SpaceAge
COURAGE - INTELLECT - INTEGRITY - TEAMWORK
GUIDANCE FOR CERTIFICATION and TRAINING LINKS
"A large application is built from a small prototype that worked and worked well."
"Nothing is more practical than a good theory."
"Develop a passion for excellence. Excel and experience the joy of living."
"Learning is a humbling experience."
"If you can find a company more competent, more capable and can add more value to your career than SpaceAge, we will give you a $10,000.00 reward." -- Capt. Alexander Malhan.
This page was last modified on 07/15/06. Some of the links may not work since some of the web sites that host them may have changed the URL to the pages.
How to Register for Tests:-
Tests are taken on line from a test center. If you are living in a major city, then certainly there will be a test center near by. Most test centers allow you to take the test any day Monday to Saturday.
The test syllabus and test questions are developed by the respective companies such as Sun Microsystems, IBM, BEA, etc. The tests are organized and conducted by the company Prometric Inc.
Prometric Inc., partners with thousands of companies all over the world, which provide test centers. On Prometric web site, you can see a list of test centers in your local area.
The following are links to Prometric web site:
http://securereg3.prometric.com/
To register for certification tests from Sun Microsystems you need to first go to -
http://www.sun.com/training/certification/index.xml
and purchase voucher and then go to the Prometric sites listed above.
You may also call Prometric Inc at - 800-959-3926
For most other tests you can purchase direct from Prometric.
We Recommend That You do at Least Two of the Following Certifications:-
(a) Sun Certified Java Programmer Certification from Sun Microsystems - Exam 310-055 or 310-035 - SCJP
(b) Sun Certified Web Component Developer for the Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition 1.4 (CX-310-081) - SCWCD
(c) BEA Weblogic Developer Certification - BEA 8.1 Certified Developer: Build Solutions.
(d) Enterprise Application Development with IBM WebSphere Studio (Test 287) - Certification from IBM.
(e) Sun Certified Developer for Java 2 Platform - SCJD
(f) Sun Certified Enterprise Architect - SCEA.
You must score over 90% in each certification. PLEASE BEGIN YOUR PREPARATION RIGHT NOW.
Which Certification to Begin With? Which Certifications are Easy to Take?
FIRST: The first certification to take is - Sun Certified Java Programmer.
SECOND: After that you can decide based on your time and background what to take next.
Of the rest, the easiest one is Sun Certified Web Component Developer. The next easiest one is BEA Weblogic Developer Certification.
Weblogic certification is much easier than WebSphere certification.
If you have time - say about two months and some prior experience in J2EE technologies, then I would recommend BEA Weblogic Developer Certification. Compared to SCWCD, this adds more value to your resume, you gain more knowledge especially specific to Weblogic, it covers more ground such as EJB, Webservices and hence it helps you more in clearing client interviews.
Sun Certified Developer can be taken only after the Programmer Certification SCJP and it comprises of a programming assignment and an essay exam.
Sun Certified Enterprise Architect Certification consists of three parts - a knowledge-based multiple choice exam, an assignment and essay exam.
SCJD and SCEA are very hot certifications. They will take lot more time and I would strongly recommend that one should take them.
Strive for Excellence, Life is so much more enjoyable when we excel.
SUN CERTIFIED JAVA PROGRAMMER
To Prepare for Java Programmer Certification, first visit Sun Microsystems web site and get the syllabus:
http://www.sun.com/training/certification/java/index.html
You may do either one of the following certifications:-
(a) Sun Certified Programmer for the Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition 5.0 - CX-310-055
http://www.sun.com/training/catalog/courses/CX-310-055.xml
(b) Sun Certified Programmer for Java 2 Platform 1.4 - CX-310-035
http://www.sun.com/training/catalog/courses/CX-310-035.xml
As of November 2005, there are limited resources available to prepare for exam - 310-055 - J2SE 5.0.
I think it is ok to take the exam - 310-035 - for Java 2 Platform 1.4.
What I write here is guidance for exam - 310-035.
Please study the following books:
1. Java 2: Sun Certified Programmer & Developer for Java 2 Study Guide (Exams 310-035 & 310-027) Kathy Sierra
2. A Programmer's Guide to Java Certification Khalid A. Mughal and Rolf W. Rasmussen.
3. Java: The Complete Reference, J2SE, 5th Edition Hebert Schildt -- this book covers J2SE 5.0
Please do the practice exams that come with the above books and also search the internet for mock exams or practice exams:
You may use the following search criteria on www.google.com
"mock exam" OR "independent exam" OR "practice exam" "Java Certification"
Or, simply search for Java Programmer Certification.
Some of the links that show up in the search are:-
http://www.jchq.net/mockexams/exam1.htm
http://www.jchq.net/phezam/login.php
http://www.jchq.net/homepage/certkeyflier.php
http://www.javaranch.com/mock.jsp
Read all the books fully at least once. Revise at least two of them once. Do as many practice exams as you can.
