Sun formalises Java skills

Sun Microsystems has set up a training and accreditation programme to increase the Java skills base and formalise the expertise of Java application designers and programmers.

The Java Certification Programme offers two levels of accreditation.

The first, the Sun Certified Java Programmer course, is aimed at familiarising programmers and software engineers with programming in Java and its development environment.

A more advanced course, Sun Certified Java Developer, is targeted at senior programmers, systems analysts and software architects, who will be trained to design and develop Java-based systems. Sun expects about 1,000 people to complete the course over the next six months.

Martyn Lambert, Sun director of network computing sales, said the programme would fill the gap in benchmarking for Java expertise.

'We want to make sure that clients know staff are genuinely able to develop and programme in the Java environment. Certification and accreditation provides that assurance.'

In order to receive full certification and accreditation, candidates will have to sit a 'rigorous' examination at local training centres, Lambert said. The exams will be conducted by independent third parties.

Sun has also formed partnerships with recruitment agencies Compass International Group, Computer People and Humanus Consulting, to offer freelance programmers, developers and consultants the opportunity of a course refund.

Freelancers who receive a Java work placement contract lasting 13 weeks or more through one of these agencies, after they have completed the course, will get their money - u1,100 - back.

Mark Denne, Sun's Internet business development manager, said the programme would be specifically targeted at freelance consultants, management consultants, systems integrators and members of Sun's Internet associates programme.

Lambert explained that the programme was designed and developed in the UK, but was being made available internationally.

Both the course and the exam will have the same format across the world.

'Candidates could do the course in the UK and sit the exam in the US, if their work schedule dictated this,' he said.