RE: Oracle Performance Tuning Exam

I used to interview perspective Oracle DBA's for Oracle. I was always unimpressed with the certificate. However, once I heard that I might have to pay $1000 for another class just to take the 9i exam I took the 8i OCP DBA exams just so I could take the 9i upgrade - principal alone. Experience should be key but unfortunately sometimes management only goes by things that are easily quantifiable not having the technical background to make any other judgement - not all management but unfortunately a few I have met. As a pragmatist I am busily getting certified after holding out for 8 years feeling my experience was all that should matter. In truth I feel that if we think of ourselves as true professionals than we accept certification as part of the job as so many other fields do. Also, it didn't hurt my memory to go over a few things I had learned but forgotten along the way. As for the certification exam itself (Performance and Tuning) being absolutely incorrect (and really not all of it just what was mainly emphasized) then the more experienced DBA's should write to Oracle University in protest and get them to redo the exam. In otherwords, if more experienced technicians get certified my bet would be that the exams would become better and more appropo. Also, I love the idea of exams in a lab - workshop. So let's quit whining and turn this into something that really matters to our profession. Then again, maybe I am just taking this whole Oracle DBA thing just a bit too seriously.

Just my 2 cents....

-----Original Message-----
Sent: Thursday, February 27, 2003 11:24 PM To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L

Depends on the path chosen to Oracle 9i DBA OCP: 1A) Pass the 5 Oracle 8i OCP DBA exams, then pass the Oracle 9i DBA OCP upgrade exam (total of 6 exams, but still does not need an Oracle Univeristy course)
Note: if Oracle retires the Oracle8i DBA exams like the Oracle 8 DBA exams, they would be available until May 2004 (5 months after Error Correction End Support).

2A) Pass 2 exams for Oracle 9i DBA OCA (Associate), 2B) Pass 2 more exams and attend an Oracle Univeristy course (unless an Oracle 9i DBA OCP exam was passed before Sep 1, 2002)

http://www.oracle.com/education/certification/index.html?certpaths.html has the certification path information (Oracle has promised to publish changes 6 months before implementation)

The Oracle 9i DBA OCM (Master) requires Oracle 9i DBA OCP, 2 advanced DBA courses from Oracle Univeristy, and passing a 2 day hands-on exam (using Oracle on Red-Hat Linux). While I agree with the continuing education requirement, I disagree that Oracle University is the ONLY place that offers high quality advanced DBA education. I wish Oracle would count the Hotsos Symposium 2003 (and future Hotsos Symposiums as a meeting the Master education requirement). In my meager experience of Oracle conferences, the Hotsos Symposium has been the best education value.

Since my employer won't pay for OCM (cutting training budget again), I would rather attend several conferences (and learn from many fine people on this list) than spend $ 4,000 to $ 7,000+ pursuing 9i DBA OCM.

Realistically, OCP DBA only validates that someone can read and memorize; I passed 3 of my 4 certifications without hands-on experience using that version of Oracle. The exams validated I had spent some time learning the terminology of new features, but offer no indication that I know how to use them. As more hairs turn gray (silver), I can appreciate why experience is needed and valued. Also, certification does show an employer serious interest in becoming a DBA.

Have Fun :)
OCP DBA 7.3, 8, 8i, & 9i (yea yea I got the paper and the plastic, but this list is far more educational and fun)

Alan Davey wrote:

>If you are taking the 9i certification, there are only 4 exams that you
have to take. Unfortunately, unless you took at least one exam last year and got "grand-fathered", you will have to enroll at Oracle U. for one of the four courses covering the certification exams.
>
>
>

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