Professional Certification Program
Frequently Asked Questions
Why an Informatica Certification Program?
Informatica Professional Certification is designed to accelerate, fine-tune, and enhance the delivery and management of our platform integration solutions. By enabling our customers and employees to gauge and document their level of product expertise, we are formally recognizing individuals who can add the most value to real-world projects. Informatica customers can now be assured that they are staffing their projects with qualified personnel.
What does the Informatica Professional Certification Program have to offer me?
Certification proves your depth of knowledge and your ability to manage Informatica’s core platform integration products. Whether you are an employee of an Informatica customer, a strategic partner, or an independent consultant, attaining certification will increase the value that you add to the project team. Becoming certified is also an excellent way to heighten the level of software knowledge that you already posses. This means you will likely be well qualified to help your employer or client extract the most possible value from their investment in the Informatica solution.
I’m a rather new user, and I’m not yet at the “expert” level. Should I register for the Informatica Professional Certification exams?
Informatica Professional Certification is not intended to teach you the software. It is not a learning program. It is designed so that experienced Informatica customers, partners and employees can demonstrate their knowledge. However, if you have some experience with the software but you are not yet an expert, the process of preparing for the exams will help you attain a far higher level of product understanding than if you simply waited to acquire more experience. Education experts agree that when learning complex skills, a methodical approach which includes specific goals and objectives is the most efficient approach. The Informatica Professional Certification program is a worthwhile goal for new and experienced users alike. If you do not have a lot of experience or deep knowledge of the software, the sooner you get started on becoming certified the sooner you will reach “guru” status - and be able to prove it!
Can I download the Informatica software and associated documentation after I register for the certification exams?
Registration for certification exams does not entitle you to Informatica software or software documentation. If you are not an Informatica customer, partner, or employee, you should be aware that the software and documentation are required to prepare for the exams. In addition, all certification candidates should have significant hands-on exposure to the software prior to taking the exams. The Informatica Professional Certification program is not intended to introduce anyone to the software.
What is contained in the Skill Set Inventories?
Each Skill Set Inventory is designed to show you the skills and knowledge areas that are covered in one specific exam. If you use the Skill Set Inventories, there will be no “surprises” when you take the exam - you will already be aware of all subject materials covered in that exam. However, the Skill Set Inventories are not substitutes to the Informatica software technical documentation. The Skill Set Inventories list the knowledge areas for an exam in outline form, without the technical information that you need to know (for example, the meaning of the properties of a transformation). Technical information is covered in the Informatica software documentation, help files, readme files, the Informatica Velocity Methodology, and the Informatica on-line knowledge base. These resources are to be used in conjunction with the Skill Set Inventories to prepare for the exams. The Skill Set Inventory for a specific exam can be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat format immediately after you have completed registration for the exam. The Skill Set Inventories are not available to anyone before they have registered for an exam.
Are sample exams or sample questions available?
No.
What is the basic Informatica Professional Certification process?
Informatica recommends that you approach certification one exam at a time. Depending on the type of certification you desire, you will need to pass two, three or five exams. After registering for an exam, download the Skill Set Inventory and use it to ensure that your knowledge and skill level is appropriate for the exam. You can increase your knowledge through a combination of hands-on work, studying the software documentation and white papers, or attending formal Informatica classes. You decide when you are ready for an exam. You can take the exam any time up to one year after registration.
What are the differences between the three types of Informatica Professional Certification?
The Professional Certification types are based on individual roles. An Informatica Certified Administrator is an expert on managing and maintaining the infrastructure of platform integration projects. This includes the control of central issues such as security, distributed objects, database connectivity, software installation, and organizing session and batch runs. An Informatica Certified Developer is tasked with the vital role of developing, troubleshooting and maintaining transformations, mappings, and mapplets – the logical structure of the data integration process. An Informatica Certified Consultant is both a Certified Administrator and Developer, and in addition is knowledgeable in Informatica’s core enablement technologies. These technologies allow us to integrate data from a greater variety of platforms and enterprise solutions. Examples include mainframe data, SAP R/3, IBM MQSeries, and PeopleSoft.
Does Informatica Professional Certification require enrollment in formal classes?
