Spring Certification

Any body out there preparing for Spring Certifacation?

Will take in the future, maybe in 2010.

Hi Raja - I am planning to take up the certifiction in the first quarter of 2009

Is there any prerequisite to take the exam?

From its web is it required to take the training course?

Thanks.

Hi All -

I passed the Spring 2.5 test today, so here is a few pieces of info:

1. I had Spring training last year and was provided with a free voucher for the certification, so I was eligible for the test.
2. I was preparing for the test for a couple of months, though there are no mock exams on the web. I used "Java black belt" site.
3. Here is what I was reading:
a) Spring official documentation and API specification: http://www.springsource.org/documentation
b) Training presentation pages (provided at the Spring training) - all topics from http://www.springsource.com/files/cert_study_topics2.pdf are covered there. Moreover, all items from that "Suggested Topics of Study for ..." are the items in training presentation.
c) "Pro Spring" by Rob Harrop and Jan Machacek
d) "Professional Java Development with the Spring Framework" by Rod Johnson, and ...
4. The questions on the test are general, they don't ask for the syntax or API, as Sun's tests do. A lot of them ask "What features are povided for ...?"
5. Though the "Spring Basics" has the most number of items, the test includes not more than 10 questions on it. I think each of 10 topics had 5-10 question in the test.

Good luck

Congrat on passing Spring Certification.

How long do you think preparation time will be good after Spring training?

Prior to Spring training do you have any experience on Spring ?

Thanks
AR

Aaron Raja wrote: Congrat on passing Spring Certification.
How long do you think preparation time will be good after Spring training?
Prior to Spring training do you have any experience on Spring ?
Thanks
AR

Thanks!

Actually, it worths to go right after it when you have everything in your head (or spend a few days/weeks reviewing all materials presented at the training, skimming the books, writing a few lines of code, etc). But that would work if you had the Spring experience before the training. That was my case - I was working with the Spring Framework for almost a year before going to the training.

Thanks for your great Tip!!
Any particular book?

I think

"Pro Spring" by Rob Harrop and Jan Machacek

is a good start. Basially, the book starts with HelloWorld program and they explain why we may need Spring.

Hi Al Gi,

1000000 congratulations

Really you are strong person

I have One question,
What is the exam ID, for example: in sun SCJP 5; the id is CX-310-055, what is your exam ID and name?

Congrats again

what is your exam ID and name?

Exam Number/Code: SFC2.5
Exam Title: SpringFrameWork 2.5
Exam Language(s): English

Hi All,

I'm preparing to take SpringSource Certified Professional.

Does anybody know where in India, can I get the required 4 day training ?

Thanks in Advance.

Hi guys,

thanks for your info about spring certification, but still i have some doubts :

a) is training is mandatory or i can straight away buy vocher and do certification.
b) currently iam at hyderbad, india, can anyone help me, in which promotric centers i can do this certification.

Thanks,
prakash

siva prakash wrote:
a) is training is mandatory or i can straight away buy vocher and do certification.

As has been mentioned in other threads.. training can be waived in the circumstances laid out on Spring's website for grandfathering around it (basically, community participation, contribution to the Spring project, or sufficient development of Spring-based applications). Otherwise, no, you can't just buy a voucher.

I have been using spring for almost 2 years now. I am planning on taking the Certification (that if I do get a voucher from SpringSource based off the 'grandfathered' candidate) I am planning on using the book 'Spring in Action' rather than 'Pro Spring' since 'Spring in Action' is more current.
I havent used the following spring features at work AspectJ, Srping+Hibernate, Spring+iBATIS, Securing Spring, Spring+Webflow, Do you think that 'Spring in Action' is a good book to cover all these topics, in addition to the Spring online reference documentation.

want to know how soon i will get to know whether i have passed the exam.?

Thanks!

@veena - you will come to know the result instantly after the exam .

Akash Bhatt wrote:Hi All,

I'm preparing to take SpringSource Certified Professional.

Does anybody know where in India, can I get the required 4 day training ?

Thanks in Advance.

Akash, you may be interested in this link

http://mylearn.vmware.com/mgrreg/courses.cfm?ui=S2&pID=springsource&a=sort&country=India&go.x=70&go.y=19

Vivek Viswanathan wrote:I have been using spring for almost 2 years now. I am planning on taking the Certification (that if I do get a voucher from SpringSource based off the 'grandfathered' candidate) I am planning on using the book 'Spring in Action' rather than 'Pro Spring' since 'Spring in Action' is more current.
I havent used the following spring features at work AspectJ, Srping+Hibernate, Spring+iBATIS, Securing Spring, Spring+Webflow, Do you think that 'Spring in Action' is a good book to cover all these topics, in addition to the Spring online reference documentation.

@Vivek, I second the book "Spring in Action". At least, I feel I am comfortable with this book.
On another note, how are you planning to be eligible for "Grandfathered candidate"? Any pointers to kick-off with?

