97 Things Every Java Programmer Should Know

Chapter 39. Java Certifications: Touchstone in Technology

Mala Gupta

Imagine you need to undergo a robotic surgery. The surgeon is experienced and qualified but has no credentials with robotic equipment for surgery. Would you still move forward with the robotic surgery with that surgeon? Unless I was convinced of the surgeon’s skills on robotic equipment, I wouldn’t.

Taking the analogy further, how would you ascertain a candidate’s skills before adding them to your critical projects? A university degree in computer science is not enough. The gap in skills gained through a university curriculum and a job’s requirements is wide.

Independent skill training organizations are stepping in to bridge this gap. But it is not enough. Who would measure the quality of their content and how? This is where the industry steps in.

An apt metaphor would be the touchstone—the wonderstone used in ancient times to measure the purity of gold and other precious metals that were used as currency. A metal coin was rubbed against a dark siliceous stone like jasper, and a colorful residue would be indicative of the metal’s purity.

Organizations like Oracle have defined these benchmarks in the form of professional certifications, to play the role of touchstones, measuring IT skills in a standardized manner.

People often ask whether these professional certifications are necessary for computer science graduates ...