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BEA Certification Cycle?

 
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Not quite a silly question as it might seem, since we have an exam-prep program as this week's give-away.
I've mostly dedicated myself to IBM's track due to my prior employer's decision to convert over to WebSphere (back then, v3.5). Since then, I've seen the 4.0 version come out and had to recertify, only to have them decide to revise the exam for WebSphere Studio, announce the withdrawal of the original 4.0 certification and then push back the deadline... and the 5.0 version is due out soon (apparently), which leads me to wonder when they'll force the upgrade to that.
Not to mention that my current employer uses iPlanet, but that's semi-irrelevant.
I'm still considering climbing the JCert ladder, but debating taking the exam for different AS for the Level III since I'm losing confidence in my still having a valid AS certification when I get to that point. BEA would seem to be a good choice to replace IBM on my skill sheet, since they're the major competator to IBM in this space, but I don't want to go through the recertify-every-6-to-9-month cycle with them too.
So, here's my question - how often is BEA 'forcing' developers who achieve their certification to update their certifications? Or are they following Microsoft's lead and simply putting a version number on the certification?
Thanks in advance.
 
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In fact I was also looking for the ans for the same question. I did some search and found these two links provide some info:
http://e-docs.bea.com/wls/platforms/eol.html
and
http://education.bea.com/education/certification_faq.jsp#Q6
I am not sure which version they mention on current certificate. I hope somebody will give input on it so that we know its durability.
 
Theodore Casser
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At least it's not as bad as IBM's policy. Still just makes me wonder if it's worth pursuing any product certifications at this point.
Personally, I don't see why all companies can't just let prior versions of the certification stand. It's not like my IBM certificates don't already list the version for which I took the exam, for instance...
 
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Hi, I do not quite understand this post. So does it mean that IBM expire the old version certifications, like Microsoft does?
For example, if I become a Websphere Server 4.0 specialist, if IBM pushes out 5.0, then my certificate will expire? That means I can not write it (including the version) on my resume and business card???
Can someone clarify on this?
thanks.
 
Theodore Casser
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Originally posted by Stephen Wei:
Hi, I do not quite understand this post. So does it mean that IBM expire the old version certifications, like Microsoft does?


Actually, Microsoft stopped retiring certifications. It's now possible to be an 'MCSE for NT 4.0' instead of just an MCSE - they basically just added the software version to the title.


For example, if I become a Websphere Server 4.0 specialist, if IBM pushes out 5.0, then my certificate will expire? That means I can not write it (including the version) on my resume and business card???


According to the agreement we got with our packets from IBM, yes, we're supposed to stop using the certification title when they 'retire' an exam. In theory, exam 488 (WAS, Advanced Single Server Edition "VAJ edition") was being retired in favor of a revised exam (158, WAS, ASSE, "WSAD edition") on 30 Jun '02, but the retirement date's been pushed back now to the end of the year.
My major issue is the having to recert every 6-9 months. I got my 3.5 certification in May of 2001. By November, I had to re-up to 4.0, and being told in April of 2002 that I had to 're-do' my 4.0 certification seemed rather unfair (especially in light of 5.0 coming out later this year, iirc). Granted, they do offer opportunities for free vouchers, but it's the principle of the thing, coupled with the cost if one misses the voucher...
 
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Theodore,
The BEA Certification is considered current until a second ordinal version comes out. For instance, if you are certified in version 6, then you are current until the release of 8.
There is not, however, any version number listed on the actual document itself.
--------------------
Joe McGuire
Sun Certified Java™ 2 Programmer, BEA WLS Certified Developer
 
Stephen Wei
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Hi, thank you for all the clarifications.
I hate the rule of expiring the certifications, especially the version change every year. So now Microsoft changed it, I hope IBM will change it too.
cheers.
 
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hi all,
In that sense i wd like to thanks the SUN guys for they don't tend to expire their certifications ...
 
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I've moved jobs and have moved from iPlanet to WebSphere. I've looked at doing the WebSphere cert but think I will do the iPlanet cert instead.
I think 'Sun One' will make iPlanet more popular in the future since it's bundled with Solaris 9 & hopefully Sun will push performance into the BEA/IBM league..
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