Overview
If you want to be a part of the software industry, it is necessary that you constantly update your software skills. This not only ensures that you prepare yourself for facing new challenges at work but also paves the way for career advancements. There are a variety of certifications available for a software programmer/analyst.
Benefits
A certification program provides the necessary credentials and comprehensive set of skills that are required to be successful on the job. It is an indicator for the managers and potential customers who can rely on the software skills and experience of the certified developers. This credential offers a simple and targeted framework that makes the students have a clear knowledge about the subject and also lets them stand out from the crowd.
Costs
The cost of each certification varies. It depends on the technical skill to be mastered, the organization that offers the certification, and the duration of the course involved. The cost varies from $50 to $1,150. There are also preparatory classes available for the certifications and the costs of these classes vary widely.
Schools
Some reputed institutions that offer certifications include SAP, Red Hat, Cisco, Sun, Adobe, and Sybase. There are various certifications available. Some are listed below:
- BEA Certified Developer
There are three specializations to choose from: portal solutions, build solutions, and integration solutions. Though each specialization requires an exam, it is necessary to complete only one to acquire the BEA certified developer designation.
- Brainbench Certified Internet Professional (BCPIP) - Web Developer
This certification requires completion of four levels of exam.
- Certified Internet Webmaster (CIW) Certifications
There are two certifications under this. The "Master CIW Enterprise Developer" certification requires eight exams and the "CIW Web Developer" requires two exams.
- Learning Tree International Certifications
The duration of the certification is four days and contains four courses. The various certifications available include: .NET Enterprise Application Development Certified Professional, .NET Web Development Certified Professional, Access Certified Professional, C# Programming Certified Professional, Visual Basic .NET Programming Certified Professional, and SQL Server Application Development Certified Professional.
- PeopleSoft Certified Developer
One training class needs to be undertaken before writing the certification exam.
Testing & Preparation
Most certifications require that the applicant has relevant work experience in the area of specialization chosen. There are various preparatory classes and books available to help them prepare for the certification exams. Some of the institutions have their own set of exams to evaluate the student's current knowledge of the subject and advise them to choose the right career.
FinancialAid
There are no scholarships or grants available to pay for certification exams. The only possible source of financial aid is the employer. Most employers sponsor their employees' certification exams based on their performance and career growth. Some of the institutions like Oracle, Microsoft, and MySQL provide vouchers and rewards for the people who take up the certification courses.
