Need Information about 'Java and Middleware Certifications'

[Shruti Sharma]

HI,

I would like to know about the 'Java and Middleware' certifications. I found about these certifications through the http://education.oracle.com/pls/web_prod-plq-dad/db_pages.getpage?page_id=39 link. I am not sure what are 'JAVA SE 7, JAVA SE 6, JAVA SE 5 certifications.

Can someone tell who should take these certifications? Like a beginner, mid-level, senior or an architect level professional?

Thank you,
-Shruti

[rajeswari kannan]

Shruti,

Oracle has structured Java certifications by knowledge expert levels.

OCA (Oracle Certified Associate) - Entry/Beginner Level
=> http://www.epractizelabs.com/oracle-java-certifications.html#OCA

OCP (Oracle Certified Professional) - Programmer/Developer Level
=> http://www.epractizelabs.com/oracle-java-certifications.html#OCP

OCM (Oracle Certified Master) - Master Level to test assignment knowledge.
=> http://www.epractizelabs.com/oracle-java-certifications.html#OCM

OCE (Oracle Certified Expert) - Expert Level (technology/component specialization )
=> http://www.epractizelabs.com/oracle-java-certifications.html#OCE

You can also find these certifications by Java editions. => http://www.epractizelabs.com/oracle-java-certifications/index.html

Thanks

[Cameron Wallace McKenzie]

For news and information, the best place to go about Oracle certifications is my website. Okay, maybe it's Oracle's website. Then my site. Then maybe the epracticelabs website? :P

This is Oracle's page for the "Oracle Certification Program" and specifically, the "Java and Middleware" certifications.

Oracle Certification Program: Java and Oracle Middleware

You'll see Java EE tracks listed here (Enterprise Java), SE tracks listed here (Standard Edition) and ME tracks as well (Micro Edition). Oracle has various certifications on each of these topics. Oracle also lists their middleware server certification for things like WebLogic Server and Oracle Application Server here too. CodeRanch can help you out with all of these certifications, but the cowfolk here are far and away better at helping you with the Java focussed stuff.

Java 7 Certification Perhaps?

As far as the versions of five six and seven go, that's just the version of the JDK or technology that the exams will be testing you on. The Java 7 certifications are just being released. . OCAJP (Associate Exam) just finished its BETA testing, and the OCPJP exam hasn't started the BETA testing phase yet. You can find out more about OCAJP here:

Java 7 Oracle Certified Associate, Java SE 7 Programmer (OCAJP)

Here are the objectives for the Java 7 Programmer Exam, which is the more coveted designation of the two:

Java SE 7 Programmer II - OCPJP (Exam 1Z1-804)

With Java 7, the Associate exam is a prerequisite to getting the Programmer exam. With prior versions, you don't need the Associate designation to write the Programmer exam, so many people will be taking the OCPJP 5 and OCPJP 6 exams to get the Programmer designation in one shot, rather than having to write two exams.

Java Certification Exams from Oracle (Links go to Oracle's Exam Objectives Page)

As far as degrees of difficulty and how coveted the designations are, I'd rank them in this order:

Oracle Certified Associate Java Programmer Exam (OCAJP)

Oracle Certified PROFESSIONAL Java Programmer Exam

Java 5 Web Component Developer Certification

Oracle Certified Enterprise JavaBeans Developer

Oracle Certified Java Web Services Developer

Oracle Certified Java Persistence API Developer

Oracle Certified Java Developer - this exam is a developer exam, and requires writing a complex program that is graded. It goes beyond simply writing an exam.

Java Enterprise Architect Certified Master - This exam is a three parter - multiple choice exam, assignment and an essay exam. Everyone wants to be an architect!

What About CodeRanch Certification Forums???

You'll also notice that here at the CodeRanch, we have a whole section dedicated to the most popular Java Exams:

Listing of CodeRanch Certification Forums

So, if you have more questions about a specific certification, ask them in one of those forums and you'll get a whole whack of new information.

Warning: Blatant Unabashed Advertising Ahead!

Oh, one other thing. I joked about going to my page for more information about certification. I've been doing some work on an OCAJP Certification Guide for Java 7. I know it always looks bad when I spam a message thread with a bunch of links that point back to my website, so I created a page over in "Blatant Advertising" on CodeRanch that points to some of the content I've written. If you're interested in the Java 7 track of Java Certification, check it out:

My Blatant Advertising Page on CodeRanch, Blatantly Advertising all of my great links for OCAJP and OCPJP certification on Java 7