For many years Novell, Microsoft, Oracle, and others have offered certifications for system administrators, developers, and database administrators. These certifications not only help IT managers find qualified and dedicated people, they also help IT professionals gain knowledge that they would not have had an opportunity to acquire otherwise. Nothing encourages you to learn like having to take a test, especially one you have to pay for.
Most certification programs are offered by a single company, usually the one that makes the software being certified. JCert differs from other certification programs in that a consortium of companies put the initiative forward. The jCert consortium is headed up by BEA Systems, Hewlett-Packard, IBM, Oracle, Sun Microsystems, iPlanet eCommerce Solutions (a Sun-Netscape alliance), and Sybase.
In setting up the certification process, the consortium needed to address two main issues. The first issue was that Java developers work on projects that range from small single-user applications to widely distributed enterprise systems. Clearly, a developer working on a single-user application would not need as much expertise as a developer designing an enterprise-wide e-commerce solution. The consortium addressed this issue by setting up three levels of certification:
• Level 1—Sun Certified Developer for the Java Platform
• Level 2—Certified Solution Developer
• Level 3—Certified Enterprise Developer
Each certification level builds on the concepts and theories of the previous level. Level 1 covers core Java programming concepts. Level 2 enhances the concepts in Level 1 through the use of Enterprise JavaBeans (EJBs), Java Database Connectivity (JDBC), and Unified Modeling Language (UML). Level 3 goes deeper into the topics covered in Level 2 with an emphasis on complex, enterprisewide development and deployment.
The second issue the consortium needed to address was that certification programs are often vendor- and tool-specific, a premise that is contradictory to everything Java stands for. The solution was to break the Level 2 and Level 3 certifications each into two parts, with each part requiring a separate test. The first part deals with analysis and design and is not vendor-specific. The second part covers a vendor-specific development tool. In
addition, consortium members recognize certification in each other’s development tools. In other words, you could complete your Level 2 certification using one vendor’s tools and your Level 3 certification using another’s tools. This is important not only because it keeps developers from being locked into a specific vendor’s toolset, but also because some vendors offer only Level 3 tools. The Java motto has always been Write Once, Run Anywhere (WORA); in the spirit of inheritance, the jCert motto is “Certified Once, Recognized Everywhere.”
Earning jCert certification is beneficial to developers and their employers. Managers have struggled for years with how to determine the skill level of their developers. Although many factors go into this process, certification not only makes a statement about a developer’s skills, it also shows an ability to learn and apply new concepts. In addition, the presence of certified developers on a project can be used as a marketing tool. Developers completing the certification through certain vendors also receive certificates to hang on the wall, ID cards, logos for their business cards, and access to other resources.
On the Level
Level 1 certification is based on the previously existing Sun Certified Developer for the Java Platform. Level 1 certification requires passing a single exam from Sun and has no vendor tool-specific part. The test is targeted at Java developers working on applications, applets, and servlets, and focuses on core Java skills:
• Declarations and access control
• Flow control and exception handling
• Garbage collection
• Language fundamentals
• Operators and assignments
• Object orientation
• Threads
• Packages—java.awt, java.lang and java.util
Level 2—Certified Solution Developer is composed of two parts, each of which requires that you pass a test. Part 2A focuses on object-oriented analysis and design with UML and Part 2B is a vendor tool-specific test. Candidates for Level 2 certification are developers working on design and implementation of components using EJBs and JDBC. Part 2A—Object Oriented Analysis and Design with UML covers several topics:
• Development process
• Requirements modeling
• Architecture
• Static modeling
• Dynamic modeling
• Design and implementation techniques
Currently, the only consortium members that offer a test for part 2B are Oracle and IBM. Information on the content of these tests can be obtained from each company’s Web site, which are listed in the References and Related Materials section found at the end of this article.
Level 3—Certified Enterprise Developer is also composed of two parts. To pass Level 3, you must pass both parts. Part 3A is Enterprise Connectivity with Java 2 Enterprise Edition and Part 3B is a vendor tool-specific test. Level 3 developers design and implement enterprisewide systems using EJBs, JDBC, and JavaServer Pages (JSPs). Part 3A—Enterprise Connectivity with Java 2 Enterprise Edition includes the following topics:
• Java 2 Enterprise Edition architecture
• Web component development
• Servlets, EJBs, and JSPs
• Client development
• Connectivity services
• Assembly and deployment
All consortium members except HP, offer their own part 3B test. See the companies’ Web site for details; those are listed in the References and Related Materials section found at the end of this article. Many options are available for test preparation, both from consortium members and nonmembers. These resources include technology-based training, instructor-led training, sample tests, and books. Each consortium member offers its own set of resources for its own tests. Since the jCert initiative is new and many of the consortium members are still getting up to speed, it’s a good idea to check their Web sites frequently; new resources are being added all the time. Although a few exam-specific review books are available for the Level 1 test, as of this writing, no exam-specific review books are offered for either the Level 2 or Level 3 tests.
If you decide to pursue jCert certification, you need to determine which consortium member’s certification you wish to pursue and which level you will ultimately complete. Tests are offered through Prometric (www.prometric.com) testing service and range in price from $125 to $175. Failed tests can be retaken after a 30-day waiting period. Note that all tests at one level must be completed before moving on to the next level. Consortium members cross-recognize tests, but do not have a central repository of test results. Therefore, if you change initiative partners you will need to fill out a cross-vendor recognition template and submit it to the initiative partner that you wish to switch to. Since many of the tests are still in beta, some vendors have been offering free or discounted rates. However, because the tests are still in the evaluation stage, results may not be reported for 10 to 12 weeks.
Certifications have helped establish base level competencies in other sectors, such as accounting and education. The challenge for the jCert consortium will be to keep the certification standards high enough that only competent and deserving candidates receive certification.
It’s Certifiable
The jCert consortium has come up with a solid initiative for certification of Java developers and has overcome the difficult task of compiling a certification process that is applicable to both small single-user application developers and distributed enterprisewide system developers. Additionally, the consortium has successfully tackled the problem of integrating Java’s motto, WORA, with vendor-specific requirements by certifying both theory and vendor-specific knowledge. This group has further ensured the success of the jCert initiative by offering a variety of training and preparation options, as well as discounts for early implementers. Because of the consortium members’ willingness to recognize each other’s certifications, the jCert initiative has the ability to garner cross-vendor industry support.
The jCert initiative appears to be a well-thought-out program, applicable to many user levels, validating both theory and vendor knowledge, backed by cross-vendor industry support, and inclusive of a set path for studying and testing. This certification process is a major step toward empowering employees to differentiate themselves in terms of knowledge and skill level and enabling employers to find the qualified talent that they need to be successful.
REFERENCES AND RELATED MATERIALS
• BEA Systems home page: www.bea.com/services.html
• Hewlett-Packard Certification Web page: http://education.hp.com/hpcert.htm
• IBM Application Development Certification Web page: www.ibm.com/software/ad/certify
• jCert Initiative home page: www.jcert.org
• Oracle Certified Professional Program Java Technology Certification Track: http://education.oracle.com/certification/javatrack.html
• Prometric Web site: www.prometric.com
• Sun Microsystems Certification Web page: http://suned.sun.com/HQ/certification
• Sybase Education Web page: www.sybase.com/education
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