SDL Web Certification Program Syllabus

SDL Web Certification Program Syllabus

1. Introduction 4 General information about the program 4 Background of the program 5 Purpose of the program 5 Certification Details 6 Expert Details 6 About this document 6 2. The Knowledge Area 7 General knowledge objective 7 SDL Web Certified Business Analyst 7 SDL Web Certified Developer 7 SDL Web Certified System Administrator 7 SDL Web Certified Architect 7 Knowledge area 8 Pre-requisites for the exam 8 3. Exam knowledge objectives 9 Test information 9 Cognitive Levels 9 Difficulty Levels 9 Exam Topics 10 SDL Web Certified Business Analyst 10 SDL Web Certified Developer 10 SDL Web Certified System Administrator 10 4. Online Exam 12 Organization 12 Passing the exam 12 Failing the exam 12 Certification validity 13 5. Expert Interview 14 Organization 14 Interview topics 14 Project Interview 14 Problem Solving Tasks 15 Passing the interview 15 Failing the interview 15 Expert validity 15

6. Upgrade Process 16 Certification Upgrade 16 Expert Upgrade 16 About SDL 17 3

General information about the program The SDL Web Certification Program is an initiative from the SDL Product Training group targeted at the SDL Web Consultant community. The Target Audiences are SDL Web Consultants working for a SDL Web partner, Customer or Freelance Consultants. Targeted are consultants whom are: Defining Functional Designs and advising Customers on SDL Web Best Practices (SDL Web Certified Business Analyst); Developing solutions with SDL Web Content Manager (SDL Web Certified Developer); Installing, maintaining and monitoring SDL Web Servers (SDL Web Certified System Administrator); Developing and Architecting SDL Web Solutions, Integrations with 3rd party vendors, scalable Content Delivery implementations (SDL Web Certified Architect) 4

Background of the program In the past years, several customers and partners have expressed their need and interest to certify their SDL Web professionals. The Certification Program provides an opportunity for candidates to have a formal recognition of their skills and expertise. An SDL Web Certified and SDL Web Expert logo will be available for all candidates who successfully passed the certification examination. Purpose of the program The objective of the program Certification exam is to provide an objective analysis of an individual s competence in SDL Web. SDL Web Certified To certify in SDL Web, the participating consultants must take the relevant exam and achieve a minimum score of 80%. The available exams are: SDL Web Certified Developer SDL Web Certified Business Analyst SDL Web Certified System Administrator To become an SDL Certified Architect individuals will have to take and pass all three of the available exams. SDL Web Expert The SDL Web Expert demonstrates a higher level of expertise than the SDL Certified and to enable that expertise to be assessed there is no exam but an interview. The objective of the SDL Web Certification Program Expert interview is to provide an objective analysis of an individual s expertise in SDL Web. To become an expert in SDL Web, the participating consultants must take part in an interview process for their respective roles. The available interviews are: SDL Web Certified Developer Interview SDL Web Certified System Administrator Interview To become an SDL Certified Expert Architect individuals will have to take and pass all three of the available certification exams as well as the above mentioned interviews (SDL Web Certified Developer Interview and SDL Web Certified System Administrator Interview). 5

Certification Details Online examinations: o Free to register and take o Unlimited re-takes o Pass grade 80% o Large question bank delivers multiple test papers Expert Details Interview o Based on a formal taxonomy with clear marking guide for interviewer o Three parts: Interviewee identification Experience confirmation Projects undertaken Interviewee s role SDL Web problem solving test o Interview trialled for Developer with SDL Tridion 2013 certification About this document This document provides detailed information about the online examination as well as the interview process for becoming an expert. It answers questions such as: Which topics are covered in the examination How much experience and which skills does a candidate need to have to pass the exam? How long will the exam take? What is involved in the expert interview? If, after reading this document, you still have any questions, please send an email to Learn@sdl.com 6

General knowledge objective The intention of the program is to certify the skills and experience of a SDL Web Consultant. It is more than just knowing SDL Web; it is about the ability to successfully implement SDL Web. The knowledge objectives per exam can be summarized as follows: SDL Web Certified Business Analyst The candidate understands the SDL Web Taxonomies The candidate shows the ability to design Schemas and their structure The candidate has experience defining SDL Web Information Architectures. SDL Web Certified Developer The candidate understands the SDL Web Compound Template Framework The candidate shows the ability to diagnose and solve common questions and issues surrounding a successful SDL Web implementation The candidate has solid knowledge of the SDL Web Object Model The candidate has solid knowledge of DXA SDL Web Certified System Administrator The candidate has solid knowledge around all components of a SDL Web setup The candidate can successfully install and monitor a SDL Web server The candidate understands how to scale a SDL Web server s performance both horizontally and vertically. SDL Web Certified Architect The candidate must understand and have experience with the following: o SDL Web Taxonomies o Show the ability to design Schemas and their structure o Experience defining SDL Web Information Architectures. o Understand the SDL Web Compound Template Framework o Show the ability to diagnose and solve common questions and issues surrounding a successful SDL Web implementation o Have solid knowledge of the SDL Web Object Model o Solid knowledge of DXA o Have solid knowledge around all components of SDL Web covering all three of the above identified roles. o Successfully install and monitor a SDL Web server 7

o Understand how to scale a SDL Web server s performance both horizontally and vertically. Knowledge area The purpose of the Certification Program is to validate SDL Web knowledge and skills in all its aspects. The program is focused on the SDL Web 8 release. Pre-requisites for the exam To apply for the exams, please send an email to: Learn@sdl.com To apply for the SDL Web Certification Program Expert interview, the candidate must have successfully passed the following exams: SDL Web Certified Business Analyst SDL Web Certified Developer SDL Web Certified System Administrator 8

