Top 11 Senior Oracle Developer Certifications

Certifications are important for a senior Oracle developer in the job market because they demonstrate proficiency in the technology and provide employers with a reliable measure of an individual’s knowledge and experience. Certifications provide proof that a person has achieved a certain level of expertise in the subject matter, which can give them an edge over other candidates who do not have certifications. Additionally, many employers require certifications as part of their hiring criteria, so having them can help open up more job opportunities.

This article reviews some of the top certifications for Senior Oracle Developers and explains how they can help to advance a senior oracle developer's career.

What are Senior Oracle Developer Certifications?

Senior Oracle Developer Certification is a professional certification that demonstrates a deep knowledge and understanding of Oracle technologies. It is designed for experienced developers who are looking to validate their skills and stay up-to-date with the latest Oracle technologies. This certification covers concepts such as database design, PL/SQL programming, SQL tuning, security, performance optimization, data manipulation, and more.

This certification can help experienced Oracle developers boost their career prospects by validating their expertise in the field of Oracle development. It also helps them remain competitive in the market since employers often prefer candidates with certifications over those without them. Additionally, having this certification can open up new job opportunities and increase potential salary offers. Lastly, it can also help individuals stay up-to-date on the latest trends in Oracle development so they can continue to grow professionally.

Pro Tip: When studying for a senior Oracle Developer certification, focus on mastering the core components of the Oracle Database, such as Structured Query Language (SQL) and PL/SQL. Additionally, familiarize yourself with Oracle's advanced features and tools, such as Data Guard and Real Application Clusters (RAC). Lastly, be sure to practice your coding skills by working through example problems.

Related: What does a Senior Oracle Developer do?

Top 11 Senior Oracle Developer Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Senior Oracle Developers today.

1. Oracle Certified Professional, Java EE 6 Enterprise Architect

Oracle Certified Professional, Java EE 6 Enterprise Architect (OCPJEA) is an Oracle certification program that demonstrates a professional’s expertise in designing and developing enterprise applications using the Java Platform, Enterprise Edition 6. This certification requires knowledge of the architecture, design patterns, and best practices for developing enterprise applications.

It takes approximately three to six months to prepare for this certification. Before taking the exam, it is recommended that you have experience working with Java EE 6 technologies such as Servlets, JSPs, EJBs, JMS, and Web Services. You should also have a good understanding of design patterns such as Model-View-Controller (MVC) and Data Access Object (DAO).

To get certified as an OCPJEA you must pass two exams: 1Z0-807: Java Enterprise Edition 6 Enterprise Architect Certified Master Exam and 1Z0-865: Java Enterprise Edition 5/6 Business Component Developer Certified Expert Exam. The first exam covers topics related to application architecture and design patterns while the second exam covers topics related to development of business components with Java EE 5/6 technologies.

The cost of these exams varies depending on your location but typically ranges from $245-$295 USD per exam.

2. Oracle Certified Master, Java EE 6 Enterprise Architect

Oracle Certified Master, Java EE 6 Enterprise Architect is an advanced certification for experienced professionals who have mastered the skills and knowledge necessary to design, develop, deploy, and troubleshoot complex enterprise applications using Java Platform, Enterprise Edition (Java EE) 6 technology. This certification is intended for professionals who are responsible for designing and developing large-scale distributed applications using Java EE 6 technology.

It typically takes approximately 8 months to complete the Oracle Certified Master, Java EE 6 Enterprise Architect certification. To get this certification, you must first pass the 1Z0-807: Java EE 6 Enterprise Architect Certified Master Exam (Step 1) and then pass the 1Z0-850: Java EE 6 Enterprise Architect Certified Master Essay Exam (Step 2).

The cost of the Oracle Certified Master, Java EE 6 Enterprise Architect certification depends on how you choose to obtain it. If you purchase an exam voucher directly from Oracle University, it will cost $245 USD per exam. Alternatively, if you register through a Pearson VUE testing center or an authorized training partner such as Udemy or Simplilearn, it will cost $295 USD per exam.

3. Oracle Certified Expert, Java Platform, Enterprise Edition 6 Web Services Developer

Oracle Certified Expert, Java Platform, Enterprise Edition 6 Web Services Developer is a certification program offered by Oracle that demonstrates an individual’s expertise in developing web services applications using the Java Platform, Enterprise Edition (Java EE) 6 technology. This certification is designed for experienced Java developers who want to demonstrate their skills and knowledge in creating and deploying web services applications.

It typically takes around three months to prepare for this certification exam. To get certified, you need to pass the Oracle Certified Expert, Java Platform, Enterprise Edition 6 Web Services Developer Exam (1Z0-897). The exam consists of multiple choice questions and requires a minimum score of 75% to pass.

