Java Certifications and Certificates

If you’re looking for a way to demonstrate your skills in Java, you might be overwhelmed by the different certifications and certificate programs available. You might also have some questions, such as: What is the advantage of getting a certificate or certification? What’s the difference between a certificate and a certification? How do I decide whether to get certified? What certificates and certifications are available? This article aims to answer these questions so you can efficiently choose the right path toward a Java certification. Keep reading to find out more. 

What is Java?

Java is both an object-oriented programming language and a software platform in itself. Its creators designed it as a “write once, run anywhere” tool. It is portable, scalable, and adaptable. An app created in Java can function across multiple platforms and over distributed networks. This flexibility makes the Java language widely useful and Java coders highly desirable to employers. Professions that use Java include Web Developer, Mobile App Developer, User Experience Designer, Data Scientist, Game Designer, and Laboratory Scientist.

Java’s modular nature allows developers to take existing pieces of code that are useful to them and then combine those modules in a new context for a new purpose. Also, programs in Java do not need to be compiled because the virtual Java Runtime Environment tool interprets the code and translates it for the computer you are using. Java’s portable and adaptable nature allows it to serve a wide range of use cases. For this reason, it has become the chosen tool of key players in the technology space: for example, the Android operating system is based on Java code. In addition to being critical for mobile app development, Java is also a crucial skill for Web Developers. It is also used for data science, game design, user experience design, and scientific applications. Many employers are eager to hire Java coders because the language is highly flexible, with many possible use cases and adaptations to new contexts.

Read more about what Java is and why you should learn it. 

What Can You Do with Java?

Knowing Java means you can code across multiple operating systems and hardware architectures without modifying your programs for a new environment. Because it is an object-oriented programming language, Java allows you to create modular units of code that you can reuse in any Java program, even across platforms and environments. You can quickly adapt code created for one use case to apply in another, as Java is highly flexible and adaptable for novel contexts. So as exciting new technologies arise, your knowledge of Java will remain relevant and desirable to employers.

Using Java also speeds up the development cycle. This is due to its unique interpretation process, which allows developers to sidestep much of the routine testing and debugging necessary when coding in other programming languages. You can use the Java Runtime Environment to keep your applications robust with its automatic memory management. The JRE also supports robust graphic interfaces through multithreading. Another advantage is that its built-in virus and tamper protection keeps your code secure.

With Java, you can build mobile applications for the Android platform and, in some cases, for iOs. If you’re into big data, you can use Java to analyze large datasets with open-source tools like Hadoop and Spark. Java’s “write once, run anywhere” functionality makes it perfect for writing cloud-based applications and powering data collection within them. Though machine learning is typically associated with Python, libraries such as Deep Learning for Java and MLib make it easy to take advantage of Java’s speed and security by providing a stable environment for deep learning or machine learning processes. Another great application for Java is programming smart household devices. Java is also useful for game design, both mobile and desktop. 

Certifications vs. Certificates: What’s the Difference?

Getting a certification involves demonstrating your mastery of the subject you’ve studied by passing an exam administered by a third party. Certificates, by contrast, are generally awarded based on completion–if you finish the required courses, you earn the certificate.

Top Certifications & Certificates for Java

If you’d like to use Java in a future career as a Web Developer, you may want to pursue Noble Desktop’s Full-Stack Web Development Certificate.Along with Java, you’ll learn front end languages like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Certificate students work with React and Node.js to build dynamic web applications. They also master version control, APIs, and work with databases like MongoDB.

Oracle, the provider of Java, also offers its own Java Developer certification program. There are several options for certification through Oracle, depending on which type of Java development you want to specialize in. These certification programs require about 34 hours of coursework, followed by an exam to demonstrate mastery. 

Should I Get Certified in Java?

Whether it’s worth it to get certified in Java depends primarily on where you are in your career and the type of organization you want to work for. 

Few jobs require a Java certification. However, if you are starting out in the field, a Java certification can serve as concrete evidence of your skills. It can also be helpful if you are changing specialties to a career requiring Java knowledge.

Technology companies rarely put great stock in Java certifications. However, suppose you are interested in working for a government agency. In that case, a Java certification is more likely to give you an edge because having official documentation of your skill is significant in a bureaucratic context.

How to Get Certified in Java

Here are some steps you can take toward getting an official Java certification:

• Identify which specific certification you would like to get. Oracle has several options. 
• You’ll want to decide whether to certify in Java SE (Standard Edition) or EE (Enterprise Edition). Java EE is explicitly designed for large-scale, multi-tiered network applications. If you want to work in Java at a large corporation or government agency, or if you want to create an application that will require an especially robust infrastructure, EE may be a good option. Otherwise, SE may be a better choice.
• Within SE, you have the option of certifying in Java 8 or Java 11. Unsurprisingly, Java 11 is more recent, but Java 8 remains more popular as of 2022.
• You can certify on the associate or professional levels, depending on where you are in your career.
• Decide. SE or EE? 8 or 11? Associate or Professional? This is where you’ll commit to the certification you want to pursue.
• Study! Completing Noble Desktop’s Java bootcamp is an excellent way of preparing for your Java certification exam. In particular, students who take the bootcamp will be thoroughly prepared for the Java SE 11 Programmer 1 Exam. Other Java courses may also be helpful, depending on which certification you want to do. 
• Schedule your exam. You can go to Oracle’s registration pageto get it set up.
• Hopefully: pass the exam and celebrate! But if you don’t pass your Oracle certification exam at first, you may schedule a retake date for five or more days after the original test. You may also retake an exam up to three times in a 12-month period. 

Learn Java with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers several options for studying Java. Its small class sizes and expert instructors make for an ideal learning environment. And if you want to enhance your knowledge further, you can always retake the class—for free. With both in-person and live online options available, you can learn Java in whichever way best fits your needs.

Noble’s Java bootcamp is a great way to learn Java quickly and well. You can do the bootcamp either in-person or live online. This program teaches practical Java skills and the computer science principles that form the foundation of Java’s effectiveness. The course covers object-oriented programming, recursion, and data structures. You’ll also discover the secrets of the interpretation process that streamlines the creation of a new program in Java. By the end of the course, you’ll be ready to pass the Java SE 11 Programmer 1 Exam, helping you qualify for entry-level coding positions. In addition to the bootcamp, some of Noble’s other coding classes also include instruction in Java.

High school and college students can take summer Java classes through NextGen Bootcamp, Noble’s partner school. For those who can attend an in-person program in New York City, NextGen offers a Java programming summer camp. This 50-hour course culminates in each student creating a final project in Java, which they can include in their portfolio when applying for computer science programs. The camp also gives students a head start preparing for their AP Computer Science exam. Students who can’t make it to NYC have another option: NextGen’s live online summer Java program. Though different in the delivery method, this course offers the same content, final project, and exam preparation as the in-person course. 

Key Insights

• A certification typically requires passing an exam administered by a third party, while a certificate is awarded by a school based on completion.
• Oracle, the developer of Java, offers several certification programs.
• Jobs rarely require Java certification, but it can be advantageous if you are new to the field or seeking a government position.
• You can receive comprehensive Java training through an in-person or live online course with Noble Desktop.