| Many of you would be thinking that in these times of | | | | competence - OCA (Associate), OCP (Professional), |
| IT slump, acquiring IT certifications doesn't make | | | | Master (OCM) and Specialization/Expert level. |
| sense. You could not be more wrong! The IT slump | | | | Corporations like Accenture have internal certification |
| is a transient phase, it will go away, but your | | | | programs like ASDA ( Accenture Solutions Delivery |
| certification will remain and will give you a vast edge | | | | Academy), which have collaborations with MIT for |
| throughout your technical career. In fact, when the | | | | certifications in JAVA, Testing and advanced C++. |
| economy booms there is hardly any time to get into | | | | Other organizations also offer similar certifications for |
| certifications; it is in lean phases such as this, with | | | | their employees. |
| little to no work at hand, that you have the best | | | | SUN has many IT Certifications for programmers. |
| opportunity to prepare for and equip yourself with an | | | | Starting from the basic SCJA & SCJP for |
| IT certification. | | | | beginners, SUN offers specialized certifications such |
| From the very basic Microsoft Office Specialist | | | | as SCJD, SCWCD, SCBCD, SCDJWS, SCMAD which |
| Certification to Microsoft certified IT Professional, | | | | are meant for a Java developer, Web component |
| Microsoft offers all types of certifications. Microsoft | | | | developer, Developer for Java web services and |
| Certified Solution Developer (MCSD) enables you to | | | | Mobile Application Developer respectively. Sun's most |
| develop different technical programs used by | | | | advanced certification is the Enterprise Architect |
| Microsoft. Microsoft Certified Trainer helps you learn | | | | (SCEA). |
| about troubleshooting and technical aspects related | | | | Private Institutes provide certifications in the domain |
| to Microsoft. Certified Database Administrator and | | | | of testing, like CSTP & CTM which are meant |
| Microsoft Certified Engineer are a few other good | | | | for Test professionals and Test Managers. The next |
| certifications. | | | | advancement comes in the form of Certifications for |
| Some corporations like Serebra have certification | | | | Quality Analyst and Test Engineer, (CSQA & |
| programs like Cisco Networking Certifications and | | | | CSTE). HP also offers certifications on its various |
| Client/Server databases help you develop in-depth | | | | automated testing tools. |
| knowledge of Networking concepts. | | | | So you have a whole gamut of certification choices. |
| Oracle offers certifications for various products from | | | | Make the most of them. Stay focused, go in for |
| its suite - the Oracle database, middleware, Forms | | | | those certifications that help you excel in your |
| and Applications (EBiz, Siebel, Hyperion, PeopleSoft | | | | technical domain. |
| etc.) Certifications are available for various levels of | | | | |