The cost of the certification exam varies depending on your location. Generally speaking, it costs between $245 - $300 USD.

4. Oracle Certified Professional, Java ME 1 Mobile Application Developer

Oracle Certified Professional, Java ME 1 Mobile Application Developer is a certification that demonstrates an individual’s proficiency in developing mobile applications using the Java ME platform. This certification validates a person’s ability to design, develop, debug and deploy applications for mobile devices.

To obtain this certification, you must pass the Oracle Certified Professional, Java ME 1 Mobile Application Developer Exam (1Z0-869). The exam consists of multiple choice and short answer questions. It covers topics such as application architecture, user interface design, security and performance optimization.

The exam takes approximately 2 hours to complete and costs $245 USD. You can register for the exam online or by phone. To prepare for the exam, you should have a strong understanding of Java programming language and be familiar with the development tools used to create mobile applications. Additionally, it is recommended that you review the official Oracle documentation related to developing mobile applications with Java ME.

5. Oracle Certified Expert, Database 11g: Program with PL/SQL

Oracle Certified Expert, Database 11g: Program with PL/SQL is an Oracle certification that validates the candidate’s knowledge and skills in developing applications using Oracle Database 11g. It demonstrates the ability to use advanced features of PL/SQL, such as packages, triggers, functions, collections and dynamic SQL.

It typically takes between two to three months to prepare for this certification exam. Candidates should have a good understanding of database concepts and experience working with SQL and PL/SQL. They should also be familiar with Oracle Database 11g architecture and components such as tablespaces, users, roles, privileges etc.

To get this certification, candidates must pass the 1Z0-144 exam which consists of 60 multiple choice questions that must be completed within 90 minutes. The exam fee is $245 USD. After passing the exam, candidates will receive an Oracle Certified Expert credential from Oracle University.

6. Oracle Database 12c Administrator Certified Professional

Oracle Database 12c Administrator Certified Professional is a certification program designed to validate the skills and knowledge of Oracle Database Administrators. It is intended for those who have experience in managing an Oracle database environment and are looking to demonstrate their expertise.

The certification requires passing two exams:

1. Oracle Database 12c: Administration I (1Z0-062)

2. Oracle Database 12c: Administration II (1Z0-063)

It typically takes around 3-4 months of preparation to pass both exams. To get certified, you must register for the exams on the Oracle website and pay the exam fee which is currently $245 USD per exam. The total cost of the certification will depend on how much time you spend studying and how many practice tests you take, but it can range from $490-$1000 USD.

7. Oracle Database 11g Administrator Certified Associate

Oracle Database 11g Administrator Certified Associate (OCA) is a certification program designed to recognize individuals who possess the fundamental knowledge and skills necessary to manage an Oracle 11g database. It is intended for those who are new to Oracle database administration or have some experience in the field.

The OCA certification requires passing two examinations: 1Z0-052, Oracle Database 11g: Administration I, and 1Z0-053, Oracle Database 11g: Administration II. The duration of each exam is 90 minutes and they are both multiple-choice questions.

To get the OCA certification, you must first pass both exams with a score of 70% or higher. Once you have passed both exams, you will receive your certificate from Oracle University.

The cost of the OCA certification varies depending on where you take the exams and if you choose to purchase any additional study materials or courses. Generally speaking, it costs around $400-$500 USD for both exams plus any additional fees.

8. Oracle Database 11g Performance Tuning Certified Expert

Oracle Database 11g Performance Tuning Certified Expert is an Oracle certification program designed to recognize individuals who demonstrate a strong understanding of Oracle Database 11g performance tuning concepts and techniques. This certification requires a candidate to have advanced knowledge of Oracle Database 11g architecture, database design and optimization techniques, as well as the ability to troubleshoot and tune database applications.

To become an Oracle Database 11g Performance Tuning Certified Expert, you must first pass the Oracle Database 11g Performance Tuning Exam (1Z0-054). This exam covers topics such as database design and optimization, SQL tuning, memory management, I/O tuning, system monitoring and more. The exam consists of 60 multiple choice questions that must be completed in 90 minutes or less.

The cost for taking the Oracle Database 11g Performance Tuning Exam is $245 USD. Additionally, there may be additional costs associated with training materials or other preparation resources.

Once you have successfully passed the exam, you will receive your official Oracle Database 11g Performance Tuning Certified Expert certificate from Oracle University. You can then begin using your new credentials to demonstrate your expertise in this area and advance your career opportunities in the field of database performance tuning.

