During my professional career I gained couple of certifications from various areas and one of them is Oracle database certification - OCP.

As Oracle Certified Professional (OCP) for Oracle 10g database I've got an offer to participate in Oracle Certification Program to test new Beta version certifications for the new version of Oracle Database 11g, it means for the certification Oracle Database 11g - OCA (Oracle Certified Associate) and OCP (Oracle Certified Professional).

Who is interested then the price of each exam is now available at a reduced price from $125 to $50 USD because it is a "Beta" version and all the exams have the same validity as the next "Gold" version of final exams.


Why is any certification useful for IT specialists?

"The true value of certifications really depends on who you ask. Those with certifications will usually argue that they are important; those without them will most likely turn up their noses at them. What most IT folks do agree upon is this - certifications do hold some amount of value, but they can never replace the relevance of good experience."

First of all, if you would like to gain the Oracle Certification you have to know the following steps required for the certification:

There are three levels of the Oracle certification - OCA (Oracle Certified Associate), OCP (Oracle Certified Professional), and OCM (Oracle Certified Master), and for the first OCA certification (Oracle Certified Associate) you have to pass two exams:

- Oracle Database 11g: SQL Fundamentals I
- Oracle Database 11g: Administration I

When you pass the exams then you have the first certification level Oracle Certified Associate (OCA) and you can use the logo of Oracle OCA officially on your business cards, Web pages, and in your CV.

If you have already passed the OCA certification you can continue in the path and gain the next level of the Oracle certification which is Oracle Certified Professional (OCP), when you have to attend one weekly "in-class" training and pass one exam:

- Oracle Database 11g: Administration II

When you pass OCA and OCP then you can continue to the last level Oracle Certified Master (OCM), which consists in two weekly "in-class" trainings and in one exam when you have to solve practical database problems on test Oracle databases:

- Oracle Database 11g: Certified Master Exam

There are couple of Oracle specialists only in the world with the OCM certification because it is time consuming certification based on a real technical experience but why not to test your knowledge in this high level certification?

"Oracle Master was nothing but proof that you attended so many classes and did not even involve passing any tests."


The power of Oracle certification?

"...a certification can never replace the value of good experience, nor can it measure one's ability to apply knowledge in the real world!"

It is true that the Oracle certification may help you to get an interview, but it will not necessarily help you to get a job. It is not a "certification" that you have knowledge nor experience to solve daily problems with Oracle database but it is true that if you are providing services, then customers might be more comfortable knowing that you are certified in the technologies you are supporting.


More about Oracle Certifications:
- Oracle University
- Oracle Certification Program
- The power of Oracle certification

More about Oracle Database:
- Oracle Database 9i
- Oracle Database 10g
- Oracle Database 11g
- Oracle 11g: The Top New Features for DBAs and Developers