Sun's new EJB exam -- be a beta tester!!

Howdy all,
We're in the process of creating a new exam based on the EJB spec. (but it's called Sun Certified Business Component Developer for J2EE).
We need your help in filling out a survey. If you respond, Sun will give you a voucher for the beta exam, and if you pass, you're fully certified.
There is a deadline!
You *must* have your results back in by April 28th.
The survey is a java app that you have to download and run. I've posted it on my anonymous ftp site:
ftp://ftp.wickedlysmart.com/pub/
There are three files:
Bus_Comp_Dev.srvytmplt
Surveyor.jar
surveyinstruct.pdf
You'll need to fetch ALL three, and the instructions tell you where to email back the results.
If you have trouble with ftp, I can email you the files. Please write to me directly at:
kathy@wickedlysmart.com
Here's the announcement from Evelyn (Java cert manager):
----------------------------------------
The Certification team is in the process of creating a NEW certification exam!
"Sun Certified Business Component Developer for the Java 2 Platform, Enterprise
Edition"
This certification is for programmers specializing in leveraging the Java 2
Platform, Enterprise Edition (J2EEtm) technologies used to develop server-side
components that encapsulate the business logic of an application. Prior to
beginning the Sun Certified Business Component Developer program, you must be a
Sun Certified Programmer for the Java Platform (any edition).
The current phase of development for the SC Business Component Developer for
J2EE certification is a survey, called a blueprint, this helps me weigh the
testing objectives. The survey will help me focus our test development on areas
most critical to the job role.
Please take a moment to fill out this survey, it will take 15 minutes to
complete.
Instructions for the survey are listed in the attachment. Please feel free to
contact me with any questions you have.
++++For completing this survey, I will send you a FREE VOUCHER to take the
Business Component Developer for J2EE beta test in June. This beta will count
towards the NEW Business Component Developer for J2EE certification.++++
Thank you - Evelyn

Evelyn Cartagena
Java Certification Program Manager
Sun Services - Educational Services

Your link doesn't work for me

Been there, done that, but where am I going to learn that stuff? I have done a BEA EJB 4 day course last year but it only touched on those some of those topics in that survey.

Thanks, Kathy. Great idea, it fits a huge gap in the Sun Certification lineup. Is there an informational webpage about the new exam anywhere?

I tried running the survey and it drops out after I hit the OK button on the instructions, so I'm downloading the Java Plugin right now. I'll be back if that doesn't work....
[ April 24, 2003: Message edited by: Alfred Neumann ]

Kathy,
Great idea but .... I'm getting the following error when I try your connect to your FTP server.
Error 11004 (Valid name, no data record of requested type) finding address for host

Billy Talton

Ditto.. not able to get through your FTP server. Now that you have opened the floodgate, perhaps you should ask your host to look into it unless you don't mind being swamped and drowned by email requests....

Thank you, Kathy, very much!
Can you please also tell us how long after we send the file to the specified email will we hear back from you or Sun and get our free voucher! Just so we know when to expect to hear back...
Thank you very much for your reply in advance and for this wonderful opportunity!
Kind Regards,
+Seid

Hi There,
All the related email addresses and ftp/url's are not within sun's domain.
How can I know the information really comes from Sun?
Thanks.
sh yh

Originally posted by sh yh:
Hi There,
All the related email addresses and ftp/url's are not within sun's domain.
How can I know the information really comes from Sun?
Thanks.
sh yh

What, you don't trust the cowgirl?

If you trust anything at all on javaranch, you'll have to trust me here
I'm shocked!
But don't worry, the domain for the return of the survey *is* Sun -- survalias@central.sun.com
(the central just routes it faster... you can take off the central and send it survalias@sun.com).
My email is no longer Sun because I switched from employee to contractor status a few months ago.
But hey, I wouldn't believe me either!

But if you want more evidence, check this link from JavaOne that shows me under "Sun Microsystems":
http://servlet.java.sun.com/javaone/sf2002/conf/speakers/16193-bio.en.jsp
Or google me.
The Trail Boss will vouch for me, too -- we both worked in the same building at Sun for awhile

Anyway, sorry to everyone about my domain -- it apparently *was* down this morning for awhile (apollo hosting), but it's back.
Oh yeah, Alfred, nothing has been posted on Sun's site yet, that's part of why you're doing the survey. This survey will help us finalize the objectives. The exam is set to be officially debuted at JavaOne, where we will run a beta (prometric is onsite), but I'm pretty sure there will be info up on the site before then. The exam will probably release sometime in early fall.
cheers!
-Kathy "trust me, I'm a cowgirl" Sierra
And Barry, if you happen to want to *take* that exam and decide you want to learn it all, I know just how to make that as easy as possible...

Thanks Cowgirl. ;-)
I'm just curious because they mentioned that the voucher was for the first part of the test. Which kinda leads me to believe that it's going to be something like SCJD for J2EE or perhaps even a three-part exam like the SCEA.
???
Are there any other new exams coming down the pike, or can't you say?
[ April 24, 2003: Message edited by: Alfred Neumann ]

Hi,
How is that playing out in the spectrum of Sun Cert? If you are a developer, then you don't need it. If you are a programmer, then you need it before qualifying for developer cert. But if you are quansi architect and developer, do you still need it?

