How to become an Oracle Certified Master (OCM)
A turning point in a DBA’s career is when he/she is recognized by Oracle as an elite Oracle professional. I was happily surprised to find out I became an Oracle Certified Master (OCM). I got another surprise right away, “You are the 2nd OCM at the Pythian Group”. Well, I am very happy that I have been working among brilliant people here.
Believe it or not, after I became an Oracle 10g OCM, everybody else wanted to know how to become one. Let me show you the way to become an Oracle Certified Master (OCM).
The practical way to become OCM
1) Be Oracle OCP first. If you don’t know what that is, stop here.
2) Take 2 advance trainings from Oracle University. I highly recommend RAC and SQL tuning. Taking the training, I can play with RAC at my will without any concerns. RAC in the Oracle lab doesn’t belong to any production instance, so no worries at all. Furthermore, refreshing your knowledge of tuning is always good. Your experience from work only can’t substitute as the full toolkit of Oracle — which is what you are tested on.
3) Register for the OCM test (in many cases, the test will be in another city)
It is true for all Canadians. I had to go to New York to take the test. I was told by Oracle that there is no plan to provide an OCM test site in Canada. And I met another Canadian DBA in the test, from Toronto.
4) Book plane and hotel then take 2 days to become OCM
Get a hotel close to Oracle building though it is probably expensive, let’s say CAD $200 a day without tips. Don’t get lost in train/substation during rush hour — get a hotel close enough to walk to the exam.
5) Get results in 1 month.
I got my ‘congratulations letter’ from Oracle in a month, then a T-shirt some weeks later with the OCM logo. In this step, just wait in your warm home and enjoy it.
Drop me email if you still have questions. Welcome, my DBA friend.
Category: Oracle, Pythian
Tags: certification, OCM, OCM certification, OCP, Oracle Certified Master
Congratulations !!!
Excellent post… I have received tons of emails from friends and foreigners who wants to be an OCM and ask me for details,
> get a hotel close enough to walk to the exam
Well said, very helpful!
Congrats for you success! Did you pass it on first try?
Contgrats Pang
Quick question
Which one was the hardest step ? :)
I passed in the first shot, like a superman.
the hardest step is that 2 days on-site exam, of course. IMO, I performed well when I was drinking coffee, I did bad when coke used.
Congratulations Pang !!!
and thanks for sharing your experience.
How long have you been preparing for the exam?
[...] How to become an Oracle Certified Master (OCM) [...]
Thanks for the tip….Will focus on ocm..Makes you a true expert..!!
Pang,
its not very clear on the certification explanation maybe you can give an answer if we can use Master Index or Master Glossary (which I always use to navigate in Oracle’s documentation) of Online Documentation during the exam ?
Without masters index I dont think that I can go for the exam.
Coskan,
Oracle provide online document without search function. Index/master index are there.
Mihajlo,
I prepared 2 weeks coz I already got intensive real world experience. It totally depends how good you hands-on is.
Hi,
Firstly congratualtions.
Please tell if the OCM comprise any objective type exam as well. Or it just involves dealing with scenarios and recovering from it.
Thanks
Santosh
Need your email id, i am having a problem regarding OCM Exam.
I got my OCM Results, thanks neways. I am now oracle certified master
I want to know ur email id Sir, Is OCM Exam avaible in India
congrats on your OCM certification.pls put me through on how to contact oracle university concerning the advanced courses and the cost implication.
thanks
i am holding 10g ocp and 10g rac certified expert credential, Whether i am eligible for ocm exam with out taking 2 advance handon course? i can’t find this info in oracle website also. Appreciate your advise.
Thanks
Abdul
2 advance course are necessary. Can’t be exempted by Certitication.
Hi Pang,
Congratulations on first anniversary of achieving your OCM!
Paresh
Hi Allen,
I have a question about OCM exam. I understand that it is not advisable to ‘discover’ things during the exam. At the same time I don’t think it is possible to remember all the syntax (diagrams) no matter even if one has years of experience. Is the search function (*not* google search ;-)) available in reference documentation provided during the exam?
Thanks,
Paresh
Pls ive been trying to find out about the OCM Track where to take the classes how much it will cost me . i had written my PLSQL, OCA, OCP, MANAGING ORACLE 10g ON LINUX, RAC.
what is the next step for me please
Please send me your eamil as it does not state this in the mails