Oracle Java Certification Overview and Path

This article brings you an overview picture of Oracle Java Certification: what a Java certificate is, how it looks like, its benefits, why we’d recommend you to get certified, and the detailed path of all Java certificates. You will know what certificate to get started, and the paths to achieve other certificates from the easiest level (Associate) to the hardest level (Master).

1. What is a Java Certificate?

A Java certificate is an official recognition from Oracle Corporation - the company that maintains and develops Java technologies - it certifies that you acquired comprehensive, quality, industry-standard knowledge on a specific Java technology: core Java, Java SE, Java EE, etc. A Java certification also acknowledges your excellence in developing Java applications using that technology.

Imagine that it’s like a warranty seal of a high-quality product - your Java programming expertise.

2. How does a Java certificate look like?

Years ago, when Sun Microsystems has not been acquired by Oracle, you will get a certification kit which includes the following items:

• Exam result
• Congratulations letter
• Certificate badge
• Certificate card

Here’s how a Certificate Badge looks like:

Nowadays, as Oracle acquired Sun, the certification kit definitely gets changed. Once Oracle granted the certificate, you will receive notification by email.

By default, the certificate is delivered in electronic format (eCertificate). If you want to get a printed copy of the certificate, you need to send request to Oracle as instructed in the notification email.

For example, here’s how a certificate for OCAJP 8 looks like:

3. Why are Java certificates so hot?

As Java certificates demonstrate one’s excellence in Java platform, and with the fact that certified Java professionals often gets paid higher than casual ones, programmers always aspire to be certified in order to give their career a boost. That’s why Java certifications are very hot in the industry.

4. What can you benefit from Java certificates?

Here are the key benefits when you are a certified Java professional:

Increase your confidence and productivity in your work, as you grasp the right knowledge from the certification.

Increase your credibility and competence in the job market: You can get Java jobs much easier than others who don’t have certifications. According to Oracle: ‘90% of candidates say Java certifications give them credibility when looking for a new job’.

Increase your market value in the industry: You can use Java certifications to market yourself in anything related to Java technologies: jobs posting, jobs interview, freelance work, Java training, Java blog, etc.

5. Why should you be certified?

Besides the benefits listed above, I think the real motivation for acquiring Java certifications is to conquer yourself and to become better than yourself today. Also, the process of being a certified Java professional gives you fantastic experiences which you want to try, and you would regret if not.

6. Oracle Java Certification Path

The following picture shows you the complete suite of Java certificates issued by Oracle:

As you can see, Java certificates are categorized by levels and platforms:

• Levels from easiest to toughest: Associate, Professional, Certified Expert and Master.
• Platforms: Java Standard Edition (Java SE) and Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE).

And there are total 9 different certificates, 3 for Java SE and 6 for Java EE. Let’s understand each in brief:

• OCAJP: is the entry certification which means you have to earn this first in the certification path.

• OCPJP: is the programmer certification which demonstrates your excellence in Core Java. It is the prerequisite for Java SE developer certification and other Java EE certifications.

• OCMJD: is the Java SE developer certification which demonstrates your excellence in developing Java desktop applications.

• OCE-JWCD: is the entry certification for Java EE. Earning this certification demonstrates your expertise in developing Java web applications using Servlets and JSPs.

• OCE-JSFD: this certification demonstrates your excellence in developing Java web applications using JavaServer Faces technology.

• OCE-EJBD: this certification demonstrates your excellence in building Java enterprise applications using Enterprise JavaBeans technology.

• OCE-JPAD: this certification demonstrates your expertise in applying Java Persistence API for developing Java enterprise applications.

• OCE-JWSD: this certification demonstrates your excellence in developing web services based applications with Java.

• OCEMJEA: earning this certification makes you become a Java Architect - the most valued Java certification. This is the ultimate certificate in Java certification path.

And the following picture shows the path you should follow in order to accelerate your career with Java certificates:

Note that you have to take OCAJP, OCPJP and OCE-certifications. You can omit OCMJD on the road to become a Java Architect.

That’s the overview of Oracle Java Certification and the Path you should follow to become a certified Java Master.

Other Java Certification Guides:

• How to get Java Certificates - 5 Steps to Become a Certified Java Programmer
• OCAJP Preparation Guide and Study Materials
• OCPJP Preparation Guide and Study Materials
• OCEJWCD Preparation Guide and Study Materials

About the Author:

Nam Ha Minh is certified Java programmer (SCJP and SCWCD). He began programming with Java back in the days of Java 1.4 and has been passionate about it ever since. You can connect with him on Facebook and watch his Java videos on YouTube.