Oracle DBA Certification

Just some notes I have been gathering for my go at the Oracle Certified Professional (OCP) certificate.

Resources
Oracle Certification blog.
Steps to Become Oracle Certified - From there you can drill down into your area. Specifically, it takes you to the paths for all certification programs.

I'm interested in the Certified Professional track for Database 11g Administration.

Basically there are 2 steps:

Oracle Certified Associated (OCA)



You can complete the OCA path without taking any classes. There are 2 parts (i.e. 2 tests) that you need to pass in order to receive the OCA. Tests are $195. Your choices for the first test are:

• Introduction to Oracle9i SQL® Exam Number: 1Z0-007
• OR
• Oracle Database SQL Expert Exam Number: 1Z0-047
• OR
• Oracle Database 11g: SQL Fundamentals I Exam Number: 1Z0-051

For the second part, you have 1 test available:

Oracle Database 11g: Administration I Exam Number: 1Z0-052

Oracle Certified Professional (OCP)



This is where it gets expensive. In order to get an OCP, you must take an instructor led online or in-class course. I'm not sure the reasoning behind that exactly, but it is what it is. This will definitely be a barrier to completion.

The list of available courses can be found here.

Here's the list of 11g related courses:



Finally, there is the Course Submission Form. Basically, this tells Oracle that you are pursuing the OCP (or OCM) certification so that they can track and verify your completion of the materials.

The Course Submission Form is a tool for certification candidates to submit their required training details for verification. This form is required in order to obtain most Oracle Certified Professional and Oracle Certified Master certifications as well as some Expert Program certifications. Completing the Course Submission Form will accomplish two tasks related to your certification:

• It will trigger a request for Oracle to verify your attendance in an approved hands-on Course.
• After your attendance has been verified by Oracle, the form will generate a permanent record in Oracle's certification database, showing that you have met the requirement.

The form may be submitted at any time in your certification path, after you have completed the training requirement. However, you will only receive the certification success kit once all certification requirements have been met.

That's it for now. If you have any other resources or comments, you know what to do.