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Zend Certification
Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 3:40 am
by s.dot
I searched for this topic, and it brought up an ollld one, so I decided to make this one.
For what it's worth, I'm considering taking the Zend Certified Engineer test. I took the self-test, and I got 7/8 right. I think I missed the apache one about the best way to install php4 and php5 on the same webserver... which really didn't seem like a PHP question.
I don't really want to do contracted or freelance work. PHP's actually quite boring me lately. =/ But, it would be pretty cool to brag about.
That said, has anyone taken it before? Surely all the questions can't be multiple choice and as (seemingly) easy as the self-test questions.
I think the only thing I'm insecure about are:
-sockets
-ftp functions
... I think that's about it.
Is anyone on this board a zend certified engineer?
Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 2:46 pm
by Weirdan
I'm considering taking the test myself, since it would be nice complement to mysql certified engineer certification my company requires from me (and pays for that of course). But no, I don't know anyone on this board who passed the test. At least I can't remember anyone who told here they passed.
Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 3:41 pm
by m3mn0n
Here I go ranting about buying books again, but I really recommend the Practice Test book and the Study Guide (they're both cheap on Amazon).
If you're serious about passing it and don't want to do re-tests because of failing it one or two times, read those. It could end up saving you money. Plus it's also a good language reference.
That's what I do for pretty much any test I need to take. Hunt down the practice test. Hunt down the study guide (or create my own). Cram, cram, cram. Pass.
Why I like these two things a lot is because I've come to learn, it doesn't matter how much you know or how good you are, passing often depends on mastering their way of presenting questions and knowing exactly what areas to focus your studying attention on. This applies to so many things, not just this Zend Cert. Plus, most test creators have making it challenging down to a science, so it's only logical that you have studying and preparing for tests down to a science, too.
Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 2:49 pm
by RobertGonzalez
Jason Sweat (sweatj) in certified. And I think a few others (not so active members) here are certified. I am trying to talk my company into paying for my testing. I want it bad.
Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 3:50 pm
by Weirdan
I am trying to talk my company into paying for my testing. I want it bad.
The exam itself is not that expensive actually, you could pay for it yourself. It's not one of those cisco's exams costing a fortune.
Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 3:51 pm
by RobertGonzalez
I know, but the exam is given in cool places around the US and I think it would be just lovely to get a free conference/vacation/certification out of the deal.
I have thought about taking the test on my own dime as well. It is only a couple of hundred dollars US.
Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 4:47 pm
by Weirdan
It is only a couple of hundred dollars US.
125 USD if I remember correctly.
Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 8:17 pm
by s.dot
Yes, it is $125 USD. It's also given in lots of locations (even my small home town has a place to take the test).
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 4:51 am
by onion2k
I'm tempted merely to say I've got it, but every time I think about doing it I come up with an idea that leeches away all my spare time. I don't seriously think it'd make any difference at all to your job prospects.
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 10:29 am
by RobertGonzalez
I don't think it would add to my job prospects, but it might justify my arrogance a little more, you know?

Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 3:08 pm
by timvw
Imho "Zend Certifified" doesn't say much about someones capabilities... If i were an employer i'd look for previous work (or posts on phpdn)...
On the other hand, i admit that i've considered taking the exam, for "bragging" purposes... But when i'm about to make the move, i always choose to buy a couple of good books with the money i'd spend on the exam instead.
Posted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 8:24 pm
by s.dot
Since Zend is pretty much THEE governing body of PHP, aside from a large-scale website or open-source software, a ZCE is pretty much the ultimate bragging piece.
Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 2:02 am
by timvw
Read: It all depends on your perception of Zend
Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 6:23 am
by xylex
I got my certification last month after starting to see job listings specifically asking for it. I did a few of the practice tests online to prep for it, and I found that I could recieve a "passing" grade after correctly answering about half of the questions. These tests both are produced by Zend, and they adverstise that the online test closely matches to how the real test would be scored.
Now I understand that there should be some leniency for how obscure some of the information on the test is, but 50%??? This means that I could recieve my PHP5 certification while failing the entire OOP syntax, the PHP4 to PHP 5 differences, and the security sections of the test.
What's much more difficult than finding someone who has their certification is finding someone who failed the test. Zend says that there's an 80% pass rate, far higher than certification exams of competetive languages. Honestly, the whole experience of how easy it was to pass the test just cheapened the certification to me. I think that Zend made the test very easy to pass as an effort to gain market share with employers and establish name recognition, rather than something that lets the true professional developers stand out.
Posted: Thu Sep 06, 2007 10:36 am
by ReverendDexter
timvw wrote:Imho "Zend Certifified" doesn't say much about someones capabilities... If i were an employer i'd look for previous work (or posts on phpdn)...
Yes, but you're also a techie, and understand that you can pass a cert exam by studying the right book, not necessarily by knowing the material.
If the people hiring aren't technical, having a cert could certianly make up for less experience, if not eclipse it entrirely. Especially if you don't have a lot (or any) professional experience, a cert is an easy way to show people that you've at least put effort into learning the material. I guess what I'm trying to say is that it's more of a way of getting your foot in the door than securing the job.