I hope it is only a path.

Thanks,
MCao

Hmmmm good questions. I'll try to get some answers tomorrow -- but here's my understanding about the exam:
(nothing, NOTHING has been finalized in any way. This is all very early which is the reason for the survey, that's step one.)
* It will be almost identical in format to the SCWCD, which means a multiple choice like the SCJP. I am about 95% certain that it will not have any other 'project' component or be in any way like the Architect or Developer exams.
* So, following that format, it will have SCJP as a prereq, but it will not be a prereq for the Architect exam. The architect exam stands alone because it is the only exam that does not expect you to be a Java coder.
* I don't know of any other exams on the Java side coming up soon -- we'll have a lot of work revising both the architect exam and at some point the SCWCD. But... *anything* can happen.
I'll post what I know as soon as I know it, and to those who've already sent back the survey -- THANKS!!

cheers,
-cowgirl

I trust you Kathy!

Approximately, once you send the survey results, when should you expect to hear from Sun? Also, is everybody participating in the survey eligible for a free voucher?
TIA,
- Manish

Howdy

I am told that everyone who responds with survey results -- before the deadline -- will receive a voucher. I do not know when you will *hear* from Sun. The beta will not be sometime near the beginning of June, to correspond with JavaOne.
I'll let you know when I have more details.
cheers,
-kathy

What a great idea!
I've been doing EJB for 6 months now and would love to work towards this certification! I hope my survey response made it in on time so I get the free voucher

I've gotta say though, those objectives look pretty damn scary....

Kathy, can you tell me if your new book will be out at the same time as the beta exam? After using your great SCJP book you can put my name down for one if it is

Thanks,
Colin.

Howdy,
Our book will be out for the final release of the exam, but not in time for the beta. However, for some of you who are *really* serious about taking the beta, and are signed up for it, we can arrange to send you as much of the book as we have finished, in draft form. (It will be more than half).
We will also have some sample chapters available for those taking the beta at JavaOne.
Best thing to do is write to me directly:
kathy.sierra@wickedlysmart.com
The objectives aren't so scary ...

Think about it this way, they are *much* more specific than the SCJP. So you know *exactly* what you need to study. I have a list that maps each objective to the exact place in the spec (sometimes more than one place) from where that objective was derived. I'll post that on JR soon.

cheers,
Kathy
(thanks Colin

)

Kathy,
Where could I find more info
about this new test? Thanks.

Hi Jane.
Go to the start of this thread. I think that that's all the info right now.

Regards,
-angelo

I was told that SUN has cancelled this
beta test. Is it true?

Originally posted by Jane Somerfield:
I was told that SUN has cancelled this
beta test. Is it true?

Source? (Actually, if thay have done so, it gives more time to prepare, because I assume the voucher offer still holds

)
[ May 06, 2003: Message edited by: Barry Gaunt ]

Originally posted by Jane Somerfield:
I was told that SUN has cancelled this
beta test. Is it true?

Sun cancelled the beta for the new SCEA exam. However, as far as I know, the EJB Beta is still on.

Any idea when these vouchers are coming?
- Manish

I've been told the voucher mailing date is May 19.
By the way, there is a useful online EJB 2.0 certification on Brainbench.com - EJB cert.
and also a mock test for this - EJB mock test
I think their syllabus is similar to the proposed Sun EJB test syllabus.

Any idea how long they are valid until?

That's all the info I have. I can only guess that you have to take the beta test some time before Sun officially release the exam.

Thanks Kathy!

Did you guys get the voucher for this business componenet exam? I haven't yet received my voucher, just wondering what's wrong?
- Manish

hi,
read the note from sun's beta registration:
"Sun Certified Business Component Developer for J2EE - It is strongly recommended that beta test takers have 6-12 months experience in Enterprise JavaBeans(TM). Please allow five business days to receive your electronic voucher and test objectives."
if the registration is first available on 14th (wendsday), then the voucher will be delivered after 20th (tuesday), right?

Hi Everyone!
In regards to the BCD free vouchers, please be patient. I am sending them out on a first come first basis and the response is overwhelming. I am getting to them as fast as I can.
Again thank you for your interest and your patience.
Thanks,
Evelyn

Hi everyone,
Just thought I'd mention that I have received my electronic voucher and finalized objectives for the SCBCD exam.
By the way - you can also register for the beta exam at the Javasoft Homepage.
Good luck,
Andy

Thanks for the link Andy. I registered via the link you gave, but I can't find anywhere the objectives for the exam. I tried Kathy's ftp site above, but the content she referenced is no longer there.
Anyone have the objectives for the exam who can share them with me?
Thanks in advance.
[ May 22, 2003: Message edited by: Art Vandelay ]

Kathy posted the objectives in the EJB Certification (SCBCD) Forum here.