Today one of my reader asked about what is the latest OCPJP or SCJP exams available, which prompted me to browse through Oracle's certification website. During my casual browsing, I noticed this new Java 8 certification. I said great, within six month of Java 8 release we now have Java SE 8 certification available, programmer still digesting changes form Java 8 now have chance to be certified on latest Java 8 . The certification is called "Oracle Certified Associate, Java SE 8 Programmer - 1Z1-808" and has written for the Java SE 8 release. Format of exam is similar to previous certification e.g. Java SE 7 Associate and Professional exams (1Z1-803 and 1Z1-804). The exam is in beta and as per their website, exam score reports will be available in CertView approximately 11 weeks after the close of the beta Exam. You will receive an email with instructions on how to access your beta exam results. Number of question is very high (150-225), comparing to old SCJP days, and you will get 2.5-3.5 hours to answer all questions. Given this exam is available, I am sure programmers will start getting confused that whether should they go for Java SE 7 or go for this beta exam, or wait for some time to get certified in Java SE 8. My suggestion to all of them is that it depends, if you are fresh graduate from college and looking for job, do Java SE 7 as soon as possible, it will help you to lend a Job faster. If you already got a job and settling there, you can wait for sometime until Java SE 8 exam come out of Beta or try this one because it doesn't cost you much. If you are still not sure, then read this article about why you should do Java certification. If I read correctly, it will cost you around 60 USD. Considering cost of Oracle Certified Associate, Java SE 7 Programmer, which is around 350$, this is much more cheaper, but remember it's still in beta.
So you can see that they have included some topic from new Date and Time API and Lambda expressions and functional interface. I am also expecting lot of questions due to default methods, which has completely evolved some interfaces like java.util.Map. In first point about creating and manipulating Strings, you can also expect new String joining functionality from Java 8 release.
If you are interested, you can register for exam at education.oracle.com and locate a test centre near to you. You can also think of taking Java SE 8 Programming training from Oracle, which covers the core language features and Application Programming Interfaces (API) you will use to design object-oriented applications with Java Standard Edition 8 (Java SE 8) Platform. You can use this course to further develop your skills with the Java and more importantly to prepare for the Oracle Certified Professional, Java SE 8 Programmer Exam. I will keep posted about Java SE 8 certification here. If any of you take this beta exam, please share your experience, that would be immensely helpful for fellow developer who are thinking to take this exam. If you are confused between Java SE 7 and Java SE 8 certification, think of your need, version not matter as much you are certified or not. As I said, if you are looking for Job then better get certified with OCA or OCP for Java 7, rather than going for this beta exam or waiting until this came out from beta. If you are not in hurry then wait until it came out form beta, but if you are curious developer and wants to give it try, go for it. Given minimal cost, you will get motivation to learn Java SE 8 sooner than later and with much more detail.
All the best !!
Just Learned that Oracle is now offering Java SE 8 Oracle Certified Associate (OCA) certification at throwaway price of USD 50. Well, I think it's the best chance to become part of elite group of rare Java 8 certified developer. You can buy voucher of this exam from Oracle website or you can even register online at http://pearsonvue.com/oracle . Since Java 8 is going to become standard in coming years, getting certified in Java 8 will add value to your resume and career. I have already registered for 1Z1-808 exam, along with my three friends, going to appear within two months time.
If you decide to get Java 8 certified here are couple of useful links
1. Syllabus and Complete detail of Java SE 8 Certification
2. Link to Register for Java 8 Exam
3. Recommend Instructor-led Java SE 8 training from Oracle
Though training is not mandatory for appearing in Java SE 8 Oracle Certified Associate (OCA) certification, it will give you head start in how to use Java SE 8 features in your day-to-day programming. If you are not a regular programmer and haven't touched Java from more than six month, you can really benefit from this training.
All the best Guys
What is there from Java 8
Well SCJP exams doesn't vary a lot from one version to another, but given path breaking changes in Java 8 e.g. lambda expressions, method references, new Date and Time API, Stream API for bulk data operations, I was hoping for some changes. The one I found under "Working with Selected classes from the Java API".- Creating and manipulating Strings (May use Java 8 String joining functionality)
- Create and manipulate calendar data using classes from
java.time.LocalDateTime, java.time.LocalDate, java.time.LocalTime,
java.time.format.DateTimeFormatter, java.time.Period - Write a simple Lambda expression that consumes a Lambda Predicate expression
So you can see that they have included some topic from new Date and Time API and Lambda expressions and functional interface. I am also expecting lot of questions due to default methods, which has completely evolved some interfaces like java.util.Map. In first point about creating and manipulating Strings, you can also expect new String joining functionality from Java 8 release.
