Why are people going back to take the SCJA?

Hello Everyone, Don't get the wrong idea from my subject/topic name. I believe that the SCJA is a very good cert to get for those starting in the java programming field. My question is for those who have already passed the SCJP (and higher exams). I have passed the SCJP and although I am curious as to what the SCJA consists of, I would spend my time working on another cert (J2EE, SCJP upgrade, SCJD, Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, etc). Did you prior SCJPs come in and take this cold? I also think that those SCJPs that took it while it was in beta did a good thing by using their experience to make a better exam. I am curious. Please share the reasons that you felt compelled to take the SCJA. Who knows? You might convince me.
[ March 01, 2006: Message edited by: Patrick Williams ]

Having taken the SCJA beta, I'd recommend against those with "higher" certifications from taking it. (I took it purely to see what was on it and to leave comments on what I thought of the exam's questions.) While it certainly is not an "easy" exam even for an experienced programmer, it's not as challenging as the SCJP or other certs.

That being said, I think I also handled it well in that I convinced my wife (who is not much of a programmer at all, and learned Java specifically for the purpose of taking the SCJA beta) to take the exam. So I tried, at least, to balance things out.

Thanks for the insight, Theodore. That is another point worth mentioning, I would not believe that the SCJA would be easy. I was just wondering if the SCJP+ individuals would take it cold to see exactly how hard it is.

was just wondering if the SCJP+ individuals would take it cold to see exactly how hard it is.

Well... you cannot compare, since the objectives are totally different... but if you want to know exactly how hard it is... I'll say not that much.(My opinion) I have seen bert telling, when the beta was going on.... that for SCJPs, it should be easy.

Hope that helps,

Regards
Vishwas
SCJP 1.4
SCJA (Beta)

Originally posted by Vishwas Hegde:
I have seen bert telling, when the beta was going on.... that for SCJPs, it should be easy.

See at the bottom of the SCJA Beta FAQ: "I am currently SCJP certified, should I go for SCJA as well?"

part 2 of the SCEA seperates the men from the boys.

you have to think like an architect to pass, which believe me not many people can do.

for an architect part 2 will be easy for a programmer it will be a brick wall.

forget that last post, i thought that you were talking about scea.

what the hell is the scja?

Originally posted by David Rocks:
forget that last post, i thought that you were talking about scea.

what the hell is the scja?

SCJA is Sun Certified Java Associate you can see exam objectives at java.sun.com.