Important Changes to Java, and Oracle Solaris Certifications
February 2011
IMPORTANT:Deadline extended to September 30, 2011
Beginning October 1, 2011, Java Architect, Java Developer, Solaris System Administrator and Solaris Security Administrator certification path requirements will include a new mandatory course attendance requirement.
Candidates may earn their certifications using the current track requirements found on the Oracle Certification website through September 30, 2011.
Attention Java Enterprise Architect and Java Developer candidates: It is important that you submit your assignments allowing enough time to take the Essay Exam and to resubmit the assignment if you happen to fail the first attempt. Your assignment will take four weeks to grade and must be submitted prior to registering for the essay. You should submit your assignment, allowing four weeks for grading plus any additional time you will need to take the essay and resubmit the assignment in the event you do not pass initially. Keep in mind that completion of your essay will depend on test center availability. In order to ensure that you have at least one week to resubmit if you fail, you should submit your assignment and complete your essay by August 27, 2011. Any assignments and essays submitted after August 27 cannot be guaranteed to receive a grade in time to resubmit before the September 30 deadline. If you receive a failing grade on your assignment after September 30, 2011, you will be required to resubmit the assignment and meet the training requirement. You should also note that it is your responsibility to ensure you have enough time to complete the essay after submitting the assignment, allowing for limited test appointments. Oracle will not be able to extend the deadline for candidates who submitted their assignments too close to the deadline and were unable to get an essay appointment in time. If you submit the assignment or essay after September 30 2011, you would be required to complete the Hands-on course requirement.
Course Requirement Implementation Details
One of the courses in each list below will be required for each certification path. Candidates do not need to complete more than one course for each certification path.
*Approved Training:
Only instructor-led in-Class or instructor-led online courses (includes Live Web Classes – LWC and Live Virtual classes – LVC) from the above approved list of Oracle University courses count toward the training requirement. Self Study CD-Rom and Knowledge Center (including Recorded Web Courses – RWC) courses are excellent study and reference tools but DO NOT meet the Hands-on Course Requirement for certification.
Approved Training Providers:
Candidates must atte
Questions
Why is Oracle adding a hands-on course requirement?
Many Oracle certifications require hands-on course attendance as a part of the certification path. The course requirement is being added to these certification paths to bring them in line with Oracle Certification Program’s standards for the levels of certification under which they fall.
Why are only some certifications are on the list?
Oracle initially implemented Hands-on course requirement attendance in 2002, and since that time we evaluate each track for a course requirement whenever we revise, update or release a new track. We have internal parameters that guide us on the choice of tracks and applicable courses that we deem appropriate for a Hands-on course requirement.
I have already started preparing for my exam; if I don’t take it by October 1, 2011, will I be required to complete training?
Yes. Anyone who does not completely finish the current track requirements before October 1, 2011 will be required to meet the new requirements, which will include a mandatory course attendance requirement.
I started my Java Developer, Java Architect Master certification, or Oracle Solaris System Administrator path before October 1, 2011. Do I have to complete the certification by October 1, or will the training requirement be waived since I started the process before the deadline?
Anyone who does not completely finish the current track requirements before October 1, 2011, regardless of when they started the certification path, will be required to meet the new requirements, which will include a mandatory course attendance requirement.
I submitted my assignment before October 1, 2011, but I have not yet received a grade. Will I have to complete a training requirement if I don’t receive a grade before October 1?
If you submitted your assignment and completed your essay before October 1, 2011, you will not need to complete the training requirement if you receive your grade after October 1 and PASS the assignment. If you receive your grade after October 1 and you have failed the assignment, you will need to complete the training requirement.
It is crucial that you submit your assignment and complete the essay exam well in advance of the September 30, 2011 deadline so that you will have time to resubmit if you do not pass on the first attempt. Oracle suggests that you submit your assignment and complete your essay by August 27, 2011 to allow four weeks for grading and an additional week to resubmit in the event you do not pass. Any assignments and essays submitted after August 27 cannot be guaranteed to receive a grade in time to resubmit before the September 30 deadline. If you receive a failing grade on your assignment after September 30, 2011, you will be required to resubmit the assignment and meet the training requirement.
You should also note that it is your responsibility to ensure you have enough time to complete the essay after submitting the assignment, allowing for limited test appointments. Oracle will not be able to extend the deadline for candidates who submitted their assignments too close to the deadline and were unable to get an essay appointment in time.
How do I purchase my assignment after the transition of Java Oracle Solaris (Cluster), MySQL and NetBeans exams from Prometric to Pearson VUE?
On May 23, you will no longer be able to purchase assignments from Prometric. Candidates may purchase, download and upload assignments through Pearson VUE at www.pearsonvue.com/oracle beginning on June 1, 2011. Select the option to Schedule a Test and select the Non-proctored option. You will be provided instructions on downloading the assignment and uploading the completed assignment upon purchase. Please note that you will not be eligible to register for your essay until your assignment has been submitted.
How do I submit my assignment after the transition of Java Oracle Solaris (Cluster), MySQL and NetBeans exams from Prometric to Pearson VUE?
This will depend on whether your assignment was purchased from Prometric or from Pearson VUE. If you purchased your assignment from Pearson VUE, you should login to your account at pearsonvue.com/oracle, resume the exam and follow the instructions to upload your completed assignment. If you purchased your assignment at Prometric, please find your scenario here and follow the instructions to upload your completed assignment.
