UML certification - IBM or OMG?

[Madison Moose]

Dear Java Ranch members,

I would like get some sort of certification/recognition of my knowledge of UML. However, I am in the dilemma whether to take the UML certification exam offered by OMG, or the Object-Oriented Analysis and Design with UML exam offered by IBM.

It will really help if someone could shed some light on which of these two exams are more valued in the object-oriented world, so that I can focus my my efforts on that one.

Thanks,
Madison Moose

[Sanjaya Sugiarto]

I would take the OMG one, since the OMG is the group which responsible for the UML-standards (like W3C standarize XML or HTML). The OMG certification tests your knowledge of UML 2.0 (not UML 1.x).

Good luck

[Nicholas Cheung]

In addition, IBM's UML is NOT a certification. It is only one of the three exams for ICED. And you wont get any certs, after you passed the exam.

Nick

[Serge Adzinets]

I would like to add that IBM's 486 is NOT a UML certification. It is an Object Oriented Analysis and Design with UML.

You must have some more knowledge than just UML to pass it.

[garth schneider]

The IBM #486 exam is on the proper track. The Craig Larman book "Applying UML and Patterns" is the best intro book ever made in my opinion. Also "UML Distilled" by Martin Fowler is excellent material. More then just an exam I think the 486 is a great learning experience. I think the OMG exams are also good. I appreciate finding out about them on the Javaranch. I have not done the OMG exams but I see that they would be great to study for.
It is true that you do not get a certification for it. It needs to be used in combination with others to get Enterprise Developer. I think it really warrants its own certification.
The 486 starts to prepare you for going forward into other areas such as architecture. Books like "Software Architecture in Practice 2nd Edition" by Len Bass, Paul Clements and Rick Kazman and "Software Architecture" by David Dikel. Architecture in this area is not tested for anywhere. In a lot of ways this area goes beyond what UML can map. It goes into how to understand all of the influences that go against an architecture. And how those influences shape the system.


Garth Schneider

SCJP (Sun Certified Java Programmer)
IBM #486 Object Oriented Analysis and Design with UML
IBM #283 Specialist for the VisualAge for Java 4.0
IBM Solution Developer for VisualAge for Java 4.0
IBM #157 Specialist for the WebSphere Studio Application Developer 4.0
IBM Solution Developer for WebSphere Studio Application Developer 4.0
IBM #484 Enterprise Connectivity with Java Technology J2EE 1.3
IBM #287 Enterprise Application Development with WebSphere Studio V5.0.
IBM Certified Enterprise Developer - WebSphere Studio, V5.0
[ July 05, 2004: Message edited by: garth schneider ]

[Ramon Gill]

Garth,
I also think 486 warrants its own certification, and I agree about Larman's book. Its first rate - one of the best.

Ray

[Axel Janssen]

Don't know about OMG certification, but I agree totally with Ramon and Garth.
IBM-486 is about using UML, OOA/D for real projects. For me it was most usefull and interesting certification.
Test does not go into obscure details of UML and OO, but you need very good knowledge about basic, most generally usable stuff. Because questions are tricky.

I don't know OMG certification. If its about details of UML2.0, I fear that it might only be usefull for people who have a lot of experience with proper-UML-using OO-projects or it would be memorize-stuff battle for test-taker.

[Madison Moose]

Thank you all for your valuable comments!