SCBCD Version

[Chengwei Lee]

I understand that the current SCBCD is for 1.3, will there be a 1.4 version soon like SCWCD?

[David Harrigan]

Hi,
Usually it takes a looooong time for something like this to make its way into an actual round of tests. It has to be accepted by the industry, then it has to be proved in the field, then the programmers have to learn it and understand it....
I would reckon that perhaps you won't see a EJB2.1 exam until late next year.
-=david=-

[Kathy Sierra]

Howdy,
David is absolutely correct... there is currently no plan for upgrading the exam for EJB 2.1, for the reasons David suggests, and especially because EJB 2.1 didn't add anything that really affects your EJB knowledge and skill. The new EJB 2.1 features *will* be addressed, partly, by the Web Services exam. At one point we may *refresh* the EJB exam and reflect EJB 2.1-specific things, but it would not really change the exam in any significant way. Now when EJB 3.0 gets here... THAT will be a MAJOR change
Currently the only significant exam plans (besides getting the final exams out for the new Servlets, Mobile, and Web Services exams, are to update the Architect exam (and possibly the Developer exam too) and then in the late fall (November/December), to develop a brand new programmer's exam based on the Tiger (Java 1.5) release. Nothing else new will be happening before the end of the year. But of course things can always change at any time... but I cannot imagine how at this point.
And as David mentioned, most vendors don't yet even *support* EJB 2.1, and it will be quite awhile before there is wide adoption, and we like the exams to be based more around what people are using. On the other hand, we do expect that people will upgrate their Web containers earlier (like Tomcat), so it made sense to revise the Web Component exam for the new Servlets and JSP specs.
Have fun
cheers,
Kathy

[Chengwei Lee]

Wow, a brand new SCJP for Tiger. And even brand new SCJD. I thought 1.4 was new enough. As you mentioned, not many vendors are adopting new technology yet, like Borland & BEA, its only in JBX & WLS8 that they're officially supporting 1.4, even the Oracle9i uses the 1.3.
Isn't it a bit too fast to churn out new exams for Tiger?

[Dave Knipp]

In response to the new exam for Tiger, i think its a necessary step in the evolution of sun's certification exams. Everything is based on the core language so the certification should be too. Plus they made a new exam for 1.4, why not 1.5?
I'm really glad to hear that the architect and developer exams are going to be revised as well.
Kathy, thanks so much for letting us all in on the planned schedule. This really helps me plan my certification path
Dave

[Chengwei Lee]

Originally posted by Dave Knipp:
In response to the new exam for Tiger, i think its a necessary step in the evolution of sun's certification exams. Everything is based on the core language so the certification should be too. Plus they made a new exam for 1.4, why not 1.5?

I've got nothing against exams for 1.5, just that isn't it a bit too fast? How many programmers out there can get acquainted with 1.5 fast enough to be certified?
By having too many new exams within a short time, it might turn potential aspiring certified programmers off. One may delay taking the certifications since the new one is always around the corner or even worse, forget about the entire exam thingy since new exams are spaced too closely.
Just my opinion though.