Career Advisor

Oracle Database Admin certificate

By Career Advisor

Question: Hello. I am a computer programmer. I haven’t had much work in programming lately; so, I am thinking of becoming an Oracle Database Administrator.

First, here is some detailed information about my background. I have a BS in Computer Science (received in 1995) and an MS in Computer Science (received in 1996). I had steady work experience from 1996 to 2004. Then, for 1.5 years, I couldn’t find work as a programmer, and I worked as a movie extra. Then I worked as a programmer again, for a few months. Then I quit because the company 1) was in financial distress and 2) was unable to pay my wages.

Since quitting that job, I have resumed working as a movie extra, while continuing to look for more computer work.

I live in Chicago, and a local community college called Oakton Community College (www.oakton.edu) is offering courses for an Oracle Database Administrator certificate (http://www.oakton.edu/acad/career/cis_p3.htm). These courses are supposed to help a person to pass the test for an Oracle Database Administrator certificate.

Is this certificate being offered by Oracle Corporation nationwide? Or is this certificate something that ONLY Oakton Community College is offering? Obviously, a certificate being offered by Oracle Corporation will be more valuable than a certificate that is offered ONLY by a Chicago-area community college.

My next question is: Just how valuable will this certificate be? Even if the certificate is offered by Oracle, will the certificate help me get a job? I do have years of experience as a programmer, and this experience includes writing programs that run SQL queries. I also have experience in creating and deleting database tables. I just don’t know database administration. So, will my experience and this certificate help me to find a job as an Oracle Database Administrator?

Thanks for any comments.

Answer: Is this certificate being offered by Oracle Corporation nationwide? Oracle offers database certifications. http://education.oracle.com/pls/web_prod-plq-dad/db_pages.getpage?page_id=143

It does not appear that your community college is offering the same certification. It looks like they have bundled 4 of their normal CS classes together and put it as a certificate program.

Oracle Database 11g Administrator Certification combines training, experience, and testing to ensure that you have a strong foundation and expertise in the industry’s most advanced database management system. http://education.oracle.com/pls/web_prod-plq-dad/db_pages.getpage?page_id=198&p_org_id=〈=

If you want to get a Oracle Certification, here is the list of Oracle Universities in Illinois: http://www.oracle.com/global/us/education/maps/contentA.html#IL

You will get the authentic Certification training at these locations. You will probably have to call the locations directly to get costs for the classes.

So, will my experience and this certificate help me to find a job as an Oracle Database Administrator? Of course there are no guarantees, but my 11 years of Technical Recruiting experience makes me think that your chances of getting a job with this certification are VERY high.

Good Luck.