UML for Java Programmers

[Rick Portugal]

Robert,
Is there any UML certification program? If so, do you think it is of any value?

[Lasse Koskela]

At least IBM has its 486 test and OMG is about to launch a certification program for UML.

[Jeff Bosch]

Brainbench also has a UML certification and also an OO design cert. I've heard not-so-flattering reviews of the value of Brainbench certs, but my employer, a large international data processing company, uses them to screen applicants, so there is definitely value there.
Good luck!
Cheers,
Jeff (SCJP)

[Scott Duncan]

I think that the thing most employers care about is your knowledge at interview time. I don't think that many put a whole lot of emphasis on UML certifications but it cannot hurt you by having on your resume.

[k doshi]

Are there any free OO,UML test sites?
Thks for replies

[Robert Martin]

Originally posted by Rick Portugal:
Robert,
Is there any UML certification program? If so, do you think it is of any value?

None that I know of. No, I don't think it would be useful. It is not our knowledge of UML that makes the difference; it's our knowledge of good programming practice and principles. UML is a tool, and not a very complex tool. I don't think certification in UML would be significant.
Also, I personally don't like the way UML is going. I think MDA is a dead-end concept. Executable UML may sound like a great idea, but I think it's realization will be quite disappointing. In the meantime UML is being warped to serve MDA, and this makes me think that the UML standard will become less and less relevant to the programmer in the trenches. I expect (and have already seen) that a de-facto variation of UML will arise from common usage instead of from the deliberations of a standards body. Certification against the standard would probably be useless to the common usage; and certification against the common usage would have no standard behind it.