All You Need About Java Certification

Summary: A Java profession pays well; in fact it pays the best of all computer related profession. All you need is Java Certification and you’re ready to embark on one successful career

You can only imagine how lucrative a Java based profession can be nowadays and maybe you’ll be still farther down the hill. The median estimated income for a regular Java Software Developer is around $77,866 (source: Salary.com). That could easily rival the Construction Management Profession which is also considered one of the top paying jobs of today (with salary at $81,810 in New York, other areas tend to differ). Minus the work effort needed in maintaining a huge construction project, a Java Developer’s work is highly stable too, all things considered.

A Java profession pays well; in fact it pays the best of all computer related profession. The median is around $77,866, lowest forecasted salary is $66,780 and the highest is $84,884. Those mentioned are starting salaries. Compared to a Data Architect (who may or may not use Java) who has $50,210 starting median, the Java Developer salary could really explain how much in demand such profession can be. Of course when the Data Architect gains enough experience to be able to handle team leading responsibilities this median salary could boost way up to six digit figures.

Java Certification isn’t a walk in the park though. There are three existing Java Certifications: Programmer, Developer and Architect, all are equally hard to pass. But having a Java Certification is a mighty edge in case you are job hunting. Java is a relatively new programming language and the proficient Java programmers are spaced widely apart. In case you are one of them then why not have a tangible “portfolio” of your skills.

But in case you are still learning Java, here are some helpful pointers.

Experience in any other programming language can be a thousand times beneficial, especially at C (or other variations like C++), which is a more machine language than Java and equally powerful besides. The real benefit of studying C is its background on object oriented programming, which is also Java to the core. Sadly, other language like PASCAL can’t get you nowhere near to Java, as object oriented programming doesn’t exist with this language. Realistically, 6 months or more of dedicated studying should be optimal before you could be ready for the Java Certification exams.

A surprising number of online tutorials and self help books about Java are available over the internet. And you can also buy Java books written by noted Java authors. Here are some books you can get:


A Programmer's Guide to Java Certification
by Khalid Azim Mughal and Rolf Rasmussen

SCP&D for Java 2 Study Guide
by Kathy Sierra and Bert Bates

Complete Java 2 Certification Study
by Simon Roberts, et al

Java 2 Exam Preparation
by William B. Brogden, Bill Brogden

Java 2 (Exam Cram)
by William B. Brogden and Bill Brogden

Sun Certification Programmer for Java 2 Study
by Syngress Media Inc.

Java 2 Certification Training Guide
by Jamie Jaworski.

Java 2 Certification Exam Guide for Programmers and Developers
by Barry Boone and William Robert Stanek