Are programmers more dishonest than say artists? I imagine an artist could easily fake their portfolio too (especially if they were a digital artist). Maybe the artist would be found out much easier than a programmer. I think the fact that programmers have to re-prove themselves is more a symptom of non-technical people having no earthly idea of what it is that programmers actually do. For a programmer, its the same with other professions. Programmers can't differentiate between the skill levels required to perform a protein assay in a BSL-2 facility, to operate a fermentor in a class 10 facility, to work on tissue culture vaccines. However most people can somewhat differentiate between a nurse, a doctor, and a surgeon. Seems like the more specialized your skill, the less ordinary people can appreciate your skills.