Purpose of instructor led training requirement for OCP?

Question

What is the purpose of requiring OCP candidates to take an instructor led course? It all seems a bit random / superfluous. Costly too if one does not have an employer willing to pay for the training.
My Oracle Press "OCA/OCP Oracle Database 11g All-in-One Exam Guide" doesn't even hint that classes are a requirement for the OCP; the most said is: "The OCA qualification is based on two examinations; the OCP qualification requires passing a third examination." (pg. XXIX). An incomplete characterization, correct?
And "To prepare for the OCA/OCP examinations, you can attend Oracle University instructor-led training courses, you can study Oracle University online learning material, or you can read this book." (pg. XXIX). Prepare for the exams, sure. But why would such a book omit the not insignificant detail that a perhaps expensive course is required to get the OCP? Seems discourteous to the reader.
From http://education.oracle.com/pls/web_prod-plq-dad/db_pages.getpage?page_id=244#5 via http://education.oracle.com/pls/web_prod-plq-dad/db_pages.getpage?page_id=198&p_org_id=&lang=
I say it seems random and superfluous because of the following list:
"These foundation courses meet the Hands On Course Requirement for OCP-Level certification:
* Oracle Database 11g: Introduction to SQL
* Oracle Database 11g: Introduction to SQL Ed 1 LVC
* Oracle Database 11g: SQL Fundamentals I
* Oracle Database 11g: SQL Fundamentals l Ed 1 LVC
* Oracle Database 11g: SQL and PL/SQL Fundamentals
* Oracle Database 11g: SQL and PL/SQL Fundamentals Ed 1 LVC
* Oracle Database 11g: Develop PL/SQL Program Units
* Oracle Database 11g: Administration Workshop I
* Oracle Database 11g: Administration Workshop I Ed 1.1 LVC
* Oracle Database 11g: Administration Workshop II
* Oracle Database 11g: Data Warehousing Fundamentals"
A modest Intro to SQL course will count? But an OCA will already have that knowledge. Obviously, one should choose a course with higher-level content. But I'm not sure I understand the logic of the OCA-grade courses being eligible. And for those funding certification without financial assistance from an employer, the question that suggests is this: what is the least expensive way to satisfy the "instructor led" course requirement? I cheapest price I see from Oracle is a 3 day class costing $1,800. It would also cost 3 days of vacation time, or unpaid leave, if an employer is not supportive of certification.

