OracleP
®
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Certification Program
Candidate Guide
Oracle Database 10g
P
™
P
Administrator Certified Associate
Oracle Database 10g
P
™
P
Administrator Certified Professional
Oracle Database 10g
P
™
P
Administrator Certified Master
May 2006
Contents
Oracle Candidate Certification Guide
Oracle
Database 10gP
™
P
Administrator Certified Associate
Oracle
Database 10gP
™
P
Administrator Certified Professional
Oracle
Database 10gP
™
P
Administrator Certified Master
May 2006
1
The Benefits of Oracle Certification
2
Oracle Database 10gP
P
Administrator Certified Associate
Oracle
Database 10gP
P
Administrator Certified Professional
Oracle
Database 10gP
P
Administrator Certified Master Paths
3
Preparing for the Oracle Database 10gP
P
Tests
4
Registering for Your Tests
5
Taking Your Tests
6
After You Are Certified
7
Special Testing Opportunities
Test Content Checklists
Visit the Oracle Certification Program website at http://www.oracle.com/education/certification/
May 2006 - Oracle Certification Program Candidate Guide: Oracle Database 10g Certified Associate, Professional, and Master Paths
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1
The Benefits of Oracle Certification
The demand for Oracle technical
professionals is growing at an incredible
pace. But individuals, experienced or new
to the profession, need to know what
skills make them attractive to employers.
Employers look for ways to distinguish
employees and prospective employees
who have the solid foundation of skills
needed for effective performance.
The Oracle Certification Programs help
the IT industry make these distinctions by
establishing a standard of competence in
key entry level and professional job roles.
An Oracle certification is a valuable,
industry-recognized credential that
signifies a proven level of knowledge and
ability. Each higher level of Oracle
certification brings a higher standard of
benchmarked skill and ability, which leads
to greater opportunities and higher
remuneration.
“Technical certifications have evolved
from a hiring tool to a screening tool:
If you don’t have them, you aren’t
viewed as a serious candidate.”
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Benefits to the Technical
Professional
An
Oracle Certified Associate (OCA)
credential demonstrates that you have a
solid understanding of the foundation
skills of a given job role that can be
applied at an apprentice or entry level.
By earning your OCA designation you
improve your chances of getting entry-
level job opportunities. The OCA is the
stepping stone to starting a successful
career as an Oracle Professional.
After OCA, by becoming an
Oracle
Certified Professional (OCP)
you
demonstrate your understanding of the
full range of skills required by Oracle
professionals in your chosen job role. The
OCP is in high demand in today's
marketplace, and the demand for new
OCPs grows with each new release of an
Oracle product. An Oracle certification
helps raise your visibility and increases
your access to the industry's most
challenging and rewarding opportunities.
“Oracle’s certification strength in a
declining economy is due in part to
the fact that more complex, high-level
certifications appear to be less
vulnerable”
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The
Oracle Certified Master
(OCM) is
the highest credential an Oracle
professional can earn in the Oracle
Certification Program. An Oracle DBA
Certified Master is a top-level Oracle
expert who has in-depth knowledge of the
Oracle database technology and industry
experience managing mission-critical
Oracle database systems and applications.
An OCM is considered an expert within
an organization, among peers, and across
the industry.
The true value of earning an Oracle
certification credential is increased
opportunity. With more opportunities
come career growth, greater stability, and
higher remuneration.
May 2006 - Oracle Certification Program Candidate Guide: Oracle Database 10g Certified Associate, Professional, and Master Paths
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“Given the key importance of data as an
organizational asset, it should come as
no surprise that DBAs remain in high
demand and that related training
certification programs are popular even
in this time of economic trouble... By
the numbers, Oracle leads the
DBMS/DBA certification area.”
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Benefits to the IT Employer
The Oracle Certification Programs are also
valuable to hiring managers who want to
hire right candidates for critical IT
positions. For companies that send
employees through annual IT training,
certification helps ensure a return on the
training investment by validating the
knowledge and understanding gained in
training sessions. Companies can also
combine certification with an employee
development program to enhance employee
loyalty and performance on the job. Hiring
certified professionals can have a direct
impact on a company's success.
1 Source: Information Week, Employers Raise the Bar on
Certification, 2002
2 Source: IDC Certification Report and Forecast 2002 - 2006
3 Source: CertMag, Certified Expert: Working as a Database
Administrator, January 2003
May 2006 - Oracle Certification Program Candidate Guide: Oracle Database 10g Certified Associate, Professional, and Master Paths
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Oracle Database 10g
Certification: Overview
The expertise of Oracle database
administrators (DBAs) is integral to the
success of today's increasingly complex
system environments. Their critical work
requires a broad understanding of the
architecture and processes of the Oracle
database, as well as plenty of hands-on
experience in solving problems. The best
DBAs know they stand between optimal
performance and an event that could bring
their company to a standstill.
“Currently, Oracle skills remain the
most sought-after database skills in the
IT marketplace.”
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Oracle Database 10g
Administrator Certified
Associate (OCA)
The Oracle Database 10g Administrator
Certified Associate (OCA) credential is the
first step toward success as an Oracle
database professional. It is designed to
provide a foundation in the administration
of Oracle Database 10g. This entry-level
qualification requires completion of only
one exam. The OCA credential is a building
block (and a prerequisite) in the process to
receive the Oracle Certified Professional
(OCP) and Oracle Certified Master (OCM)
credentials.
Oracle Database 10g
Administrator Certified
Professional (OCP)
The second and most recognized tier of the
Oracle Certification Program is the Oracle
Database 10g Administrator Certified
Professional. The Oracle Certified
Professional credential is an advanced
qualification for Oracle Certified Associates
and requires candidates to first earn the 10g
OCA credential and then to pass only one
additional exam and to have met the hands-
on course requirement. Oracle Database 10g
OCPs have the skills to set up and manage
critical Oracle Database 10g functions and
to keep the database running at maximum
efficiency. In order to gain hands-on and
classroom experience, all OCP candidates
are required to complete one Oracle
University hands-on course from Oracle
University or one of its authorized partners.
This training is the best preparation for the
OCP exam and will add both book and
practical learning to all those who become
certified. The OCP credential will provide
the candidates with the recognition that will
lead to increased opportunity and more
rewarding careers.
View the chart on Page 5 for a list of the
required tests and the course
requirements to earn the Oracle
Database 10
g
OCP credential.
Oracle Database 10g Certified
Master (OCM)
The Oracle Database 10g OCM credential is
for the Oracle database guru—the senior
database professional with both classroom
and on-the-job experience. The
prerequisites are that the candidates earn an
Oracle Database 10g OCP credential and
complete the advanced-level coursework.
The final stage requires that the candidates
prove their skills through an intensive, two-
day, hands-on practical examination.
Currently, the Oracle Database 10g OCM
practicum and the credential requirement
are under development. Further details will
be available in late 2005
2
Oracle Database 10g Administrator Certified Associate
Oracle Database 10g Administrator Certified Professional
Oracle Database 10g Administrator Certified Master Paths
