WTD: Oracle DBA Cert classes w/ Cert pass guarantee - OCP test prep class?

[D]

I have been working with Oracle as web developer for three years, I
have 13 years of database (SQL Server, DB2) experience and I'm getting
a masters degree in CS, but don't expect to finish for 2 more years.
I can do all the aspects of Oracle I need for my jobn- PL/SQL,
performance tuning, backup and recovery, etc.

I have not done well on the OCP practice tests I took and I believe I
am ready for one of those courses that teaches to the test. You know,
not an introduction to Oracle or database technology- I took graduate
level classes that covered that better than any training class- I mean
a pre-test prep class. Preferably one that guarantees a passing grade
on the test.

Can anyone recommend such a class? I have all the books and if I had
the time I would sit an study them all, but I don't have that much
time. I want to take a class for several days and be ready to pass
the tests.

Internet classes are ok, but they must require a guarantee- the
quality is too iffy there.

thanks for any help,

Don

[Ana C. Dent]

D wrote:

I have been working with Oracle as web developer for three years, I
have 13 years of database (SQL Server, DB2) experience and I'm getting
a masters degree in CS, but don't expect to finish for 2 more years.
I can do all the aspects of Oracle I need for my jobn- PL/SQL,
performance tuning, backup and recovery, etc.

I have not done well on the OCP practice tests I took and I believe I
am ready for one of those courses that teaches to the test. You know,
not an introduction to Oracle or database technology- I took graduate
level classes that covered that better than any training class- I mean
a pre-test prep class. Preferably one that guarantees a passing grade
on the test.

Can anyone recommend such a class? I have all the books and if I had
the time I would sit an study them all, but I don't have that much
time. I want to take a class for several days and be ready to pass
the tests.

Internet classes are ok, but they must require a guarantee- the
quality is too iffy there.

thanks for any help,

Don

WHY?

What will having an OCP do for you?

[Guy Quesnel]

bb*****@hotmail .com (D) wrote in message news:<22******* *************** ****@posting.go ogle.com>...

I have been working with Oracle as web developer for three years, I
have 13 years of database (SQL Server, DB2) experience and I'm getting
a masters degree in CS, but don't expect to finish for 2 more years.
I can do all the aspects of Oracle I need for my jobn- PL/SQL,
performance tuning, backup and recovery, etc.

I have not done well on the OCP practice tests I took and I believe I
am ready for one of those courses that teaches to the test. You know,
not an introduction to Oracle or database technology- I took graduate
level classes that covered that better than any training class- I mean
a pre-test prep class. Preferably one that guarantees a passing grade
on the test.

Can anyone recommend such a class? I have all the books and if I had
the time I would sit an study them all, but I don't have that much
time. I want to take a class for several days and be ready to pass
the tests.

Internet classes are ok, but they must require a guarantee- the
quality is too iffy there.

thanks for any help,

Don

Hi Don,

It kind of depands what exam you are thinking of taking.
NetG cbts were fairly close to the Oracle 7DBA exams,
By far, the best prep material would be to get your hand on
the course material by Oracle.
For Oracle 8i, I bought an OCP Cram book, and it was good enough.
For Oracle 9i I tried a few things and was quite impressed with
"www.oracle-base.com".

You should get the exam checklist and make sure you understand the
material on that list.
I find that a lot of sources don't match the topic list
- while claiming to be a source for preparing for the exams.
Other sources cover way more then what is on the list (and some of the
stuff is quite irrelevant).
Further more, some cbt are created by non technical people and have
errors on concepts and on technicalities.

I always create my own practice exercises to play with the all the
features that I can that are on the Oracle exam summary sheet.

FYI- I have my Oracle 734, 8, 8i, 9i certifications,
and I don't know that if they have done anything for me.
How you present your experience on your CV far outweight your
certification title, and your experience with the Oracle features
(even if just practicing) tend to be a better preparation for the OCP
exam.

My opinion.
Guy.

[D]

This kind of reasoning always cracks me up. Getting the OCP will:

a) get me a $5k bonus from my company for becoming an Oracle Certified
DBA
b) allow me to bid myself as the Certified Oracle DBA in contracts
that require the DBA be certified (surely you've bid on such
contracts) and not pass the work onto others
c) get me one step further to certify to teach oracle classes (I used
to be a trainer in the dotcom boom)

need any more reasons?

Don

"Ana C. Dent" <an*******@hotm ail.com> wrote in message news:<1VpFb.384 53$BQ5.28597@fe d1read03>...

D wrote:
WHY?

What will having an OCP do for you?

[Ryan Gaffuri]

bb*****@hotmail .com (D) wrote in message news:<22******* *************** ****@posting.go ogle.com>...

This kind of reasoning always cracks me up. Getting the OCP will:

a) get me a $5k bonus from my company for becoming an Oracle Certified
DBA
b) allow me to bid myself as the Certified Oracle DBA in contracts
that require the DBA be certified (surely you've bid on such
contracts) and not pass the work onto others
c) get me one step further to certify to teach oracle classes (I used
to be a trainer in the dotcom boom)

need any more reasons?

