DB2 Certification

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rhino - 23 Nov 2007 21:21 GMT

I have some questions about DB2 certification.

1. Are the DB2 V8 exams still available, specifically in the Toronto area? I
went to the certification portion of the IBM website and it took me to a
site for Thomson Prometrics who seem to be administering the certification
exams these days. I couldn't find any information about DB2 certifications
anywhere, let alone in the Toronto area. Basically, the website seems to be
geared towards specific companies who do their certifications via Thompson
Prometrics and I can't find any information on how someone who _isn't_ an
employee of their clients can get certified. I've tried emailing them at
their contact address but have had no response after several days. Does
anyone know where I can find information about certification exams in the
Toronto area in 2008? I'd like to know which exams are available, what they
cost, how long they take to write, what the minimum passing score is, where
I can find sample exams for that exam, etc. etc. If anyone can help me find
this information, I'd greatly appreciate it!

2. If a student goes through "DB2 Universal Database V8 for Linux, UNIX, and
Windows Database Administration Certification Guide", I understand that this
is good preparation for the V8 exams, specifically exams 700 and 701. Now,
what if the student takes the V9 certification exams, rather than the V8
exams? In other words, has DB2 changed much in V9 or will a student who is
reasonably well-versed in V8 do fine on a V9 exam?

3. Am I correct in believing that the exam numbers for V9 are different than
for V8? For instance, Exam 700 was for V8 DB2 Family Fundamentals but I
suspect DB2 V9 Family Fundamentals is exam 730. Does anyone know where I can
find the complete list of V8 and V9 certifications?

Signature

Rhino

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The Boss - 23 Nov 2007 23:18 GMT

This should be your starting point:
http://www-306.ibm.com/software/data/education/
Further comments inline.

> I have some questions about DB2 certification.
>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> where I can find sample exams for that exam, etc. etc. If anyone can
> help me find this information, I'd greatly appreciate it!

Choosing "Take an exam at Prometric" will bring you here:
http://www.prometric.com/IBM/default.htm

- Choose "Locate a Testing Center"
- Choose "Locate A Test Site"
- Select "Canada" and "Ontario" in the dropdown boxes and hit Next
Here you will get an overview of product areas for which certifications
are available.
(It starts with "IBM Information Management")
Just hit Next again.
- Here you will see the Exam Selection page
(http://www.register.prometric.com/Exam.asp)
You have to look for codes 000-700 & 000-701 for version 8
or codes 000-730 & 000-731 for version 9
Just pick one and hit Next again
(Notice they all have a Net Price of 150.00 USD)
- Now you will get the "Available Test Sites" page, where you will see
52 test sites are available in Ontario, 8 of them in Toronto.
When you are ready to take a test, you can schedule an appointment here.

> 2. If a student goes through "DB2 Universal Database V8 for Linux,
> UNIX, and Windows Database Administration Certification Guide", I
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> DB2 changed much in V9 or will a student who is reasonably
> well-versed in V8 do fine on a V9 exam?

I visited the European IDUG early this month, where I had the opportunity to
try one or more certification exams for free.
Although I don't have any experience in v9, I decided to try the v9
Fundamentals (on the very first day of the conference).
I did pass without much of a problem. Later that week, I decided to also try
the DBA exam for v9 (000-731).
Unfortunately I missed it (by only 1 or 2 answers..), in retrospect mainly
due to:
- not preparing very well (didn't have access to the preparation material
during the conference)
- lack of knowledge at certain aspects of the exam.
While I scored 15 out of 16 for the Server Administration section, I
didn't do so well on others.
These were mainly related to either XML questions or "newer" SQL questions
I wasn't familiar with.
(My current job is more SysAdmin rather then DBAdmin)

On the starting page I gave you, you will find links to prep material, that
I think you shoukd worh through.
I'm sure with enough preparation, focusing on some new aspects you are not
familiar with yet, you should be able to pass the exams.
And even when you fail the first time, you will get better insight in your
weak spots so you can work on those for the next try.

> 3. Am I correct in believing that the exam numbers for V9 are
> different than for V8? For instance, Exam 700 was for V8 DB2 Family
> Fundamentals but I suspect DB2 V9 Family Fundamentals is exam 730.

Correct: 700 --> 730, 701 --> 731 and so on.

> Does anyone know where I can find the complete list of V8 and V9
> certifications?

http://www-306.ibm.com/software/data/education/cert/roadmaps.html

HTH

Signature

Jeroen

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rhino - 24 Nov 2007 00:25 GMT

> This should be your starting point:
> http://www-306.ibm.com/software/data/education/
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
> (It starts with "IBM Information Management")
> Just hit Next again.

THAT is the mistake I made! I didn't see anything about DB2 and I couldn't
click on any links in the table so I thought they didn't have any DB2
certification exams. There didn't seem to be any point in clicking Next when
they didn't seem to have any DB2 exams!

> - Here you will see the Exam Selection page
> (http://www.register.prometric.com/Exam.asp)
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> 52 test sites are available in Ontario, 8 of them in Toronto.
> When you are ready to take a test, you can schedule an appointment here.

Thank you VERY much for clearing up the use of the website to me! I really
appreciate your taking the time to give me the details!

>> 2. If a student goes through "DB2 Universal Database V8 for Linux,
>> UNIX, and Windows Database Administration Certification Guide", I
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
> And even when you fail the first time, you will get better insight in your
> weak spots so you can work on those for the next try.

At $150/exam, I really don't want to have to retry the exams very often!
Still, how many times can you retry the exams? Do you need to wait for a
fixed period before you can retry the exam? Do you get a graded copy of the
exam back whether you pass or fail? If it takes more than once to pass the
exam, is your final score an average of each attempt or do you just get the
highest score?

