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relevance of SCJA

 
Greenhorn
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I have been studying/working java for the last two years and i want get a sun certification in java due to its relevance in the industry. Should I go for SCJP 1.4 or SCJA?
 
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If you have been into Java development for 2 years, then I would assume you have had sufficient programming exposure to go for SCJP. As we already discussed, SCJA is either for Java beginners/students or for managers and other professionals who just need a broad knowledge of Java. You can also take a look at the exam objectives, that will help you decide.

Best Wishes,
Seema
[ July 19, 2006: Message edited by: Seema Manivannan ]
 
Greenhorn
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I agree with the previous poster, if you have been doing Java programming for the last 2 years, then go for the SCJP, after that (or before, it does not matter), if you want to have a broad knowledge of some other branches of Java, then take the SCJA.

Gio :-)
 
Greenhorn
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I got my SCJP this June and now plan to go for SCJA. Anyone have ideas of the books for it?
 
Hooplehead
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There are no known books as of yet. See the informative Java Ranch SCJA FAQ for tips, links, software, etc.
 
Golden Mei
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Seems too much stuffs there, must be a hard bone without a right book. Thanks for the comments.
 
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Listen, if you've already got the SCJP, you DON'T NEED the SCJA. Period. Whatever reason you have for wanting to get the exam is wrong.

The SCJA is for beginning programmers or managers, assuming both groups of people may have a need to show a "familiarity" with Java but won't be using it. In my humble opinion, a beginning programmer should focus on learning programming rather than getting a certification. I see no employment benefit in getting the SCJA that can't be accomplished by an internship or coop with a good engineering firm. Now, if you screwed up your internship and want to salvage it by getting a rudimentary certification, perhaps it will help you get that A.

Now, managers on the other hand may need it. However, the certification alone shouldn't be the primary discriminator for whether a manager can run a technical program. Again, there are other certifications for that (SCRUM Cert, PMP, various Six Sigma belts) which are much more useful for documenting management ability.

So then, who should get the SCJA? Anyone getting ready for a position that doesn't require a programming ability in Java, just a familiarity with it, the ability to recognize it. Kinda like "Hey, see that code? I wonder what it is?"

"That's Java Code I tell ya!"

"Cool, you passed the technical portion of the interview. Now, on to the basket-weaving portion."

IMHO, if you feel a need to take the SCJA, grab your thinking cap and a certification book and get your SCJP instead. Its more useful, and pretty girls will want to have sex with you! Unless you're not into hot girls or soemthing. Then, a hot version of whatever makes your whatever feel tingly will want to.. um.. make you feel tingly?
[ August 08, 2006: Message edited by: Mike Van ]
 
Mike Van
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Originally posted by Golden Mei:
I got my SCJP this June and now plan to go for SCJA. Anyone have ideas of the books for it?



Ok, I think I know what the problem here is. The "A" in SCJA stands for "ASSOCIATE" NOT "ARCHITECT".
 
Sheriff
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Originally posted by Mike Van:
...Ok, I think I know what the problem here is. The "A" in SCJA stands for "ASSOCIATE" NOT "ARCHITECT".


Yeah, that might be it. The "architect" certification is Sun Certified Enterprise Architect (SCEA), which is an advanced certification (and has its own forum). But this forum is for the "associate" certification -- Sun Certified Java Associate (SCJA), which is an entry certification.

On the other hand, some people are inclined to gather as many certifications as possible, simply for the sake of gathering as many certifications as possible. :roll:
[ August 09, 2006: Message edited by: marc weber ]
 
Greenhorn
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Hi everyone. I am new to JavaRanch.
I am a C programmer and am planning to go for java since I got a java testing job.
I would like to learn more JAVA about it as well as having a cert for it.
At first I plan for SCJA since I think SCJA is required for SCJP. After I read this thread, I know what mistake I have made.

Just want to say thank you for people here preventing me wasting my time as well as money!
Thank you!
 
Mike Van
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Originally posted by Taira Amano:

Just want to say thank you for people here preventing me wasting my time as well as money!
Thank you!



Any time, onward oh wayward traveller. Oh, and no Java certification is a waste of money. Kinda like all college degrees are worth something. For example, I have a cousin who is mentally retarded, and went to a special school for the mentally handicapped. Because she was a hard worker, she qualified to go to a college for the mentally handicapped. She now has a degree which she used to get a job working in a bank.

Now, the diploma, the degree and the job are all created specifically for people who are mentally disabled. But, I leave that out when yelling to my friends who dropped out of college: "What, you dropped out of college? My retarded cousin even graduated college. If she can do that, and she's retarded, what does that make you?" After saying that, I either get my arse kicked, a beer purchased for me, or a hearty laugh at someone else' expense. And, before you ask, no, its not a genetic trait of my family.

Now, I'm not comparing the SCJA certification to a degree for the mentally retarded, but would you?
 
Greenhorn
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The Sun web site shows SCJA to be the base of their suggested certification structure and say that SCJA is for entry level programmers as well as for managers. It probably wouldn�t hurt to begin at the base of the certification process for credentials. I�m considering beginning here.
At a cost of $100 is worth it in my opinion.
 
marc weber
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Originally posted by Adrian Peterson:
...It probably wouldn�t hurt to begin at the base of the certification process for credentials. I�m considering beginning here. At a cost of $100 is worth it in my opinion.


I think that's reasonable. A lot of posters (especially in the SCJP forum) are looking for a "fast track" and are inclined to skip anything that's not required.

Just curious: Are you new to Java? Are you new to programming?
 
Mike Van
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I'd like to see the SCJA implemented in the same manner as the most basic Oracle certification. That is, it is less than $100.00, available online, and required for higher levels of certification.

This model is good because is provides a clear way for newcommers to determine whether or not Java is something they'd like to pursue into the future. I've known a couple of Oracle SQL guys that were very against certification, ostensibly on moral grounds. Howevever, the real problem was that they didnt' feel they could pass a test and considered the need demeaning. However, the test was truly basic, and after some prodding of thier ego, they did take the test. What it did for them was validate thier knowledge. Before, when someone would question a design decision, they would go on and on about thier advanced experience. Now, they do that and throw in the fact that they're certified and laugh. They still dont' think that certification is something which should be required, but they are proud of the fact they pursued it. Without the online test though, I doubt they would have begun down that road.
 
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I'm hyping my SCJA book on my website, www.examscam.com , so I wrote this little hype blurb about SCJA on my site:

http://www.technicalfacilitation.com/examscam/get.php?link=../scja/needtoknow

I think this certification is solid. I mean, if you're working with Java, you want to prove that you understand the whole universe - what JSPs are, what Servlets are, what EJBs are, and what MIDlets are. There's none of that on the SCJP exam.

And what's more, the SCJP exam forces you to go into mind numbing detail about the gridbaglayout. I mean, how many J2EE developers ever need to know the ins and outs of the gridbag layout. And the SCJP exam does test you on some really obscure stuff.

I like the SCJA. I think people will take it, and with a good knowledge of Java, will pass it. That will get more people excited about Java, and more people using a Java, and if that's the result, then that's a good thing.

-Cameron McKenzie
 
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