9. Oracle Exadata X3 Administration Certified Implementation Specialist

Oracle Exadata X3 Administration Certified Implementation Specialist is an Oracle certification that validates a professional’s knowledge and experience in administering, configuring, and managing Oracle Exadata Database Machine X3-2 and X3-8 systems. This certification requires the candidate to have experience with Oracle Exadata Database Machine administration, including installation, configuration, patching, upgrades, backup/recovery operations, storage management, security management, performance monitoring and tuning.

To get this certification you must first pass the Oracle Exadata Database Machine Administration Ed 1 Exam (1Z0-067). The exam consists of multiple choice questions based on real world scenarios. It takes approximately 2 hours to complete the exam.

The cost of the exam varies depending on your location but typically ranges from $245 USD to $295 USD. You can take the exam at any Pearson VUE testing center or online through their website.

Once you have passed the exam you will receive your Oracle Exadata X3 Administration Certified Implementation Specialist Certification.

10. Oracle Business Intelligence Foundation Suite 11g Essentials Certified Implementation Specialist

Oracle Business Intelligence Foundation Suite 11g Essentials Certified Implementation Specialist is a certification that validates an individual’s knowledge and skills in implementing Oracle Business Intelligence solutions. This certification is designed to demonstrate an individual’s ability to design, develop, deploy, and maintain Oracle Business Intelligence solutions.

The certification requires passing a single exam (1Z0-591). The exam consists of 80 multiple choice questions and must be completed in 2 hours.

To get the certification, you need to register for the 1Z0-591 exam through Pearson VUE or Prometric testing centers. You can also register for the exam online at Oracle University website.

The cost of the exam varies depending on your location but typically ranges from $150 to $200 USD.

11. Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g System Administration Certified Implementation Specialist

Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g System Administration Certified Implementation Specialist is an Oracle certification that demonstrates a candidate’s expertise in administering Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g. The certification requires the successful completion of a single exam, which tests the individual’s knowledge and skills in installing, configuring, and managing Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g components.

The exam typically takes about two hours to complete and consists of multiple-choice questions. The cost for the exam varies depending on your country; however, it usually ranges from $250 to $300 USD.

In order to become certified as an Oracle Fusion Middleware 11g System Administration Certified Implementation Specialist, you must first pass the exam. You can register for the exam through Pearson VUE or Prometric testing centers. Once you have successfully passed the exam, you will receive your certification from Oracle.

Do You Really Need a Senior Oracle Developer Certificate?

The answer to this question really depends on your personal goals and aspirations. If you are looking for a job in the Oracle development field, having a senior Oracle developer certificate could be beneficial. It could provide evidence of your proficiency in the field, and make you stand out from other applicants.

On the other hand, if you already have enough experience in the Oracle development field to land a job without a certificate, then it's probably not necessary for you to obtain one. A senior Oracle developer certificate is only worth obtaining if it will help you get ahead of other applicants or give you an edge when applying for jobs.

Ultimately, whether or not you need a senior Oracle developer certificate depends on your own circumstances and goals. If pursuing a certification would benefit your career goals in some way, then it may be worth considering. However, if it won't make much of a difference or there is no real need for one, then it may not be worth the time and money investment.

Related: Senior Oracle Developer Resume Examples

FAQs About Senior Oracle Developer Certifications

Q1. What is a Senior Oracle Developer Certification?

A1. A Senior Oracle Developer Certification is an industry-recognized credential that demonstrates mastery of the knowledge and skills necessary to design, build, and maintain enterprise-level applications using Oracle Database technologies.

Q2. How do I become certified as a Senior Oracle Developer?

A2. To become certified as a Senior Oracle Developer, you must pass one or more exams administered by Oracle University. The exams are designed to test your knowledge of database design, development, and administration principles.

Q3. What types of exams are required for the Senior Oracle Developer Certification?

A3. The exams required for the Senior Oracle Developer Certification vary depending on your certification level (Associate, Professional, Expert). Generally speaking, you will need to pass one or more exam topics such as Database Administration Fundamentals, SQL Performance Tuning & Optimization, PL/SQL Programming Fundamentals, Database Design & Data Modeling Fundamentals, Data Warehousing & Business Intelligence Fundamentals, etc.

Q4. How long does it take to earn the Senior Oracle Developer Certification?

A4. The amount of time it takes to earn the certification varies depending on your background and experience with Oracle technologies as well as how quickly you can study and prepare for the exams. Generally speaking, it takes several months of dedicated study and practice in order to pass all the required exams for this certification level.

Q5. Is there a cost associated with obtaining a Senior Oracle Developer Certification?

A5. Yes - there is typically a fee associated with taking each exam needed for the certification; however prices will vary depending on which country you are taking the exam in and what type of exam you’re taking (i.e., Associate vs Professional vs Expert).