Do prospective employers know how many attempts it took you to pass the
exam? Do prospective employers know what mark you got or just that you
passed? For example, will they know that you squeaked through with a 62 or
that you aced the exam with 99%?

Also, do you need to take the exams in a specific sequence? For example, can
you take 701 before you take 700 or do you have to take 700 first?

>> 3. Am I correct in believing that the exam numbers for V9 are
>> different than for V8? For instance, Exam 700 was for V8 DB2 Family
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> HTH

Yes it does!! Thanks VERY MUCH, Jeroen!!

--

Rhino

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Mark A - 24 Nov 2007 02:10 GMT

> At $150/exam, I really don't want to have to retry the exams very often!
> Still, how many times can you retry the exams? Do you need to wait for a
> fixed period before you can retry the exam? Do you get a graded copy of
> the exam back whether you pass or fail? If it takes more than once to pass
> the exam, is your final score an average of each attempt or do you just
> get the highest score?

I don't know whether there is a waiting period if you don't pass. I doubt
it, but contact Prometric for details.

The questions are divided into about about 5-6 subject areas, and you get a
score for each subject area, but you will not be told which specfic
questions you answered incorrectly. The test is online, so you cannot take
the questions home with you.

Scores are not averaged if you take the test more than once.

> Do prospective employers know how many attempts it took you to pass the
> exam? Do prospective employers know what mark you got or just that you
> passed? For example, will they know that you squeaked through with a 62 or
> that you aced the exam with 99%?

No, No, and No (unless you give them the official sheet with the score you
recieved).

> Also, do you need to take the exams in a specific sequence? For example,
> can you take 701 before you take 700 or do you have to take 700 first?

Good question. You probably could take the exams in any order. There is an
online registration process, so if there was such a restriction, the
registration process would probably check that.

Be aware that if you are familiar with SQL, 701 is much harder than 700 (and
same for the V9 equivilents).

Reply to this Message

rhino - 24 Nov 2007 07:04 GMT

>> At $150/exam, I really don't want to have to retry the exams very often!
>> Still, how many times can you retry the exams? Do you need to wait for a
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> No, No, and No (unless you give them the official sheet with the score you
> recieved).

Okay, that's about what I expected. I have mixed feelings about it - it
would be nice to have "bragging rights" if you got a good score - but
apparently the certification only establishes that you met the minimum
requirement. Fair enough. And this approach means that if I have a "stupid
day" and only barely pass, I won't have to hang my head in shame either ;-)

>> Also, do you need to take the exams in a specific sequence? For example,
>> can you take 701 before you take 700 or do you have to take 700 first?
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> Be aware that if you are familiar with SQL, 701 is much harder than 700
> (and same for the V9 equivilents).

Thanks for the warning! I wouldn't want to get too complacent and expect to
breeze through 701!

--

Rhino

Reply to this Message

Mark A - 24 Nov 2007 09:01 GMT

> Okay, that's about what I expected. I have mixed feelings about it - it
> would be nice to have "bragging rights" if you got a good score - but
> apparently the certification only establishes that you met the minimum
> requirement. Fair enough. And this approach means that if I have a "stupid
> day" and only barely pass, I won't have to hang my head in shame either
> ;-)

Bragging rights are "relative." The exams contain difficult questions IMO.
Even if you are an expert, on about 30- 40%of the questions you will
probably only be able to narrow down the correct answer to 2 choices. If you
score above 80 that is above average for people who pass the exam, but it
may not appear so great to someone who is not aware of the difficulty of the
tests.

That is why the passing score is fairly low. This technique of difficult
questions with a low pass score is designed to weed out people who have not
actually used the product (and only have book knowledge).

You will get a printout (embossed with the Prometric Seal IIRC) of your
score if you want to show someone (I am guessing you will not).

Reply to this Message

Mark A - 23 Nov 2007 23:31 GMT

>I have some questions about DB2 certification.
>
[quoted text clipped - 13 lines]
> etc. etc. If anyone can help me find this information, I'd greatly
> appreciate it!

You need to select "For Test Takers" on the to of the Prometric website and
follow the links. You will select IBM since you want to be IBM certified.
All the exams are computerized, so they are available all the time at any
test site (unless the test is withdrawn). There are 8 test sites in Toronto
and a total of 52 in Ontario. The DB2 V8 exams appear to still be available.

> 2. If a student goes through "DB2 Universal Database V8 for Linux, UNIX,
> and Windows Database Administration Certification Guide", I understand
> that this is good preparation for the V8 exams, specifically exams 700 and
> 701. Now, what if the student takes the V9 certification exams, rather
> than the V8 exams? In other words, has DB2 changed much in V9 or will a
> student who is reasonably well-versed in V8 do fine on a V9 exam?

If you are an expert in DB2 V8 you might be able to pass the V9 exam without
any knowledge of V9, but you are going to miss some quesitons over and above
ones you would miss if you took the V8 exam. But if you study the new V9
features and the syntax to operate them, you would helping yourself out a
lot.

> 3. Am I correct in believing that the exam numbers for V9 are different
> than for V8? For instance, Exam 700 was for V8 DB2 Family Fundamentals but
> I suspect DB2 V9 Family Fundamentals is exam 730. Does anyone know where I
> can find the complete list of V8 and V9 certifications?

The exam numbers are different. The V9 numbers are 730 and 731.

Reply to this Message

rhino - 24 Nov 2007 00:38 GMT

>>I have some questions about DB2 certification.
>>
[quoted text clipped - 40 lines]
>
> The exam numbers are different. The V9 numbers are 730 and 731.

Thanks for your answers, Mark!

--

Rhino

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