Answer 1

Dana N wrote:
Thanks for your thoughtful reply Hans.
TO expose the candidate to techniques related to the new features rather than traditional techniques that are commonplace in the industry.That makes sense to me. But many of us like to tinker with new features on our own.In my experience, many, many more people want the OCP without doing any work. Some will use pure memorization or out and cheating to get there.
It's unfortunate that you and I get penalized by those.
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And to ensure that the has had at least some hands-on time, instead of only pure theory. While some people may get hands-on at work, many others do not
have that opportunityh, especially in the are of new features.Then it might make sense for OCP certification to allow submission of proof of work experience in place of the HOC, as is the case with other professional certifications.
Yes, that would be nice.
But difficult to verify. and you would be surprised how many organizations have very narrow definitions of the job. Experimenting not allowed in some places.
It all seems a bit random / superfluous. Sad, from an instructors and OCP's point of view, to hear you think of it that way.I don't mean to say there isn't anything new any of us couldn't pick up, say, even from an Intro to SQL course. There's a vastness to most technology topics and we can't master every facet. But the cost/benefit ratio may be terribly low for those who are already Oracle professionals with many years of on the job experience. The reality as well is that some instructors are duds--that's the case anywhere. And for my learning style, I prefer self-guided / on-my-own study.
Costly too if one does not have an employer willing to pay for the training.No doubt.
My Oracle Press "OCA/OCP Oracle Database 11g All-in-One Exam Guide" doesn't even hint that classes are a requirement for the OCP; the most said is: "The
OCA qualification is based on two examinations; the OCP qualification requires passing a third examination." (pg. XXIX). An incomplete characterization, correct?A topic to discuss with the authors, and publisher. We (the user community with whom you are talking) have little to no control over this.Wonder if the authors participate in these forums. I realize you, as a user, have no control over this. But a book blessed by Oracle via Oracle Press, I respectfully submit, can and should do better--by including details about the HOC requirement.
Some do. But much more effetive would be to lodge a formal complaint or inquiry.
"These foundation courses meet the Hands On Course Requirement for OCP-Level certification:
...All of which will ensure you have had time becoming acquainted with SQLPLus, DBControl, and perhaps SQLDeveloper.I already use all 3 tools. Would love to take all the courses listed; but I'm not independently wealthy or otherwise.
So would I. ;-)
As well as logging in (you would be surprised how many OCA candidates do not know how), these all give you an opportunity to issue SQL and PL/SQL
commands. Scary, but seems beside the point. The HOC requirement is one solution to this problem, but it seems like a sub-optimal one. Again, this punishes Oracle professionals already working in the field who'd like to become certified. Why is there no regard for them? One way to correct this, if this is a genuine concern on Oracle's part, is to include a "live" aspect to the exams. Then, if this causes a fail, those who flunk might be interested in taking HOCs to remedy this. In this day and age, I'm certain training could involve interactive SQL*PLUS sessions, etc. Only a failure of imagination and will could prevent I suspect; particularly in a world of virtualization. I'd consider a redesign of exams before I'd require people to pay for classes they may be unable to pay for. It's a bit of an insult to working Oracle professionals who want to add certification.
I agree to some extent. Again, the issue is the consistency in experience. I have met people with 10 years of experience, and others with 10 times 1 year of experience.
A modest Intro to SQL course will count? But an OCA will already have that knowledge. I wish this was consistently true. Then I mispoke. But the HOC still punishes existing Oracle professionals.
I sympathize. I'm an independent, and all exams and certification costs come out of my own (corporate=me) pocket. But life in the professional fast lane is not
cheap. This topic has been the source of some contention for quite some time.
Unfortunately a number of people have been unscrupulous in their method of getting certification - cheating, using gunners, and so on - and I see this as one of
the few ways to combat the issue. If the cheating issue is just left alone, the value of OCP (and any other certification) is effectively lost.The unscrupulous, I'm afraid, will always be with us. This problem is not solved, I'm also afraid, by requiring a costly HOC. It is in my opinion one potential solution of many, and not at all the best one. I wonder how other vendors with certifications handle this. I do know that some industry-generic certifications require proof of X years of work in the field (e.g. GISPs), as well as providing proof of various contributions to the field. This could be gamed as well I suppose. But the honest should not be punished along with the dishonest.Basically I agree with the sentiment. Implementation is the issue.
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Bottom line: in my view, a few alternate solutions to the HOC are:
1) Allow submission of work credentials to substitute for the HOC
2) Incorporate hands-on aspects to the exam, e.g. a SQL*PLUS simulator.
I'm sure the brilliant minds at Oracle, or a suitable contractor, could easily accomplish #2. And #1 might be a true bar-raiser. It seems highly unlikely to me that, say, requiring an Intro to SQL HOC course raises the bar more than a few millimeters.There have been many discussions around this. Several of us have even considered non-vendor certifications as a route to accomplish this.
It is an imperfect world. But hopefully the steps will correct some of the deficiencies.
I am sure Paul and the rest of the Certification team would be happy to hear more feedback on how to implement practical verifiable real-world experience alternatives to the HOC that do not increase Oracle's costs.
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Since both are unlikely to happen any time soon, what is the least expensive option for the HOC and where do I find a list of courses and institutions that offer them? In my view, Oracle should provide this information as a courtesy. No reason not to unless there is a revenue motive; and the author of the blog posts you sent me assures us the addition of the HOC is not a revenue enhancement maneuver. I'd be more inclined to believe it if those words were backed-up with helpful actions like the one I've proposed--since such a thing seems not to exist.All courses and course locations are available through http://education.oracle.com (and have been available for years) as well as the price. Oracle's policy does not allow for much price variation for education. The exception is when bulk purchased are negotiated, which is outside what you and I can talk with them about.