How much experience is recommended before considering the SCJA?

[Jesse Shapiro]

Hi!

I'd really like to embark on a career in programming and thought getting an SCJA might be a great step forward. I'm a little worried though because I've only taken a few programming classes. A programming theory class (all pseudo code and algorithms), Java 1 (Selections, Operators, Loops, Methods, Arrays, Object Oriented, Classes, Strings and Text I/O, Inheritance and Polymorphism), and Web Scripting Languages, and did really well in all of them. Do you think that comprehending, memorizing, and practicing the content from an SCJA study guide alone would be enough for me to pass the exam? Or do I just not have a wide enough Java base at this point to jump into exam prep and maybe need to take a Java level 2 course first?

Thanks for the direction!

-unsatisfied sys admin

[Cameron Wallace McKenzie]

Howdy Greenhorn! Welcome to JavaRanch.

This is the entry level certification, so it's not as rigorous as SCEA or even SCJP. But you do need a wide breadth of knowledge to pass the exam. It's not a cake-walk by any means.

But this is a good exam to tackle if you can invest some time in studying and practice. There is no 'work requirement', and many of my students, who are just entering the workforce, take the exam and pass.

Good luck!

-Cameron McKenzie

[Andrew Stallard]

Jesse Shapiro wrote:Hi!

I'd really like to embark on a career in programming and thought getting an SCJA might be a great step forward. I'm a little worried though because I've only taken a few programming classes. A programming theory class (all pseudo code and algorithms), Java 1 (Selections, Operators, Loops, Methods, Arrays, Object Oriented, Classes, Strings and Text I/O, Inheritance and Polymorphism), and Web Scripting Languages, and did really well in all of them. Do you think that comprehending, memorizing, and practicing the content from an SCJA study guide alone would be enough for me to pass the exam? Or do I just not have a wide enough Java base at this point to jump into exam prep and maybe need to take a Java level 2 course first?

Thanks for the direction!

-unsatisfied sys admin

I am trying to study for this exam as well. It seems like the objectives are a mile wide and an inch deep. According to the McGraw-Hill study guide which I am using, you need to be familiar with the web-based and mobile api's but not actually do any programming with them. It seems like the test is about memorizing the meanings of a bunch of abbreviations and describing briefly what they do. (Is that correct?)