SCJA or SCJP ?

Hello Everyone

I am new to this forum and Java. I am a fresh graduate passed out from college this year. I have a doubt regarding the certification programs in Java.

Is there any order in taking Java certification exams. I am in a dilemma whether to write SCJA or SCJP. Please help me.

What was your major? If you were in a technical major and you want your certificate to enhance your technical career, you must go for SCJP. If you want to go into management and related fields, not technical, then having SCJA will show that you know enough Java to deal with it non-technically.

Thanks Elchin

I am a technical major. As you suggested I will prepare for SCJP. Thanks again for your reply.

If you want prove your abilities as a Java programmer/developer, then you will want to take the SCJP.

Note that taking the SJCA plays an important role in getting your feet wet with the certification process and proving that you are familiar with basic Java fundamentals and related technologies.

If you have the time and energy to dive right into the SCJP effort, go for it! As such, it would be okay to skip the SCJA altogether.

If you want to obtain a much easier cert in a shorter time and then move onto SCJP, go with the SCJA.

BTW. many people do go for the SCJA after the SCJP just to round out there certs, however most fore go it altogether. As far as proving that you are a hard core programmer, the SCJA has little value.

However, if you have a manager that knows little about Java... you may want to suggest to her/him about going for the SCJA.

My response does not imply that the SCJA has little value, it actually has significant value for many different reasons. It simply doesn't prove you are a proven Java developer, the SCJP does.

-- Robert

And I would strongly suggest going for SCJD once you have passed SCJP, because it requires you to actually complete an assignment, thus showing your actual software development skills.

You know, two certs is better than one.

There is no requirement to have your SCJA for any other exam. But it's a great cert to have, and pehaps a bit less studying is required compared to SCJP. Why not take them both. SCJA will certainly expand your knowledge of the Java Platform and help you pass the SCJP exam when the time comes!