Programming and Developer Certifications

As one of the people who sits and creates the software that runs our lives and businesses, it is important that you can verify your skills to future and current employers. There are several great certifications out there to do just that. The following is a list of some of the most popular and where to get more information about each.

BEA Certified Developer
BEA Systems Site
Offers three specializations to choose from: Portal Solutions, Build Solutions, and Integration Solutions. Each specialization requires one exam. Only one specialization is required for the BEA Certified Developer designation. Developer exams cost $150 each.

Brainbench Certified Internet Professional (BCPIP) - Web Developer
Brainbench Website
This online certification requires four online exams that typically cost $49.95. Some exams are free.

Certified Internet Webmaster (CIW) Certifications
CIW Certification Site

• Master CIW Enterprise Developer
  An advanced certification, this requires eight exams at $125.
• CIW Web Developer
  Requires two exams at $125 each.

Macromedia MX Certifications
Macromedia's Site
Each certification listed requires only 1 exam for $150.

• Certified Macromedia Dreamweaver MX Developer
• Certified Macromedia Flash MX Designer
• Certified Macromedia Flash MX Developer
• Certified ColdFusion MX Developer

Microsoft Certifications
Microsoft's Website

• MCAD - Microsoft Certified Application Developer
  Requires 3 exams at $125 each.
• MCSD - Microsoft Certified Solution Developer for Microsoft .NET
  Requires 3 core exams and 1 elective at $125 each.
• Microsoft Office Specialist - Access
  Requires 4 exams for master level, 1 additional exam for expert level, and 1 additional exam for a total of 6 exams for specialist level. Each exam costs around $125.

Learning Tree International
Learning Tree's Site
Each of the listed certifications consist of four courses that last four days. The four courses cost a total of $1,150.

• .NET Enterprise Application Development Certified Professional
• .NET Web Development Certified Professional
• Access Certified Professional
• C# Programming Certified Professional
• Visual Basic .NET Programming Certified Professional
• SQL Server Application Development Certified Professional

Oracle Certifications
Oracle's Site

• Oracle9i PL/SQL Developer Certified Associate (OCA)
  Requires 2 exams at $125 each.
• Oracle9i PL/SQL Developer Certified Professional (OCP)
  Requires an Associate certification and 1 exam costing $125.

IBM Certifications
IBM Website

• IBM Certified Associate Developer - WebSphere Studio, V5.0
  This entry-level cert requires 1 exam for $150.
• IBM Certified Developer Associate - IBM WebSphere Studio Family of Products, V4.0.x
  Requires 1 exam for $150.
• IBM Certified Application Developer – DB2 Universal Database V8.1 Family
  Intermediate level cert requires 2 exams for $150 each.
• IBM Certified Solution Developer
  This intermediate certification is product specific and requires 1 exam for $150.
• IBM Certified Enterprise Developer
  This advanced certification requires 4 exams that range from $150 to $190.

PeopleSoft Certified Developer
PeopleSoft Education
Requires one training class (costs vary) and one exam available for $200.

SAS Certifications
SAS Website

• SAS Certified Base Programmer
  Requires one exam for $150.
• SAS Certified Advanced ProgrammerRequires a Base Programmer Certification and one exam for $150.

Sun Certifications
Sun's Website

• SCJP - Sun Certified Java Programmer
  Requires one exam for $150.
• SCWCD - Sun Certified Web Component Developer for J2EE Platform
  Requires an SCJP certification and one exam for $150.
• SCBCD - Sun Certified Business Component Developer for J2EE Platform
  Requires an SCJP certification and one exam for $150.
• SCJP - Sun Certified Developer for the Java 2 Platform
  You must be a Sun Certified Java Programmer and then complete a programming assignment available from Sun for $250 and take one exam, administered by Sun for $150.
• Sun Certified Enterprise Architect for Java Technology
  This advanced cert requires one exam, a programming assignment, and an essay exam, all available from Sun.
• J2ME - Sun Certified Mobile Application Developer
  Requires an SCJP certification and one exam for $150.

Sybase Certifications
Sybase Site
Each Sybase certification is considered entry-level and consists of 1 exam. Exams cost $150 each.

• Sybase Certified Professional - Adaptive Server Anywhere Developer
• Sybase Certified SQL Developer
• Sybase Certified PowerBuilder Developer

EC-Council Certifications
EC-Council Site
EC-Council offers two programmer certifications:

• EC-Council Certified Secure Programmer (ECSP)
  Requires one exam costing $150.
• Certified Secure Application Developer (CSAD)
  Requires a prior certification from Sun, Microsoft, Linux, Oracle, or IBM (specific certs listed on EC-Council site) and one exam. Exam costs $150.

Good luck on achieving your programmer certification! If you have more questions, be sure to ask them in the certification forum.