Certification question, what should I go for next?

[Stephen Wei]

Hello All:
I am a Sun certified Java Programmer, now I want to get a developer certificate, but I do not have time to do the Sun developer exam. So I am looking at some IBM developer certificate.
it seems that VisualAge solution developer or Websphere Solution developer is interesting, I am wondering which one I should go for. I do not have any experience with Websphere or VisualAge, Can I pass by just reading the book? Which one might be more useful generally?
I want to be a professional solution developer, specialize maybe in JAVA, J2EE/EJB, Xml, etc. What certificate path is good for me? I know it all depends on people individually, but I still
love to hear opinions from people who have expriences with certification.
Any advice is appreciated, thanks.

[Ren Li]

I am SCJP and VAJ 4.0 certified developer. I am preparing WAS 4.0 certification. If you haven't start VAJ yet, you may take a look at WebSphere Studio Application Developer 4.0.2. I believe it is better than VAJ and more useful.
Regards

[Stephen Wei]

Hello, thanks for the reply.
Actually I am thinking about going for the Jcert path. So I need a IBM certified soluction developer for my 2nd stage. I know there were two options before, one for Websphere, one for VisualAge.
But Now I only see VisualAge option on IBM website, and the old websphere one has expired. So is there going to be a new one coming? when? Is it still part of the Jcert path?
Can some one give me the answer? THanks.

[Theodore Casser]

The WebSphere options got changed because IBM actually changed the exam layout - they used to have one for 3.5 Standard Edition (JCert II) and one for 3.5 Advanced Edition (JCert III). They now just offer the one 4.0 exam for developers that they've aligned with the III level.
I wouldn't hold my breath for IBM to put a WebSphere App Server exam at the II level again. So, one of the development tools (VAJ or WebSphere Studio) is probably your best bet if you're looking for their path.

[Tom Stevns]

Hi !
I concider to take the jCert level2 certification
too
So maybe we should keep in touch - you
and other about this jCert Level2(IBM)
From the IBM's danish site jCert level 2 "Could be composed" as follows:
Level 2, Skill 2A:
OB00 or OB30
Level 2, Skill 2B:
WF30 or WF34

[Stephen Wei]

Hello Tom
Actually I think people should form a forum of some kind to prepare for the Jcert certificate. For me I am looking at IBM or Oracle path for now. I think there is already probably such study groups, but I have not found any yet.
Does anyone know any good study group for Jcert? particually IBM/Oracle path? Can someone tell us about it? THanks.

[Tom Stevns]

Hello Stephen
I agree and will spend some time over the
next dayes searching.

[Tom Stevns]

Hello Stephen !
I can't find anything about "jCert Study Groups"
Something group was at www.woj.com but not
anylonger.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22jcert+%22+%2B%22study+group%22+-scjd+-%22Sun+Certified+Java+Developer%22+-microsoft
http://www.javamug.org/mainfolders/minutes/2000/minutes0300.html

[Graeme Brown]

Originally posted by Stephen Wei:
I do not have any experience with Websphere or VisualAge, Can I pass by just reading the book?

Not unless you are some type of superhero.
The VAJ exam requires extensive knowledge of the product that I feel you can only get from experience of using it. The UML exam in particular requires you to read and understand UML diagrams and artifacts, you can only get this knowledge if you have worked through real world examples.
I just passed VAJ Solution Developer and am working on Websphere Enterprise Developer.
I do think that a forum for those preparing for JCert is a really good idea.

[Stephen Wei]

Hello Tom and all, thank you for all the feedback.
As Tom mentioned, I think there is not a good current Jcert preparation forum, maybe because it has too many options and hard to organize. But For people who are looking at a specific path, such as IBM path, I think we could sometimes talk about it in this forum??
One more question, I know for IBM certified solution developer, there were 2 options before, one for VisualAge, one for websphere studio?? Now only VisualAge option is available, is IBM going to put back another Websphere studio exam back to JcertII? Or Maybe VisualAge is my only option for a while?
Thanks.