Pricing

[Gregory Weiss]

Question:  Is it true that you must pay the full price for each exam attempt of the OCA/OCP exams.  IE: in the US, if you need to take the OCA twice, thats $500 just to pass the most basic,entry level test for Java they give.

Is it also true that for a lot of these tracks, you are required to spend sometimes thousands of dollars just to take their training before you can even qualify to take certain exams?

Further: How is it that Oracle still doesnt seem to have Java 8 Master tracks or a Java EE 7 full certification path?

I'm very confused.  I thought Java was such a great, robust community but it seems pretty clear to me that Oracle doesnt really have these tracks well organized, and also that it seems this really nothing more than a money-making venture for them.

I'm an experienced developer, but to ask some junior developers to spend this much money for basic certifications seems ridiculous.  The fact that you dont get at least 1 retake within a certain period as part of the already expensive test price is just mindblowing.

This seems like a great community of very knowledgable people.  Can someone please clarify the pricing and the tracks for Java SE/EE certs.  There are plenty of information out there, but Oracle doesnt make it at all clear about the pricing/retake costs/cert prerequisites.  I also find their website to be pretty non-user friendly, espeically in regards to their certifications.

Thanks in advance for anyone's time answering these questions and providing guidance!

Best to all!

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

Welcome to CodeRanch!  Good questions.

Gregory Weiss wrote:Question:  Is it true that you must pay the full price for each exam attempt of the OCA/OCP exams.  IE: in the US, if you need to take the OCA twice, thats $500 just to pass the most basic,entry level test for Java they give.

This is true. The goal is to pass on the first try so you don't have to take it twice though. And most people do when buying a study guide. (Disclaimer: i'm the author of a study guide)

Gregory Weiss wrote:Is it also true that for a lot of these tracks, you are required to spend sometimes thousands of dollars just to take their training before you can even qualify to take certain exams?

There is a course required for two exams - the developer and architecture exams. (The ones that require a "homework" assignment rather than just taking the exam. They aren't as popular exams. Many people just take the OCA/OCP and stop there. Also (and this is semantics), you don't have to take the course to sit the exam. You have to take it to get the certification.

Gregory Weiss wrote:Further: How is it that Oracle still doesnt seem to have Java 8 Master tracks or a Java EE 7 full certification path?

I don't work for Oracle, so I can only speculate. I suspect it goes back to the popularity I mentioned earlier.

[Gregory Weiss]

Hi Jeanne!  Thanks for the reply!  Yes I am using YOUR books to study!  They are fantastic.  I'm sure I will do well, but again.  The costs compared to other certs are way out of line.  

I really appreciate your time responding to my questions.

Best!

Greg

[Roel De Nijs]

Gregory Weiss wrote:Question:  Is it true that you must pay the full price for each exam attempt of the OCA/OCP exams.  IE: in the US, if you need to take the OCA twice, thats $500 just to pass the most basic,entry level test for Java they give.

Yes, that's true! All information concerning exam voucher (price) and retakes can be found in Oracle's Retake and Exam Voucher policies. Please note that Oracle sometimes offer promotions which includes a free retake. Currently Oracle offers Exam Prep Seminar Packages (which include a free retake).

Gregory Weiss wrote:Is it also true that for a lot of these tracks, you are required to spend sometimes thousands of dollars just to take their training before you can even qualify to take certain exams?

As far as I know a course is only required for two Master certification tracks: the Developer (OCMJD) and Architect (OCMJEA) certification. And the OCMJD certification will be retiring soon.

Gregory Weiss wrote:Further: How is it that Oracle still doesnt seem to have Java 8 Master tracks or a Java EE 7 full certification path?

I have no experience with the OCMJEA certification, but I took the OCMJD one. And although you would be granted the "Oracle Certified Master, Java SE 6 Developer" title, this certification is actually not tied to a specific Java version like the OCAJP and OCPJP certifications. For this certification you need to write an application according to a bunch of business requirements, but these requirements are completely JDK independent (except for one which limits the JDK you can use, e.g. currently you can't use JDK 6 anymore). Therefore the title should not have included a Java version. I took the OCMJD certification when there was no mandatory course requirement yet and it was quite a popular certification (although not as popular as OCPJP). But once Oracle introduced the mandatory course requirement, popularity dropped drastically since it was really expensive to take this certification. And I really enjoyed this certification and without any doubt it made me a better developer! So it's a pity this certification will retire soon

Gregory Weiss wrote:I also find their website to be pretty non-user friendly, espeically in regards to their certifications.

Here you'll find all Java SE Certifications and here you'll find an overview of all Java EE Certifications.