Oracle Certification

At Oracle OpenWorld I received a number of questions about the “best way to study” from people who had never certified or hadn't upgraded in a while. By following this simple path you can almost certainly improve your knowledge and skills (the most important objective) and also do well on the exam(s). Here are the steps:

1. Fully understand the certification requirements for the track that you are pursuing.

 

• How many exams are there?
• Is there a course requirement?
• Are there any prerequisites?
• What are the recommended courses, practice exams, etc.?

 

2. Carefully review the objectives for each exam and perform a “gap analysis”.

 

• Review each set of exam objectives independently.
• Grade your understanding and experience on each objective – high (10), medium (5) or low (1).

 

3. Based upon your “gap analysis,” build a comprehensive study plan and follow it.

 

• Choose study types that you prefer (hands-on practice, course attendance, flash cards, white papers, books, etc.)

 

4. Reevaluate your gap analysis and update your study plan

 

• By reviewing your progress you can continue to tweak and customize your study plan and will become more efficient in making progress.

It is important to note that multiple methods of study will expand your knowledge and skills further than just one. I highly recommend that you include a healthy amount of hands-on practice along with other more conventional methods that you choose.

Remember your goal in getting certified is not only to pass the exam(s), but more importantly to improve your knowledge and skills. Each gap that you identify represents an opportunity to become a better IT professional.

Paul Sorensen,
Director, Oracle Certification

QUICK LINK

• Oracle Certification Program
  

Exam 1Z0-051 Oracle Database 11g: SQL Fundamentals I has just been released in full production.

This new exam is part of the Oracle Certified Oracle Database 11g Administrator track, combining training, experience, and testing to endorse candidates with a strong foundation and expertise in the industry’s most advanced database management system.

Exam 1Z0-051 covers topics such as:

• retrieving data using SQL select statements
• reporting aggregated data using group functions
• displaying data from multiple tables
• using subqueries to solve queries
• using set operator
• manipulating data
• using DDL statements to create and manage tables, and
• creating schema objects.

The exam contains 65 questions, 2 hours (120 minutes) allowed for completion, and requires a score of 60% to pass. Cost is $95 USD, with immediate registration available through Prometric testing centers worldwide.

Paul Sorensen,
Director, Oracle Certification

QUICK LINKS

• Register for Exam: www.prometric.com/oracle
• Certification Exam information: 1Z0-051 Oracle Database 11g: SQL Fundamentals I
• Certification Track information: Oracle Certified Oracle Database 11g Administrator
  

Exam 1Z0-052 Oracle Database 11g: Administration I has just been released in full production.

This new exam is part of the Oracle Certified Oracle Database 11g Administrator track, combining training, experience, and testing to endorse candidates with a strong foundation and expertise in the industry’s most advanced database management system.

Exam 1Z0-052 covers topics such as:

• exploring Oracle database architectures,
• preparing database environments,
• creating Oracle databases,
• managing Oracle instances,
• configuring Oracle network environments,
• managing database storage structures,
• administering user security,
• managing schema objects,
• managing data and concurrency,
• managing undo data,
• implementing Oracle database security,
• database maintenance,
• performance management,
• intelligent infrastructure enhancements,
• backup and recovery concepts,
• performing database backups,
• performing database recovery, and
• moving data.

The exam contains 70 questions, 90 minutes allowed for completion, and requires a score of 66% to pass. Cost is $125 USD, with immediate registration available through Prometric testing centers worldwide.

Paul Sorensen,
Director, Oracle Certification

QUICK LINKS

• Register for Exam: www.prometric.com/oracle
• Certification Exam information: 1Z0-052 Oracle Database 11g: Administration I
• Certification Track information: Oracle Certified Oracle Database 11g Administrator
  

Question: Why Don’t I Get The Score For My Beta Right Away?

Answer: The beta exam is created and analyzed before we build the production exam (with its multiple versions). During the analysis of the beta results, we select only the most effective questions to be used in the production exam. Beta candidates are then scored only against the questions that appear on the production exams.

For this reason we can only provide your results once the beta is complete, the results are analyzed and the production exams (with its multiple versions) are published.

Paul Sorensen,
Director, Oracle Certification

QUICK LINKS

• Oracle Certification Program
• Oracle Certification Beta Exams
  

Share Ideas – Join groups – Network – Get Answers – Share & Learn

If you’ve seen this compelling 5-part link-set before, then you’re already on Oracle Mix. If not though, you’re missing out!

Oracle Mix is a great new hybrid networking and forum site designed specifically to “give everyone a voice and help us to shape the future of Oracle together.” And by popular request, we now host an Oracle Certification Group on Oracle Mix for current and prospective Oracle Certified Professionals (OCPs), Experts (OCEs), Masters (OCMs), and Associates (OCAs).

Jump on today, and share exam preparation tips, study materials, practice questions, test-taking experiences and Oracle Certification success stories.

QUICK LINKS

• Oracle Mix
• Oracle Mix – Oracle Certification Group
  

Question: How Does Oracle Use The Beta Results To Create The Production Exams?

Questions that are too easy or too difficult are thrown out because they don’t help us measure the skills and abilities of the majority of candidates.

We encourage beta candidates to register their comments on the exam questions in the ‘Beta Comments’ field while taking the beta exam. All beta candidate comments are inspected and researched by the exam developers. If the comments point to a technical error or lack of clarity in a question, the question may be thrown out, or revised and re-evaluated.

