Oracle database certifications: Quick guide from PrepAway

David Banks
Authored by David Banks
Posted Thursday, March 14, 2019 - 8:33am

Working on database programs has always been the most interesting job in the IT world. A database could be determined as the collection of data like text, numbers, video etc. If you want to prove the world that you have solid skills related to the database, there is no better option for you than pursue Oracle Database certification.

Oracle is a big vendor that offers database credentials on different proficiency levels. In this PrepAway Quick Guide, we will consider certifications that will no doubt come in handy for working with Oracle Database, Oracle Spatial, SQL & PL/SQL, and MySQL Database.

But before we start, let’s see what are Oracle certifications in general.

Why Should One PursueOracle Certifications?

Carrying an Oracle certification validates your mastery in specific areas and brings you respect from colleagues and employers. An Oracle Certified Professional (OCP) is an individual who has successfully completed the Oraclecertification program. DifferentOracle certification levels are intended for individuals with different skills – entry, associate, professional, master, expert, and specialist. This is how they are abbreviated: 

  • Oracle Certified Junior Associate – OJA
  • Oracle Certified Associate – OCA
  • Oracle Certified Professional – OCP
  • Oracle Certified Master – OCM
  • Oracle Certified Expert – OCE
  • Oracle Certified Specialist – OCS

To get more information about all Oracle certifications, go to the official Oracle website. 

What Is the Importance Carried by Oracle Certification?

  • It equips you with the skills to solve real-life challenges.
  • The certification uses the latest technologies in the world of Information Technology.
  • The certification is serving education, hospitality, retail, financial sector, public sector, health sciences, and so forth.
  • Certified individuals become more attractive to hiring managers.
  • Oracle certification works as the stepping stone to a successful career, especially if you pursue high-level credentials.
  • Certified individuals are a valuable asset for the organization, so they can expect a high salary.

How to Grab the Opportunity and Become Oracle Certified Individual?

If you want to obtain one of the Oracle certifications, you need to pass a certain exam or a few exams. These tests will assess your knowledge and determine whether you have the abilities to handle specific tasksrelated to the particular certification. Now, let’s move to database credentials from Oracle which will surely interest you.

Oracle Database Certifications

This branch of certifications is dedicated to Oracle Database. By attaining any of the following credentials, you will gain essential technological skills and learn effectivetechniques of database administration. There are four main paths in this branch: Oracle Database 12c R2, Oracle Database 12c, Oracle Database 11g, and Oracle Spatial 11g. To give you an idea of the certification process, let’s consider first of them in more details: 

Oracle Database 12c R2: Certification Stages

The first stage on this path is to get Oracle Database 12c R2 Administration Certified Associate certification. This implies two steps. The first step is to clear one of the following exams:

  • 1Z0-071: Oracle Database SQL
  • 1Z0-052: Oracle Database 11g: Administration I
  • 1Z0-062: Oracle Database 12c Administration
  • 1Z0-061: Oracle Database 12c: SQL Fundamentals

For the second step, you need to sit for exam 1Z0-072: Oracle Database 12cR2 Administration. These two steps will earn you a status of Oracle Certified Associate. 

Next stage in this path is Database 12cR2 Administration Certified Professional credential, which will take you to the whole new level. To get certified, you need first complete the Associate certification, then pass one of the educational courses offered by Oracle, and then pass the exam with the code 1Z0-073. This test is called Oracle Database 12cR2 Advanced Administration. 

To get more information about 1Z0-072 exam, visit the official Oracle website. 

Database Application Development Certifications 

Another popular direction in Oracle certifications is Database Application Development. If you want to prove that you are able to work with SQL programming language, you have two paths to follow: SQL & PL/SQL as well as Oracle Application Express (Oracle APEX). Below we will take the first path as an example to show you how it works: 

SQL and PL/SQL: Certification Stages

If you are looking for entry-level Oracle Database SQL certification, you can opt for an Intellipaat Oracle SQL certification. This credential is relatively simple as it consists of a single exam – 1Z0-071: Oracle Database SQL prepaway.net. 

To go further, you can try and get Oracle PL/SQL Developer Certified Associate certification. This implies two steps, just like we discussed above. First, you need to pass either 1Z0-071 or 1Z0-061 (see the exam titles above). Second, you must clear exam 1Z0-144: Oracle Database 11g: Program with PL/SQL. 

To become a certified professional developer in the field of PL/SQL, you can choose Oracle Database PL/SQL Developer Certified Professional credential. This will require you to complete the Associate stage described above, and then pass a serious exam 1Z0-148: Oracle Database: Advanced PL/SQL. 

MySQL Certifications 

This branch is dedicated to MySQL – open source relational database. Here you will find two certification options: MySQL Database Administration and MySQL Developer. Let’s take the first one as an example. 

MySQL Database Administration: certification stages

If you want to enhance your ability to optimizeandinstallMySQL Server,execute database backups, and take care for MySQL databases, you can opt for Oracle Certified Professional, MySQL 5.6 Database Administrator credential. This certificationhas been streamlined: it has only one stage and requires only one exam – 1Z0-883: MySQL 5.6 Database Administrator. 

If you’d like to work with MySQL 5.7 database version, then your certification way stays pretty much the same: you can obtain Oracle Certified Professional, MySQL 5.7 Database Administrator credential by taking a single exam 1Z0-888: MySQL 5.7 Database Administrator.

In Conclusion 

Oracle Certified database executive should know how to run databases at the junior and senior level. The process involves the memorization of theoretical concepts and hands-on experience too. As an Oracle certified professional, you can convince the employer that you have what it takes to work with modern database technologies. We hope that this review from PrepAway was helpful! Good luck!

Share this

Gallery