How to prepare for Java SE 8 Certification
Oracle recommends Java SE 8 Fundamentals training which is quite costly around 3750 USD for 5 days onsite training or virtual Live classes. Until you are completely new to Java, you can learn this stuff by yourself, but if you are in urgency and have money, you can think of joining those training classes. Any books to prepare Oracle Java SE 8 Programmer 1 (1Z1-808)? I think one book available for pre-order "OCA/OCP: Oracle Certified Java SE 8 Programmer I and II Study Guide by Jeanne Boyarsky and Scott Selikoff (Mar 30, 2015)". But you don't need to worry, you can take any of my suggest books on OCPJP 7 and just read couple of good Java 8 books, and you will be ready for examination. What is more important is practice some mock questions. Unfortunately there is no Java SE 8 certification practice question available from Whizlabs, all you have is Oracle Certified Professional, Java SE 7 Programmer package, whose FREE test contains 36 questions, enough to convince you buy there Practice test, which contains 745 questions. Since I had used Whizlabs in past, I know their quality and you can use these test to prepare 75 to 80% of your exam topics. Till the time you prepare, there would be some mock questions coming from leading test providers like Entuware, Whizlabs and others.A Brief Overview of Java Certification from Oracle
If you are new Java developer and not very familiar with various Java certification offered from Oracle, here is a handy certification path. Basically you start with Oracle Certified associate programmer, then you go for Oracle Certified Professional (OCP), remember you need to pass associate exam before you go for OCP. Both of these exams are based upon core Java, and recommended for every Java developer. In the same space you have Mobile application developer and Business Component developer for Java guys who work on Java ME and Java EE. Once you are certified professional, you can consider preparing for Oracle Certified Expert exams. There are four of those, Enterprise JavaBeans developer, Java Persistence Developer, Web Service Developer and Web Component developer, with respective area of expertise. For example a Java web Service Developer should be expert in both SOAP and REST web services in Java application. The Last set is for Oracle Certified Master, you can choose either to become Enterprise Architect or Java Developer focused on core Java, which you can directly give after becoming Oracle Certified Java professional. For Java EE programmers, you can choose any order, but following is the recommended from fellow developers :- Oracle Certified Associate Java SE 7
- Oracle Certified Professional Java SE 7
- Web Components Developer
- Enterprise Java Beans (EJB) Developer
- Java Persistence(JPA) Developer (or EJB Developer)
- Web Services Developer
If you are interested, you can register for exam at education.oracle.com and locate a test centre near to you. You can also think of taking Java SE 8 Programming training from Oracle, which covers the core language features and Application Programming Interfaces (API) you will use to design object-oriented applications with Java Standard Edition 8 (Java SE 8) Platform. You can use this course to further develop your skills with the Java and more importantly to prepare for the Oracle Certified Professional, Java SE 8 Programmer Exam. I will keep posted about Java SE 8 certification here. If any of you take this beta exam, please share your experience, that would be immensely helpful for fellow developer who are thinking to take this exam. If you are confused between Java SE 7 and Java SE 8 certification, think of your need, version not matter as much you are certified or not. As I said, if you are looking for Job then better get certified with OCA or OCP for Java 7, rather than going for this beta exam or waiting until this came out from beta. If you are not in hurry then wait until it came out form beta, but if you are curious developer and wants to give it try, go for it. Given minimal cost, you will get motivation to learn Java SE 8 sooner than later and with much more detail.
All the best !!
Update
If you decide to get Java 8 certified here are couple of useful links
1. Syllabus and Complete detail of Java SE 8 Certification
2. Link to Register for Java 8 Exam
3. Recommend Instructor-led Java SE 8 training from Oracle
Though training is not mandatory for appearing in Java SE 8 Oracle Certified Associate (OCA) certification, it will give you head start in how to use Java SE 8 features in your day-to-day programming. If you are not a regular programmer and haven't touched Java from more than six month, you can really benefit from this training.
All the best Guys
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