Sun Microsystems Java Certification Program Briefing Version 1.1 Publication date: Feb 29, 2008 This material is licensed by DevelopIntelligence LLC and shall not be reproduced, edited, or distributed, in hard or soft copy format, without the written consent of DevelopIntelligence. Information in this document is subject to change without notice.

Sun Microsystems Java Certification Program Certification and Productivity Even though the Sun Java certification program is a multi-level, mutli- competency program, it does not easily translate into a measure of productivity. Like most certification programs, Sun’s program equates knowledge with productivity. The program is structured around the philosophy that more knowledge yields a more productive worker. Measuring Knowledge Because there is no industry standard to measure the productivity of a software developer, most companies turn to certification programs as that measure. However, our experience tells us that using a certification program as a measure of productivity, is like comparing apples to oranges. Certification programs only measure someone’s knowledge. They do not measure someone’s ability to effectively and productively apply that knowledge. Overview Sun Microsystems offers the de facto standard for Java Certification. However, other organizations, such as Oracle and IBM, offer complementary programs. From an industry standard, most Java developers gravitate towards Sun’s program than the others. The landscape of Sun’s Java Certification Program has changed overtime in much the same way as Microsoft’s has changed. Initially, Sun offered only three Java certifications the Sun Certified Java Programmer, the Sun Certified Java Developer, and the Sun Certified Java Architect. As the language and platform grew, Sun revised the program into a multi-level, multi-certification program. Four Levels Of Certification Sun offers four levels of Java Certifications, from a base entry level to an advanced architect level. Like most certification programs, moving up the certification path requires the previous level’s certification. According to Sun’s marketing, the current certification focuses on the skills required for specific job roles, such as programmer or developer. In this vein, it would seem similar to the .NET certification programs. In reality, however, Sun’s certification program focuses primarily on the type of artifact an individual will be creating (a component or application). The four levels of certification are: • Entry Level • Foundational Level • Speciality Level • Enterprise Level Entry Level Certification The entry level certification is represented by the Sun Certified Java Associate (SCJA) certification. It is targeted at entry-level developers, project managers, and managers and validates an individuals basic knowledge of object oriented concepts, the Java programming language and general knowledge of Java platforms and technologies. At one point in time SJCA was used to describe the Sun Certified Java Architect program. This is no longer the case

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