Congrats

Training cannot be waived in most cases and I am not sure how would you show 'relevant experience'

For those who are preparing for Spring certification , there is a practice test created by Daniel. This test has 50 questions

Spring Certification Practice test

Now (as of July 27 2010) you must take course to get Spring certified. Unless you are privileged (your organization has some tie up with SpringSource or VMware), you end up paying somewhere around USD$2511 (varies based on date and your privilege) (whoa!) to get the training + voucher.

I was planning and almost started to prepare for the certification. But when I heard this I dropped my plan without a second thought. That is lot of money to pay from my pocket...

Here is what I heard from SpringSource

Thank you for your email We no longer offer Grand Father Voucher request. All students who would like to become certified would have to take one of our courses to be able to obtain one free voucher to take the certification exam. If you have any other questions feel free to contact us.

What do you guys thing about SpringSource stance here? What could have made them dropped the idea of grandfathering and make training mandatory for attempting the certificate?

Now the big question, Is it worth spending $2511 for this ?

I think its very expensive, i would say this has become expensive than PMP. Although we can't compare as two are separate, but $2511..is very expensive in my thought.

$625 per day for just a 4 day course in Spring is more money than most IT workers make in one day! When the price of something mandatory is that high for so little in return then it is a trick to take money from the gullible.

@Kingsly Theodar - Spring Source want to take advantage of Spring popularity and they want to make money out of this popularity.

i was also planning to give Spring certification but now i can not give it

deepak adlakha wrote:Now the big question, Is it worth spending $2511 for this ?

I think its very expensive, i would say this has become expensive than PMP. Although we can't compare as two are separate, but $2511..is very expensive in my thought.

The shame is that I would ordinarily consider the Spring certification when I have time (having previously qualified for the grandfathering). When a certification costs as much - if not more - than a semester of my studies at university, however... I have to decline. I don't think it's worth it.

In my opinion there are two options: Spring's certificates will become available without any mandatory trainings, or they will become marginalized because of their very low recognition and popularity.

Just for now - availability of detailed documentation, community support, lots of forums and thousands of examples makes high cost trainings as undesirable.

If you must pay only 200$ - 300$ for voucher and certificate - this is acceptable not only for organisations but even for private people. 2500$ is a sum that makes me thinking: "Hey - we are doing applications based on Spring Framework - right? Why do we need such expensive certifications if no one requires them from us?"

But - yes - if trainings become optional, some people (trainers) will loose their job, because I'm sure that if now we have:

X paying for training and 0 paying only for a test (because they can't)

we would have:

Y paying for training (Y<X) and at least 100Y paying only for a test

I got Spring voucher in US, Can I use it in India???

uffffffffffffffff...

Failed Spring certification exam with 2%, I scored 74% and the pass score is 76%
hmmm need to give one more chance.

I see couple of questions on syntax's too in this exams especially from the advanced topics.

Suresh,

I did tried the same exam twice (72% in July2009 and 74% in August 2009), but no luck. I am grandfathered candicate.

However, I did cleared SCJWS5.0; and realaized that, spring certification is not much popular and not recognized by the industry.

Also consider the following facts :

1. Spring is not a technology, it is a alternative approach for the JEE technology.
2. VMVare designed this exam strategically to book lots of profits.
3. I have a colleague who received voucher as part of 4 day spring core traning. He cleared in first attempt. I realized after discussion with him that, there are lot of differences the type of questions he faced and I (may be my case is ideal !).

So, I suggest you not to hurry, do not ask for new voucher soon, do not take decision in hurry / frustation.

I personally suggest to go for any sun certification or IBM OOAD certification, which brings more value than spring certification !

Sujeeth Pakala wrote:Suresh,

I did tried the same exam twice (72% in July2009 and 74% in August 2009), but no luck. I am grandfathered candicate.

However, I did cleared SCJWS5.0; and realaized that, spring certification is not much popular and not recognized by the industry.

Also consider the following facts :

1. Spring is not a technology, it is a alternative approach for the JEE technology.
2. VMVare designed this exam strategically to book lots of profits.
3. I have a colleague who received voucher as part of 4 day spring core traning. He cleared in first attempt. I realized after discussion with him that, there are lot of differences the type of questions he faced and I (may be my case is ideal !).

So, I suggest you not to hurry, do not ask for new voucher soon, do not take decision in hurry / frustation.

I personally suggest to go for any sun certification or IBM OOAD certification, which brings more value than spring certification !

Suresh,

I could not more strongly disagree with you. Spring is now practically the de facto standard for Java development. As a consultant who both interviews and is interviewed - it is the top on every recruiters shopping list when screening candidates for interview. Every developer now says they are Spring experienced - but many of them are inflating their skills for the purposes of gaining an interview / offer. Believe me I have interviewed some of these so called "experts" and they don't even know you can inject with annotations.

Spring certification is a fantastic way of putting yourself above the crowd. I do accept that this is a difficult exam to take. I failed my first attempt and passed on the second, but its difficulty makes it even more of a valuable asset compared to some of the Oracle Java certs, which can have quite low pass rates and are owned by 1000s of developers out there.

There is a useful site to give you plenty of tips and pointers about getting started on the road to Core Spring certification: springcertification.com. I hope I can convince you to reconsider your view and revisit this exam in the future, or anyone else reading this thread.

Regards

Dan