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Professional certification

Process
Bold Down Arrow Certification check list - important list of steps for certification
Bold Forward Arrow Test preparation - description of the various learning activites to prepare for test taking
Bold Forward Arrow Test registration - process description and links for test registration
Bold Forward Arrow Agreement - view the certification agreement

Certification check list
  1. Select the certification you would like to pursue. We suggest starting with Certifications by product, selecting the product area you are interested in, and then selecting the specific certification you would like to achieve. If you are unsure, click on each certification title, and read the descriptions on the resultant pages.

  2. Determine which test(s) are required by reading the certification role description.

  3. Prepare for the test, using the following resources:

    • Test objectives
    • Sample / Assessment test
    • Recommended training resources and reference materials

    Note: These resources are available from each certification description page, as well as from the Test information page.

    4. Note: Like the actual test, an assessment test:
    • has the same duration.
    • contains questions requiring single and multiple answers. For multiple-answer questions, you need to choose all required options to get the answer correct. You will be advised how many options make up the correct answer.
    • provides a Examination Score Report which informs the test taker how he or she did on each section of the test. This feedback correlates back to the test objectives found on this Web site in the test information pages for each test. To maintain the integrity of each assessment test, questions and answers are not distributed.

  4. Register to take a test, by contacting our worldwide:

    Link to content outside of ibm.com IBM at Prometric

    *Note: As of January 5 2009, you are now able to register for Lotus, WebSphere Portal, IBM Workplace and Cognos tests at prometric.com/ibm.

    Note: When providing your name and address to the testing vendor, be sure to specify your name exactly as you would like it to appear on your certificate

  5. Take the test. Be sure to keep the Examination Score Report provided upon test completion, as your record of taking the test.

    Note: After a test has been taken, your test results and demographic data (including name, address, e-mail, phone number, etc.) are sent from the testing vendor to IBM for processing (please allow up to five business days for transmittal and processing).

  6. Repeat steps three through five until all required tests are successfully completed for the desired certification role. If additional requirements are needed (such as an "other vendor" certification or exam), please follow the instructions on the certification description page to submit these requirements to IBM.

    IBM Test Retake Policy:
    If a certification exam is not completed successfully on the first attempt, there is no waiting requirement before taking the test a second time. However, on subsequent attempts, candidates will not be permitted to take the same test more than twice within a 30-day period

    Upon successful completion of the exam, the candidate may not take the test again unless there has been an announced update to the exam.

  7. Once you have completed your certification requirements, your certification will be awarded and a certificate will be issued.

Obtaining your certificate
Once your certification is awarded, your certificate will be sent to you via e-mail (or you will be sent instructions on how to retrieve the certificate from the Certification Member Site, if this is the first certification for this candidate/testing ID).

Please ensure that we have your current e-mail address on file by keeping your profile up to date. You can manage this yourself by selecting "Address Information" from within the Certification Member Site.

Once you have received your certificate via e-mail, you may also request a hardcopy certificate for select certifications by selecting "Certificate Requests" from within the Certification Member Site.  Contributing to IBM's investment and commitment in the greening of IT, please be advised that the IBM Information Management, Lotus, Rational, WebSphere, SOA and XML certification teams have taken an environmentally-friendly approach to certification -- their certificates are only available in electronic form. These softcopy certificates can be easily stored and printed at home, work or public printing facilities, as needed.

Note: For information about the function provided by the Certification Member Site, as well as instructions on how to register, please review About the Member Site.