Once we’ve identified all the questions that will 'survive' in the production exam, the statistical profiles of the questions are used to help us create multiple exam versions that are equivalent in difficulty, timing and measurement power. This way candidates can be assured that they are being evaluated on the same criteria as their colleagues, and that they are being evaluated the same way each time they attempt the exam.

Paul Sorensen,
Director, Oracle Certification

QUICK LINKS

• Oracle Certification Program
• Oracle Certification Beta Exams
  

Question: Why Should I Take A Beta Exam?

First, betas cost less than production exams – only $50 (USD), whereas production exams are at least double the cost. You might think of this as an inexpensive way to get a take a shot at the exam.

Second, your score on the beta exam counts towards your certification (if you pass). Since the beta exam contains the real exam questions you are taking several versions of the exam at once, your highest score is taken. By taking the beta you can become one of the first people to become certified on a new track or version.

Third, taking the beta is a great way to contribute to the exam development process. Not only do we analyze the individual results of a beta, but also as mentioned before during the beta you have the opportunity to provide feedback on individual items. When we analyze the beta results we review every single candidate comment. The beta is your best chance to influence the composition of the production exam.

Paul Sorensen,
Director, Oracle Certification

QUICK LINKS

• Oracle Certification Program
• Oracle Certification Beta Exams
  

October 31 is fast approaching – leaving only 15 days to take beta exam 1Z1-238: “Oracle EBS R12: Install, Patch and Maintain Applications” at the special Oracle beta exam reduced price.

Exam 1Z1-238 is the only exam that must be taken to upgrade your existing Oracle 10g or 11g Database Administrator OCP to the new “Oracle E-Business Suite R12 Applications Database Administrator Certified Professional” certification.

Right now you have an opportunity to take this exam at a significant discount (only $50 USD) while it is still in beta. On October 31, the beta period closes to the public. The exam will again be made available at the end of the year but at its normal production price of $195 USD.

For more information, visit the Oracle EBS R12 Applications Database Administrator Certified Professional certification track page.

QUICK LINKS

• Also see Blog Post: Oracle E-Business Suite R12 Certification Series: Overview
• Certification Track: Oracle EBS R12 Applications Database Administrator Certified Professional
• Certification Exam: 1Z1-238 - Oracle EBS R12: Install, Patch and Maintain Applications
  

If you are certified on Oracle E-Business Suite (EBS) 11i Financials or Supply Chain, then your path to R12 might be more straightforward that you thought! You only need to pass one exam in order to upgrade your certification, and completion of a hands-on course is not required.

Upgrading from Oracle E-Business Suite 11i Financials OCP, Payables or Receivables:

• to Oracle EBS R12 Purchasing Consultant Certified Expert
  – pass exam 1Z0-215 "Oracle EBS R12: General Ledger and Payables Fundamentals"
• to Oracle EBS R12 Order Management Consultant Certified Expert
  – pass exam 1Z0-216 "Oracle EBS R12: General Ledger and Receivables Fundamentals"
• to Oracle EBS R12 Advanced Supply Chain Planning Consultant Certified Expert
  – pass exam 1Z0-244 "Oracle EBS R12: Advanced Supply Chain Planning"

Upgrading from Oracle E-Business Suite 11i Supply Chain OCP, Purchasing or Inventory Management

• to Oracle EBS R12 Purchasing Consultant Certified Expert
  – pass exam 1Z0-225 "Oracle EBS R12: Inventory and Purchasing Fundamentals"
• to Oracle EBS R12 Order Management Consultant Certified Expert
  – pass exam 1Z0-226 "Oracle EBS R12: Inventory and Order Management Fundamentals"
• to Oracle EBS R12 Advanced Supply Chain Planning Consultant Certified Expert
  – pass exam 1Z0-244 "Oracle EBS R12: Advanced Supply Chain Planning"

Upgrading from Oracle E-Business Suite 11i Applications DBA

• to Oracle EBS R12 Applications DBA
  – pass exam 1Z0-238 "Oracle EBS R12: Install, Patch and Maintain Applications"

We have tried to streamline the path for those who are already certified – one exam and no additional hands-on course. I encourage you to take advantage of this streamlined path and become among the first to be Oracle EBS R12 certified!

Paul Sorensen,
Director, Oracle Certification

QUICK LINKS

• Certification Tracks: Oracle E-Business Suite R12 Certification
  

The October 2008 edition of the Oracle Certification E-Magazine is now online.

Get the latest certification track updates, program news, and details on new Oracle certifications, upgrades, and beta testing.

QUICK LINK:

• Oracle Certification E-Magazine: October 2008 Edition 
  

I seriously don’t understand why people cheat to get certified. In a July 2008 blog post I discussed how certification is a valuable process and not merely a ‘piece of paper’. I’m going to discuss cheating in a few different posts over the next couple of weeks. I’m very interested in the comments that this topic generates. As this series on cheating progresses I will pose some questions please post your stories/comments in the blog comments (please don’t name any names).

In association with this series we’ve created a survey called "Cheating: How Bad Is It?" (completely anonymous) that will help us better understand cheating. I’ll post the results towards the end of the blog series.

Paul Sorensen,
Director, Oracle Certification

QUICK LINKS

• On The Web: Oracle Fraudulent Activity Policy
• On The Web: Oracle Certification Candidate Agreement
• Email: Oracle Certification Program Fraud Email Alias

[UPDATE January 8, 2009: survey period ended, URL removed]