Certifications

• Sun offers eight Java certifications. The most basic certification is Sun Certified Java Associate (SJCA). You do not need to be an SCJA to become a Sun Certified Java Programmer (SCJP). However, the SCJP certification is a prerequisite for the following master-level certifications: Sun Certified Java Developer (SCJD), Sun Certified Web Component Developer (SCWCD), Sun Certified Business Component Developer (SCBCD), Sun Certified Developer for Java Web Services (SCDJWS) and Sun Certified Mobile Application Developer (SCMAD). The Sun Certified Enterprise Architect (SCEA) certification is the premier Java certification offered by Sun.
  
  

Sun Certified Java Associate (SCJA)

• This certification confirms that a person is proficient in object-oriented programming, Unified Modeling Language (UML) and the basics of the Java programming language. The certification involves passing one multiple-choice exam with 51 questions. The time limit is 115 minutes and the passing score is 35 out of 51 (68 percent).
  
  

Sun Certified Java Programmer (SCJP)

• This professional-level certification confirms that a person understands the fundamentals of programming (such as looping and variables) and knows how the Java programming language is constructed. It involves a multiple-choice exam with 72 questions to be answered within 210 minutes. The passing percentage is 65 percent.
  
  

Master Level Certifications

• The SCJD involves a programming assignment and an essay test. The essay test has four questions, which need to be answered within 120 minutes. The remaining certifications involve one exam each with multiple-choice and drag-and-drop questions. The passing scores and time limits are as follows: SCWCD (49 out of 69 questions within 180 minutes), SCBCD (36 out of 61 questions within 145 minutes), SCDJWS (47 out of 69 questions within 150 minutes), and SCMAD (38 out of 68 questions within 150 minutes).
  
  

Sun Certified Enterprise Architect (SCEA)

• The SCJP certification is not a pre-requisite for SCEA certification. The SCEA certification confirms that a person is capable of designing and creating applications using advanced programming concepts. This certification involves a multiple-choice exam (37 correct answers out of 64 questions within 120 minutes) a programming assignment and an essay test (eight questions within 90 minutes).
  
  

Retaking Tests

• For certifications involving programming assignments, you do not need to retake the whole test if you fail the assignment. If you fail a test, you can retake it after one week and as much as three times in a year.