Don
a small but increasing number of employers want OCPs. Its annoying.
The tests are weak. The performance tuning test is TOTALLY inaccurate.
On the developer side, the pl/sql test is flat out stupid.

Dont take courses, they are a complete waste of money. Study yourself.
Here is what I did.

I got the Sybex books(not great, but not bad).
For each test, I read the corresponding OTN doc(i didnt read the sql
reference, I have a life after all).
I took all the questions I got wrong on the practice tests and the
ones in each chapter and typed them up in short hand and notepad and
studied from that. MUCH easier than re-reading the books.

then i played around on my PC at home. Do one test at a time. Dont do
all of them. They are not that hard. You only need 68-70% correct.
That is not much.

Those OCP classes are such a waste of money. Just ask to sit in on
one. Its mainly people with NO experience who think they will get
jobs(they wont get interviews) and you go at the pace of the least
common denominator. Complete waste of money.
"Ana C. Dent" <an*******@hotm ail.com> wrote in message news:<1VpFb.384 53$BQ5.28597@fe d1read03>...

D wrote:
WHY?

What will having an OCP do for you?

[Ryan Gaffuri]

bb*****@hotmail .com (D) wrote in message news:<22******* *************** ****@posting.go ogle.com>...

This kind of reasoning always cracks me up. Getting the OCP will:

a) get me a $5k bonus from my company for becoming an Oracle Certified
DBA
b) allow me to bid myself as the Certified Oracle DBA in contracts
that require the DBA be certified (surely you've bid on such
contracts) and not pass the work onto others
c) get me one step further to certify to teach oracle classes (I used
to be a trainer in the dotcom boom)

need any more reasons?

Don

"Ana C. Dent" <an*******@hotm ail.com> wrote in message news:<1VpFb.384 53$BQ5.28597@fe d1read03>...

D wrote:
WHY?

What will having an OCP do for you?

if your going to be an entry level training, then your going to be a
loser like all those other trainers. they pray on people out of work
or trying to make career switches. make them think they will get jobs.
they wont get interviews.
Those classes are a scam. Just like the OCP classes.

[D]

I have a hard time reading your email because of the misspellings, but
in general I prefer being an entry-level trainer because you can bring
people up to speed very quickly. If it paid, I would probably try to
teach college. You aren't a trainer or probably even a manager based
on your comments.

When I taught in the dotcom boom we had a requirements test and if
people couldn't pass then we wouldn't let them take the higher level
classes. I have no idea what you are talking about promising people
jobs.

c) get me one step further to certify to teach oracle classes (I used
to be a trainer in the dotcom boom)

if your going to be an entry level training, then your going to be a
loser like all those other trainers. they pray on people out of work
or trying to make career switches. make them think they will get jobs.
they wont get interviews.
Those classes are a scam. Just like the OCP classes.

[Joel Garry]

bb*****@hotmail .com (D) wrote in message news:<22******* *************** ****@posting.go ogle.com>...

I have a hard time reading your email because of the misspellings, but
in general I prefer being an entry-level trainer because you can bring
people up to speed very quickly. If it paid, I would probably try to
teach college. You aren't a trainer or probably even a manager based
on your comments.
It can pay: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/n...i22ccbeat.html
plus a bunch of students throwing lucrative consulting at you.

When I taught in the dotcom boom we had a requirements test and if
people couldn't pass then we wouldn't let them take the higher level
classes. I have no idea what you are talking about promising people
jobs.
I think he just has it in for all the training scams out there, and
rightly so. They prey on people out of work with the promise of high
paying DBA work. DBA work (or at least, competent DBA work) isn't
really something you can learn in an entry level class. And certainly
the Oracle OCP classes taught by rote, as many are, are Oracle's
version of the scam. Google cdo.server for OCP to understand more.
In fact, this group doesn't officially exist, see the charter, you
would likely get far more response in a real group.

c) get me one step further to certify to teach oracle classes (I used
to be a trainer in the dotcom boom)

if your going to be an entry level training, then your going to be a
loser like all those other trainers. they pray on people out of work
or trying to make career switches. make them think they will get jobs.
they wont get interviews.
Those classes are a scam. Just like the OCP classes.

Everyone has to start somewhere. Helps to have good English skills.
It is possible to be a good trainer without being deep into Oracle,
but that is even more rare than an Oracle expert who has good training
skills. To be good, you have to be sprightly with online examples and
demonstrations, and that usually requires both experience and
practice, especially for DBA subjects. Oracle Corp tries to take
MSCS's and train them to present and train, sometimes it works,
sometimes it doesn't. Experience seems to be the difference.

I am not a trainer.

jg
--
@home.com is bogus.
http://ask.slashdot.org/askslashdot/....shtml?tid=187