When you begin scoring consistently over 90% in each practice exam - at least six consecutive exams, only then go and take the exam.
When you study, you must do code walk through - you must execute the code on your brain's CPU. You must develop quick prototypes to study various features of the language. You must exercise good judgement on how much time to devote to studying theory, how much time to spend on developing prototypes and on practice exams. You must strive to understand and memorize. Dont ever try to cram for the exam. The main goal of certifications is to learn and grow, to stretch your brain - to become a successful programmer and write high quality code.
If you want to take on the challenge for exam 310-055, I would suggest - study the above material, i.e. study fully for 310-035, and after that, find out new material from Sun Web site. See what is new in the sullabus for exam 310-055.
I think the books and mock exams for exam 310-035 will prepare you may be 80% or 90% for exam 310-055.
I think exam 310-055 will be well worth it. After you prepare for exam 310-035, it will take another four days max to prepare for exam 310-055.
SUN CERTIFIED WEB COMPONENT DEVELOPER
Sun Certified Web Component Developer for the Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition 1.4 (CX-310-081)
A Person with no prior experience in JSP Servlets and Java Web Development should be able to take this certification in one to two months (assuming full time study - at least eight hours per day).
http://www.sun.com/training/catalog/courses/CX-310-081.xml
Here are some links to important web sites for Weblogic, Websphere, Oracle and Sybase:
BEA WEBLOGIC CERTIFICATION
BEA 8.1 Certified Developer: Build Solutions Examination
A Person with no prior experience in J2EE (JSP, Servlets, EJB, WebServices, etc.) should be able to take this certification in two to three months (assuming full time study - at least eight hours per day).
BEA Certification Study Guide - some times the links to BEA site may not work. Hence I provide this page here.
http://edocs.bea.com/workshop/docs81/zipDownloadInstructions.html -- Welogic Workshop Help
http://edocs.bea.com/wls/docs81/prevreleases.html -- Docs for Weblogic Server 8.1 Service Pack 4
http://edocs.bea.com/wls/docs81/ -- Docs for Weblogic Server 8.1 Service Pack 5
http://edocs.bea.com/workshop/docs81/ -- Docs for Weblogic Workshop 8.1 Service Pack 5
http://certification.bea.com/certification/dev_certification_reqs.jsp
http://edocs.bea.com/wls/docs81/api.html
http://certification.bea.com/certification/study_guide/Build_Solutions.htm
http://certification.bea.com/images/certification/Suggested_Course_Build.html
http://certification.bea.com/certification/certification_faqs.jsp
http://certification.bea.com/certification/index.jsp
IBM WEBSPHERE CERTIFICATION
Enterprise Application Development with IBM WebSphere Studio - Test 287
A Person with no prior experience in J2EE (JSP, Servlets, EJB, WebServices, etc.) should be able to take this certification in two to four months (assuming full time study - at least eight hours per day).
WebSphere Certification Syllabus
http://www-03.ibm.com/certify/certs/adedwssv5.shtml
http://www-03.ibm.com/certify/tests/obj287.shtml
SUN CERTIFIED JAVA DEVELOPER
This is a Two Part Exam: Part-1 is Programming Assignment and Part 2 is an Essay Exam (based on the Assignments) taken at a test center
http://www.sun.com/training/certification/java/java_devj2se.html
Step 1 - Sun Certified Developer for Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition - Programming Assignment (CX-310-252A) Step 2 - Sun Certified Developer for Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition - Essay Exam (CX-310-027)
SUN CERTIFIED ENTERPRISE ARCHITECT
This is a Three Part Exam - Part-1 is Objective - Multiple Choice Test. Part-2 is Programming Assignment and Part 3 is an Essay Exam (based on the Assignments) taken at a test center
http://www.sun.com/training/certification/java/java_archj2ee.html
Step 1 - Sun Certified Enterprise Architect for the Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition - Mulitple Choice exam (CX-310-051) Step 2 - Sun Certified Enterprise Architect for the Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition - Assignment (CX-310-300A) Step 3 - Sun Certified Enterprise Architect for the Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition - Essay Exam (CX-310-061) ORACLE 9i
Oracle 9i List of Books:
http://www.lc.leidenuniv.nl/awcourse/oracle/nav/docindex.htm
PL-SQL Users Guide and Reference:
http://www.lc.leidenuniv.nl/awcourse/oracle/appdev.920/a96624/toc.htm
Oracle9i Database Concepts:
http://www.lc.leidenuniv.nl/awcourse/oracle/server.920/a96524/toc.htm
Oracle9i Application Developers Guide:
http://www.lc.leidenuniv.nl/awcourse/oracle/appdev.920/a96590/toc.htm
Oracle9i SQL Reference:
http://www.lc.leidenuniv.nl/awcourse/oracle/server.920/a96540/toc.htm
SYBASE
Transact-SQL User's Guide
Reference Manual
System Administration Guide