Desperately need some advice on Websphere certifications

[steward frank]

Hello everyone,
I am targeting at the websphere application server cert. There were 2 I am interested in :
IBM Certified Specialist - IBM WebSphere Application Server, Advanced Single Server Edition for Multiplatforms, V4.0
IBM Certified Enterprise Developer - IBM WebSphere Application Server, Advanced Single Server Edition for Multiplatforms, V4.0
I am a developer so I am not really into the administration of the app server, just to let you know. Because the CED requires 4 test, 1 of which(SCJP) , I already have but I can't really afford the time or money for the other 3 tests. So I have decided to settle for the CS cert which only requires 1 test. However, there is one thing that disturbs me, both the CS and CED are for v4.0 , but I know that the latest version is 5.0. And I have also found out IBM has actually retired v4.0 certifications some time last year if I am correct but has since brought it back due to popular demand. I seek to obtain the latest versions of the certifications but it seems that I can't do so in this case because I have already emailed IBM about their v5.0 CS App Server cert but they replied that for this certification , v4.0 is the latest. Now what I would like to understand from anyone available, should I be taking up any WSAD v5.0 certifications? I mean after all these are certification for an IDE and not the app server, or perhaps there is something that I do not know? The only v5.0 certs that I could find on the IBM website are those for WSAD v5.0 or for Administration of Websphere App server v5.0. May I ask what value is there in a WSAD cert even if it is for v5.0 if it is not really necessary for development and deployment into the app server since the app server comes with its Application Assembly toolkit to deploy into the server? and the IDE could be JBuilder or something else?
unless there is something about WSAD that I am not aware off such as tight integration with the app server in v5.0 and up?
I hope someone can shed some light for me on this issues because I am a little confused about what is what. Would appreciate your quick response. Thanks!!

[Vinod Sinha]

Hi Steward
Since you are targeting Websphere Certification I would say that
WSAD is NOT the right thing. As far as programming is concerned ,
there are many other certs like SCJP , SCWCD ,SCEA etc.
If you want to learn about Websphere then you should know that
only a Websphere App Server Cert can be of use and not WSAD.
And since WAS 5 is the latest , WAS5 Admin exam is the best.
Having said that , you know your needs better so think what
exactly do you want and plan . Best of luck !!!
Vinod Sinha

[Howard Kushner]

Folks,
IBM WebSphere certifications are based on job roles. Therefore IBM has defined a set of developer certifications based on the WebSphere Studio products, and a set of administrator roles based on the WebSphere Applcation Server products.
The developer roles are Associate Developer, Solution Developer, and Enterprise Developer. The administrator roles are System Administrator and Advanced System Administrator.
You must first determine the role in which you are interested, then pass the required tests for that role. You may find the following link useful for identifying the roles that IBM has defined. Use the Select a certification drop-down list at the top of the page.
http://www-1.ibm.com/certify/certs/ws_index.shtml
Regards,