Sun has created a new entry level certification exam (Sun Certified Java Associate) for those with around 6 months experience with Java. They have just released the beta version of the exam which can be taken at no charge from Prometric testing centers from June 20 – July 15, 2005.
Unfortunately for me here in Mobile, AL, the closest testing center that is offering this test is Triangle of Technology Academy over in Pensacola, FL.
Of course, this is where I took and passed the Sun Certified Java Programmer exam, so maybe that place is good luck for me.
I think I am going to sign up and take it. In theory I should be able to pass with flying colors (and if I don’t pass I may have to step out into traffic) but it is also good to take the beta to be able to provide valuable feedback to the test designers.
Here are the Exam Description and also the Exam Objectives pages. You can sign up through Prometric’s website. The exam number is 311-019 (it is at the very bottom of the Sun exam list on Prometric’s site)
Good luck. After taking it, it will be around 2 months before results are published. A great forum for help in preparing for the Java exams is JavaRanch. This site was started by Kathy Sierra and Bert Bates (the wonderful creators of the Head First series). You can read a collective blog from them and a couple of their cohorts at Creating Passionate Users