Howdy -- this exam is different in two main ways:
1) The format of the exam -- this is a one-time, multiple-choice and drag-and-drop exam. Around 68 questions (not sure yet), and you either pass or fail on the spot. The Architect exam, on the other hand, has multiple components, including a design project as well as a multipole-choice
test.
2) The target audience and nature of the content -- the Architect exam is for, well, architects, and is the only exam that does not require
SCJP. It is focused on architectural issues rather than code-level responsibilities, although the current exam does have some detailed questions.
The
EJB exam, on the other hand, is for "business component developers" and is focused on those who actually write the code, as well as deploy and assemble EJB applications. If you're familiar with the EJB specification and roles, the EJB exam is based on the roles of Bean Provider, Deployer, and Application Assembler. In other words, you're not responsible for making sure the system has proper load-balancing, fail-over, or overall system security. You *are* the one responsible for writing correct and efficient code within the bean, and knowing how to deploy it with the proper transaction and security settings, etc.
Does that help?
cheers,
Kathy