Test information The test is structured into categories containing a number of measurement points on which a series of questions are based. The test is an online multiple-choice exam in English. o The number of questions per exam are as follows: SDL Web Certified Business analyst 40 questions SDL Web Certified Developer 50 questions SDL Web Certified System Administrator 40 questions o The time allowed for taking the exams are as follows: SDL Web Certified Business analyst 50 minutes SDL Web Certified Developer 75 minutes SDL Web Certified System Administrator 50 minutes Cognitive Levels The tests are designed to measure knowledge based on understanding and application of SDL Web knowledge. The majority of the questions requires the candidate to demonstrate knowledge of SDL Web and application of the knowledge. The exams will analyze the cognitive levels of understanding as well as testing their basic knowledge. The candidate is asked to apply, modify, show, predict, solve, relate, compare, distinguish, categorize, identify or select the appropriate response to a given situation/scenario. Difficulty Levels Each test contains test items that are of different difficulty levels: o Basic o Medium o Advanced The difficulty level varies among the different test items, but the average level is adjusted to the target group in order to have a relevant level of difficulty. 9

Exam Topics SDL Web has defined different categories within the knowledge areas and each category has its own knowledge objective. The categories are described in more detail in the following sections. SDL Web Certified Business Analyst Audience Manager-Outbound Email Basic Foundation BluePrinting Bundles Schemas Security Site Wizard Taxonomy UGC Workflow XPM SDL Web Certified Developer Audience Manager-Outbound Email Basic Architecture BluePrinting Bundles Content Delivery Content Porter Core Service Event System Schemas Security Site Wizard Taxonomy Templating Topology Manager UGC UI Extensions Workflow XPM SDL Web Certified System Administrator CD Caching CD General CM General CM Install amp Upgrade CM Search 10

Database General Infrastructure Maintenance Troubleshoot 11

Organization The test will be distributed in Class Marker online system for testing and administration. The exams are in US-English. Each exam has a different amount of items. o The candidate will be informed at the start of the test how much time there is to complete the test. SDL Web Certified Business Analyst SDL Web Certified Developer SDL Web Certified System Administrator 40 items 50 minutes 50 items 75 minutes 40 items 50 minutes Before starting the exam o The candidate must register in the online system. The exam cannot be interrupted. o As soon as the candidate starts the exam, the candidate must finish the exam within the available timeframe. It is an open book exam o During the exam the participant will have access to the Internet. Passing the exam The results are presented to the candidate on their screen immediately after the exam is completed. The passing scores are set to 80% for all exams. On passing the test, the candidate will receive a certificate as proof of their achievement. The consultant will be entitled to use the SDL Web Certified logo. Failing the exam The candidate has unlimited attempts to pass the exams On failing the exam, the candidate should work on developing their competences / skills further before re-attempting the test. 12

Certification validity The candidate does not need to renew the certificate, as it is valid for life. These exams are bound to the SDL Web 8 release therefore the candidate will be encouraged to re-apply for certification when new releases become available. 13

Organization There is a fee for the Expert interviews. The interview will be conducted via WebEx or a suitable video conference tool. The interviews are in US-English. Each interview has a set of scenarios that will test the SDL Web expertise of the interviewee. The candidate will take part in an interview of approximately an hour o They will be asked to provide identification Suitable photographic identification A passport Company ID SDL Web Certified Developer Expert Interview SDL Web Certified System Administrator Expert Interview Before taking an interview o The candidate must have taken and successfully passed the certification exam for their intended role. The interview cannot be interrupted. o As soon as the candidate starts the interview, the candidate must finish the interview within the available timeframe. The interview will be recorded o Is reviewed by a second assessor to determine the final result. Interview topics Project Interview In order to ascertain the candidate s experience and involvement in SDL Web projects, the interviewee will be asked to discuss the following: o Project Experience Background Technical Experience The scoring for the project interview element is done by ascertaining the candidate s response as either being inadequate, adequate or excellent each receiving a respective score between zero and two. o Inadequate (0) o Adequate (1) o Excellent (2) 14

Problem Solving Tasks In order to ascertain the candidate s experience and involvement with SDL Web, the interviewee will be asked to discuss the following: o Problem Solving Tasks The candidate will be presented with a set of scenarios to which they must provide at least one solution The number of scenarios will depend on the interviewer The scoring for the problem solving tasks element is done by ascertaining the candidate s response as either being inadequate, adequate or excellent each receiving a respective score between zero and two. o Inadequate (0) o Adequate (1) o Excellent (2) Passing the interview The results provided by the interviewer will then reviewed by another assessor to confirm the results On passing the interview, the candidate will receive a certificate as proof of their achievement. The consultant will be entitled to use the SDL Web Certified Expert logo. Failing the interview On failing the interview, the candidate will need to develop their competences / skills further before re-attempting the interview. There must be at least two months between the date of the failed interview and the new attempt. o The candidate is advised to use this period of time to participate in SDL Web training and/or on-the-job training. The candidate can only attempt to pass the interview 3 times (per interview). o If the candidate fails the third attempt, SDL Web and the candidate will discuss the way forward. Expert validity The candidate does not need to renew the expert certificate, as it is valid for life. o These interviews are bound to the SDL Web 8 release therefore the candidate will be encouraged to re-apply for the expert certification when new releases become available. 15

Certification Upgrade There will be an upgrade exam that will be available to facilitate the upgrade of an individual already certified. o The upgrade exam will be focused on new pieces of the latest product release Expert Upgrade There will be an upgrade interview that will be available to facilitate the upgrade of an individual already certified expert. o The upgrade interview will be focused on new pieces of the latest product release 16

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