I have 10 years of experience with Java (or Oracle Solaris); do I have to complete the course requirement?
Yes. Anyone who does not hold one of the applicable certifications before October 1, 2011 will be required to fulfill the training requirement. Oracle offers a variety of courses that fulfill the requirement so that candidates can find a course that best suits their needs.
I completed a course prior to the Oracle transition, will that course count toward certification?
Only the courses on the list will count, whether delivered by Oracle University, an Oracle University Training Partner, Sun University, or a Sun University Training Partner. Courses will only be counted toward Certification if attendance can be verified by Oracle, either via the Sun or Oracle training databases, or by proof of attendance from the candidate.
I have attended a Private course through my company, will this course count towards Hands on course requirement?
Only the courses on the list will count, whether delivered by Oracle University, an Oracle University Training Partner, Sun University, or a Sun University Training Partner. Courses will only be counted toward Certification if attendance can be verified by Oracle, either via the Sun or Oracle training databases, or by proof of attendance from the candidate.
I am already certified, do I need to complete a course to recertify?
No. Any candidate who already holds one of the certifications in the list above will not have to recertify or take any additional training to keep their certification current.
Are there any exceptions to the training requirement?
No. There are no exceptions to the training requirement.
I obtained my certification before October 1, 2011. When the next versions of these certifications are released, will I have to complete a training requirement to upgrade to the new version?
Those who are upgrading are typically not required to attend another course when upgrading their certification from an earlier version. However, track requirements do change and are subject to modification.
Do all training delivery options qualify as meeting the Hands-on course requirement?
No. Only instructor-led in-class or instructor-led online courses (includes Live Web Classes – LWC and Live Virtual classes – LVC) from the above approved list of courses count toward the training requirement. Self Study CD-Rom and Knowledge Center (including Recorded Web Courses – RWC) courses are excellent study and reference tools but DO NOT meet the hands-on course requirement for certification. Training must be received by an approved Oracle University training provider (or an approved Sun University training provider).
How does Oracle verify that I have completed the necessary training to receive my Certification?
Upon completion of your Certification track requirements, Candidates are required to complete a Course Submission Form for providing the details of the required course(s). The submitted form will trigger a request for Oracle to verify your attendance in an approved hands-on course. After your attendance has been verified by Oracle, the form will generate a permanent record in Oracle's certification database, showing that you have met the requirement.
If I would like to pursue both Oracle Certified Professional, Oracle Solaris 10 System Administrator and Oracle Certified Expert, Oracle Solaris 10 Security Administrator, do I need to complete 2 courses?
No. If you are an OCP, Oracle Solaris 10 System Administrator, you may obtain the OCE, Oracle Solaris 10 Security Administrator certification by passing the required exam. Additional training is not required.
Also, if you are an OCE, Oracle Solaris 10 Security Administrator, you may obtain the OCP, Oracle Solaris 10 System Administrator certification by passing the required exam. Additional training is not required.
I obtained my Oracle Certified Professional, Oracle Solaris 10 System Administrator before the training requirement was implemented, can this certification still fulfill the prerequisite for Oracle Certified Expert, Oracle Solaris 10 Security Administrator?
Yes. Regardless of when you achieved your OCP, Oracle Solaris 10 System Administrator certification, it will fulfill the prerequisite for the OCE, Oracle Solaris 10 Security Administrator without further training required.
I obtained my Oracle Certified Expert, Oracle Solaris 10 Security Administrator certification before the training requirement was implemented, can this certification still fulfill the prerequisite for Oracle Certified Professional, Oracle Solaris 10 System Administrator?
Yes. Regardless of when you achieved your OCE, Oracle Solaris 10 Security Administrator certification, it will fulfill the prerequisite for the OCP, Oracle Solaris 10 System Administrator without further training required.
I completed my Solaris 10 Security or System Administration certification at Sun, before the Oracle transition. Will this certification count toward the prerequisite?
Yes, If you completed your Solaris Security Administrator certification at Sun, prior to the Oracle transition, it will fulfill the prerequisite for the OCP, Oracle Solaris 10 System Administrator without any further training required.
Additionally, if you completed your Solaris System Administrator certification at Sun, prior to the Oracle transition, it will fulfill the prerequisite for the OCE, Oracle Solaris 10 Security Administrator without any further training required.
How many courses from the approved list must be taken to fulfill the requirement?
One course from the approved list is required. The list tends to grow over time as courses are released, revised, etc. Feel free to contact Oracle Certification Support if there is a course that you feel should be on the list and it is not.
Not all of the courses are 5-day (Java SE Performance Tuning is 3-day). Does that still count?
We have a set of parameters based upon an approved business practice to determine the courses that qualify as an approved course. Course length is only one of many factors used for this evaluation.
Are the associated courses being rewritten to make them more suitable as mandatory elements on the certification path?
Exams typically do not map item-for-item, back to the training so the courses are relevant and valuable prep tools in their current format. We anticipate that future releases of the courses and exams will map more closely.
Does the Oracle Certified Professional Java Programmer Certification have a hands-on class requirement?
No, but as with every track, this requirement will be re-evaluated at revision time.