Doctor whose only training was on-the-job?

Doctors pretty much are trained on the job during their residency.

Wow, Doctors are different case altogether

Their supply is limited and controlled, anyone can come and say that they are "web programmer" after reading HTML/CSS/Ruby, Even Universities increase class sizes arbitrarily. All this is not possible in medical profession. Doctors are few, they are trained extensively, not anyone reading anatomy book can go for a residency!

That's exactly the problem, IMO -- the bar for entry in the tech industry is altogether too low. The glut of unqualified but formerly employed tech workers is symptomatic of that.

And if anyone ever had any doubt about the veracity of claims that the bar is too low, they have only to spend some time reading the Daily WTF... though I suspect that most people outside of the tech industry would prefer to remain blissfully ignorant and assume that the content at the Daily WTF is the exception, rather than the rule.

But they do go to medical school before that. Grandparent said : whose only training.

I was referring specifically to the tech field. I'm willing to hire someone who doesn't have experience in the technologies we use if they show skill with code, an eagerness to learn, and a flexibility to do things differently than they're used to.