architect exam

hi , i am a sun certified java programmer
i was just trying to start preparing for the architect exam but i do not knoe if it is complusory to do the developer before one can do the architect exam.
is it complusory to do the developer exam first.
is it?

prerequisites dont exists for SCEA.So you can jump directly for the part 1.
All the best.

Hi,
Siva is corect there are no prerequisites for SCEA. However, if you are hoping to get a job as a programmer in JAVA, the developer cert does prove that you can program in Java. I lost a job when during an interview the inteviewer asked me why I skipped the developers exam? I told him it was a cost and time priority choice and that I might go back to complete it later. The reason I was given for not getting the job was that I was not technical enough. If I had completed the Developer cert, I think I would have gotten the job.
My two cents.
Noel
SCJP, SCWCD, SCEA(Part 1)

If you see the sun certification track for Java,developer exam seems to be essential for a Java programmer.But if you are planning to take up the J2EE track,I would follow SCJP -> SCWCD -> SCBCD and finally culminating with SCEA.(hope sun doesnt introduce a new cert in this track)

thanks for your help one more thing.
i do intend to do the developer exam in fact i intend tacking scea and
scjd at the same time.
for the scea i would like to know the difficulty level from 1-10.
and how hard one needs to prepare.