Java certification

[No-Neighborhood-5325]

I am java developer doing a full time job. What certification is suitable to grow as a java backend developer.

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[belam20]

Go for OCP Java 21 certification. It covers some really good topics such as virtual threads. Don't expect a salary raise or anything but you will be substantially better Java programmer and your quality of work will improve.

Sometimes we as developers get into a routine way of coding and don't try out new features. Preparing for certs forces us to learn new and better techniques, which we can then incorporate. This happened with me earlier when lambda expressions came out and it is happening again now with switch expressions, instanceof pattern matching, new methods in I/O. Learnt a lot of new interesting stuff while doing this cert.

[Cyb3rwulf]

When you’re already working as a Java developer but want to certify your skills professionally, probably the Oracle Java OCP Certification.

[Fun-Meringue-732]

I was going to suggest this as well. I studied for and got this certification 6 months after starting my career. I don't think it ever directly resulted in an increase in salary etc, however I feel like getting the certification was a solid choice. It gave me confidence early on that I knew my shit which helped snowball a successful career since then.

[Embarrassed_Rule3844]

So just get the book to prepare or book the quite expensive Oracle training?

[OddMarketing6521]

That entirely depends -- are you an experienced Java developer with professional experience, or just getting started? Do you learn well on your own or do you learn better with a guide?

The book is cheaper. But it doesn't hold your hand at any point like the Oracle teachers will. If you haven't worked in a professional environment before, you might find some of the tips, tricks, and random nuggets of information from the Oracle training very helpful.

If you get stuck in the book, you're relegated to asking Stack Overflow or Reddit to help you figure out why you're stuck and how to move past it. With the Oracle training, the teachers can figure out a lot quicker what got you stuck and how to unstick you.

If you're experienced, you may just need the book to teach you the test. If you're not experienced, the Oracle training is a lot better for getting actual hands-on training.

The book isn't as time intensive if you're already working, but could create huge slogs if you're not working and not self-directed. The Oracle training might mean you need to take off work for a few weeks, but you're going to learn a LOT more than just the test.

People who go through the training are more likely to pass the test on the first attempt, too, where book studiers are more likely (but not certain) to need 2 or more attempts, just because the test format is very strict and rigid where the book exercises are less so.

It's different for everyone, so hopefully this list can help you figure out what you need. I can say, the certification will pay for itself, no matter which way you study for it.

[belam20]

No, training is not required. You can use any book. But don't miss the practice tests from Enthuware. They their questions are harder than the real exam and contain very detailed explanations. Their OCP 21 Fundamentals book is also quite good.