No. Professional Certification is based strictly on knowledge level, and that knowledge level can be attained through a combination of hands-on work, studying the software documentation and white papers, or, optionally, attending formal Informatica classes. Although it is not required, attending Informatica Education Services classes are an efficient and cost-effective way to learn about the software. It should be noted, however, that attending any number of Informatica classes and successfully completing the hands-on exercises will not, by itself, provide you with the expert level of understanding needed for certification. You will also need to use the tools until you feel very comfortable with them, and use the Skill Set Inventory to ensure that you understand on a detailed level every topic that will be covered in a given exam.
Are the exams difficult?
If you know the material in the Skill Set Inventorys and you have meaningful hands-on experience with the software, the exams are not difficult. However, regardless of your level of knowledge, you will find them challenging. We've taken pains to ensure that the exams are fair and based on useful, real-world skills - not trivia. We've also designed the questions so that those with significant hands-on experience are at a large advantage over others who have only read the documentation. How much experience is “significant”? That depends on the individual and the conditions under which the experience was acquired. If you have been using the software to the extent that you feel comfortable with it, and you've diligently used the Skill Set Inventorys to prepare, you will do well on the exams
Can you give some tips on taking the exams?
The main principle to remember is not to take any exam before you have finished preparing yourself. Even though you may have significant experience using the software, there will likely be gaps in your knowledge that may prevent you from attaining a passing score. This is why Informatica provides you with a detailed Skill Set Inventory for each exam that you are registered to take. If you know the material in the Skill Set Inventory, you will have no unpleasant surprises during the exams. Other tips that you may wish to keep in mind: Ensure that the location where you will take the exam is quiet and completely free from distractions and interruptions. Turn your pager or cellular phone off. Also, you should avoid taking the exams late in the evening or any other time when you are tired, particularly after a busy work day.
Can I take the exams on my own schedule?
Yes. Because all of the exams are web-based, you can take an exam any time of day, any day of the week. All you need is a web browser with an Internet connection.
How can I obtain a particular Skill Set Inventory?
The Skill Set Inventory for a specific exam can be downloaded in Adobe Acrobat format immediately after you have completed registration for the exam. The Skill Set Inventorys are not available to anyone before the have registered for an exam.
What is the format for the exams?
All of the exams are multiple-choice. There are four choices and one correct answer per question. Graphics are used for illustration where needed. There are 60 to 65 questions in each exam. The exams are timed for 60 minutes. You will receive your score within seconds after finishing the exam.
What happens if I do not pass an exam?
If your score is less than 70 percent correct, you will immediately receive a diagnostic feedback report that shows the subject areas where you missed one or more questions. You should print this report from your web browser. Use it in conjunction with the Skill Set Inventory to review the areas that require further preparation or study. When you are fully prepared to re-take the exam, log back into the exam site and the procedure will be the same as the first time. Your original registration fee includes one re-take at no additional charge. You may take it any time up to one year after your original registration.
If I become Informatica Certified and I change employers, does my certification remain valid?
Yes.
Are the Informatica Certification Exams tied to a particular version of the software?
Yes – the major release version at the time the exam is taken.
I am certified in a previous version of the software and I wish to upgrade my certification to Informatica PowerCenter 8. How can that be accomplished?
Anyone who has earned one or more certification titles in PowerCenter 7 may upgrade their certifications to PowerCenter 8 by passing a single exam; there are Certification Level specific exams that one can take to upgrade to PowerCenter 8. If you are certified as an Administrator, take exam V - PowerCenter 8 Administrator Update . If you are a Certified Developer, take exam W - PowerCenter 8 Developer Update. If you are a Certified Consultant, take exam Q - PowerCenter 8 Consultant Update.
How can I document the fact that I am Informatica Certified?
Informatica makes it easy for you to document Informatica Professional Certification for one of your clients, customers, partners, prospects, and current or prospective employers. Your colleagues can access an on-line database showing your certification type and the date that it was attained. This Web database can be accessed directly from our main Certification page (URL near bottom). It does not require a password.
How much do the Certification exams cost?
The Exams are $200.00 each and there are multiple exams within a Certification track. Please see the associated track you are interested in for exam requirements. If you work for an Authorized Informatica Partner, please visit beINFORMed for your partner benefits.
If you have further questions that were not addressed by these FAQ’s, or if you have any comments or suggestions regarding Informatica Professional Certification, please contact us via email at: certification@informatica.com.