OCMJEA Startup questions

[Shan Kara]

Hello Everyone,

I've returned to the Java Ranch after about 14 years since I completed my SCJP2 exam in year 2000.

For so many years I wanted to do my JEA exams but other priorities didn't allow and finally I have decided to go for it.

I've gone through many posts already and the OCMJEA FAQ and still I'm having few questions un-answered. Appreciate if someone can shed a light on them.

1) I understood that we need to go through official Oracle training to get qualify for the exam. Again I've seen many candidates have taken the exams first and then opted to go for the official training. Is this approach recommended ? (Link for any discussion regarding this subject would be appreciated)

2) OCMJEA FAQ area is having some invalid links and wrong information and is there any place that I can find the up-to-date information ?

Thanks in advance,
Shan

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

Shan,
1) Ideally you'd take a course first to learn something. I think the reason people take it second is they want to ensure they pass the exam before investing money in a class.

2) What links are broken/wrong? Let me know (here or over PM) and I can correct them. Or you can if you want. It is a wiki.

[Shan Kara]

Hi Jeanne,

Thank you very much for your reply. Much appreciated !

1) So I assume there's nothing wrong taking that approach since there's a valid reason for it. And nothing stops you taking the exams first and then take the lessons. Right ?

2) Most of the links pointed to *sun.com are broken. Following are some of them.

http://suned.sun.com/US/certification/faq/#java
(mailto:[e-mail])
http://java.sun.com/blueprints/guidelines/designing_enterprise_applications_2e/app-arch/app-arch5.html

Additionally the link to Prometric is misleading and as I found they don't anymore host any Oracle exams. (correct me if I'm wrong)

http://www.2test.com

If we can publish the correct links to buy the exam vouchers that would be helpful. Also I understood there would be some discounted/offers providing by Oracle and if we can highlight them that would be nice.

[Jeanne Boyarsky]

1) Right.

2) Thanks. I starred updating the FAQ. I'll continue doing so later in the week/over the weekend.

[Satya Chekuri]

Hi Shan,
There is no hard and fast rule about when you can take your course. You can take at the beginning, in middle or at the end of your SCEA. I have taken the course after I am done with exam/assignment and essay. As Jeanne suggested if you feel there is some course that might help with this certification then you can go ahead with that course. Let me give you a headsup that SCEA is not about coding so don't expect courses related to programming to help you with exam. Any courses related to software architecture should help you.