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Advice on Certification Path

 
Greenhorn
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Hi,

I apologize if this seems like a noob question, but I would appreciate any advice given.

After I left Active Duty in 2007, I was a software developer working on SOAP and REST web services at 3 different companies including my current company for a total of approximately 7 1/2 years. In early 2016, I moved over to the cyber incident response team at my current company. After doing that type of work for 3 years, I came back to software development just under a year ago. I have my OCA Jave SE 5/6 and was wondering what certification path I should pursue. Java 8 is still being rolled out at my current company and I previously purchased the OCA / OCP Java SE 8 Programmer Certification Kit: Exam 1Z0-808 and Exam 1Z0-809. Given that my current company is still rolling out Java 8, I assume that studying the books that I already purchased and obtaining both the OCA and OCP Java SE 8 certifications is the best path forward for me. But, I am curious to know if there would be any advantages for me to forgo the OCA / OCP Java SE 8 certification path and jump directly to the new Java SE 11 certification path.

Thanks!

Jason
 
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Jason Lawson wrote: Java 8 is still being rolled out at my current company and I previously purchased the OCA / OCP Java SE 8 Programmer Certification Kit: Exam 1Z0-808 and Exam 1Z0-809. Given that my current company is still rolling out Java 8, I assume that studying the books that I already purchased and obtaining both the OCA and OCP Java SE 8 certifications is the best path forward for me.


We are in the same boat.  Because I had already invested time in preparing for 1Z0-808.  I intend to go forward with it.

Jason Lawson wrote: But, I am curious to know if there would be any advantages for me to forgo the OCA / OCP Java SE 8 certification path and jump directly to the new Java SE 11 certification path.

 
Afterwards, I was thinking of upgrading.  Good luck on making a decision that is right for you.
 
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No, it isn't a newbie's question at all.

So are you still working at the same company? Has anybody told you to get a Java8 certification? Are you sure that a Java8 (or Java11) cert exam is actually necessary for your career? When you have years of experience, do people ask whether you have a recent certification? How much Java8+ style code have you written?
I would think you will understand the Java8 cert books and exams better if you are writing Java8+ code. Similarly for Java11 certs. I think there is only one Java11 cert book available at the moment, but there will be several more in a few months.
Have you considered a more general book? There are several. I know a few. I have Modern Java in Action (Urma Fusco and Mycroft, Manning ISBN: 9781617293566) and Core Java9 for the Impatient by Cay Horstmann (Pearson ISBN: 9780134694726). Both are very good books. Beware: Horstmann has written two books with similar names. You might be able to get older editions cheaply which will introduce you to Java8 only. And I have several other books. Consider whether you can get up to speed with Java8+ and whether that is sufficient for your career. I have a copy of a book by Mala Gupta to introduce you to Java11 published by Packt, which actually tells you about some Java12 features too. (Java 11 and 12 – New Features, ISBN: 9781789133271.) That may not be relevant to your present job if you are moving to Java8, but such knowledge might be useful if you change jobs.
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