Easy Steps To Become Oracle Database Certified

So, should you become Oracle Certified? Truthfully, Oracle Certification has been a polarizing issue for quite a while. Nevertheless, one thing is certain, being certified would not hurt your chances of getting a better job or achieving advanced expertise in the field of database administration. Primarily, the Oracle Certification provides an accurate measure of your technical abilities. Additionally, it gives you an edge over people competing for the database administration positions you desire. Below are easy steps to become Oracle Database Certified.

Steps to Become Oracle Database Certified:

1. Associate Certification
 
The first step to getting your Oracle is getting the Associate Certification, which requires that the person passes two tests to become an Oracle Certified Associate (OCA). With this qualification, you can work in junior database management as a team member or an application developer. To get the associate certification, you have to pass in one of the three tests explained below and the final “Oracle Database 11g: Administration I” test.
 
Step 1: Take one in the Following three Courses
 
Oracle Database 12c: SQL Fundamentals 1Z0-061
 
The examination tests ability to create, retrieve, maintain and edit data in a database. Mainly, this involves a grasp of important database administration concepts such as relational database. Additionally, the need to understand and use SQL is very important, as the test will require you to demonstrate your SQL programming skills.

Oracle Database SQL Expert 1Z0-047
 
In general, this is an advanced version of the “Introduction to Oracle9i SQL” test. You will need proficiency in 76 topics to succeed in this exam. Basically, you have to have high understanding of database objects, control privileges, and system-level queries. The questions are require deep understanding of SQL, and are multiple parts in nature, requiring application of concepts rather than mere memorization of answers. Experience in database administration will give you a notable advantage in this test.
 
Oracle Database 11g: SQL Fundamentals I 1Z0-051
 
This test is an improved version of the “Introduction to Oracle9i SQL” test. The content is more recent and includes set and conditional operators, which are absent in the older version. Therefore, you would be better off choosing this test over the former.
 
Step 2: Oracle Database 11g: Administration I 1Z0-052
 
The test requires knowledge on how to set up database environments and secure Oracle instances in any network environment. Other concepts needed to pass this exam include understanding of database backup and recovery, Oracle Database Architecture, as well as configuration of security instances. The questions require application of concepts, not just memorization of information.

2. Professional Certification
 
The professional certification allows you to manage large databases and develop large-scale database applications. In summary, to become an Oracle Certified Professional (OCP), you have to take an instructor-led course, an exam and a hands-on course.
 
Step 1: Be an Oracle Certified Associate
 
You must have the OCA certification as a pre-requisite for this course.
 
Step 2: Take an Exam
 
The second step in the OCP certification process is to take a course from a selection of about 50 courses and sit an exam. The list of these courses is available on the Oracle site. The broad selection means that you can choose the course that best suits your training requirements. Note that you cannot meet the requirements of this course through self-study; you have to take an instructor-led class, a virtual class or learn through training-on-demand.  

Step 3: Submission of an Already Completed Course
 
In this step, you are required to submit a previously completed course from a list of 21 courses. Alternatively, Oracle allows submissions from courses taken in the previous step.
 
Step 4: Oracle Database 11g: Administration II 1Z0-053
 
This is the final exam in the OCP certification process. Once you pass this exam, you can proceed to the final process.

Step 5: Submission of a Course Completion Form

Once you pass this exam, you just have to complete a course submission as the final step in the OCP certification process.
 
3. Master Certification
 
This is the highest Oracle certification you can get. With this qualification, you will well-suited to work in senior levels in IT departments handling sensitive database system issues and applications. You will need an OCP certification to get started. After that you will take a2-day exam and then a hands-on course.
 
Step 1: Obtain an OCP Certification
 
The Oracle Certified Master (OCM) requires you to first obtain the OCP certification.
 
Step 2: Complete two Advanced Courses
 
The next step in master certification is completion of two courses from a list of over 30 courses. Some of these courses may coincide with those offered in the OCP certification process. Nevertheless, those used to obtain the OCP certification cannot be used during this step to meet the OCM requirements. Additionally, as with the OCP certification courses, you have to take these courses in class, through virtual class, or by training on demand.

Step 3: Submit a Completed Course
 
This step is also much like its OCP counterpart in that you can submit an archived course from a list of almost twenty courses given or a course from the list provided in the previous step.
 
Step 4: Oracle Database 11g: Certified Master Exam 11GOCM
 
This is the final exam in the master certification process. Passing this exam essentially completes the learning requirements for the entire Oracle certification process. However, there are a few minor steps required to obtain the OCM certification.
 
Step 5: Fill a Course Submission Form
 
You have to submit this form to demonstrate that you have successfully completed all the courses required to get the Oracle Certified Master qualification.
 
Step 6: Submission of a Fulfillment Kit Request
 
This form is also submitted in addition to the course submission form, and is the last requirement for the Master Certification process.

Conclusion:

In general, Oracle Certified database administrators have the know how to run databases both at the junior and senior levels, depending on the certification level. Some people might argue that there is little point to being certified, as the process involves the memorization of theoretical concepts and taking a multiple choice test. However, while there is credence to the fact that certification does little to compensate for the lack of technical competence obtained through experience, it does give validity to such claims. As an Oracle Certified database administrator, potential employers and clients are more easily convinced of your capabilities in the field.