11/5/2003 -- In a recent interview with CertCities.com Director of Oracle Certification Jim DiIanni said that program recently bypassed the 200,000 certification mark.

According to DiIanni, 203,000 Oracle certifications have been granted worldwide. That's up from 187,000 at the end of 2003 and 113,000 in mid-2002. The program was at apx. 80,000 in June 2001, and 35,000 the year before that.

DiIanni attributes most of the recent growth to the Asia-Pacific region. "Right now we are looking at pretty much flat growth in...the U.S. and [Europe],with the most significant growth right now being India and China."

DiIanni did not offer a breakdown of the total by title, but did say the program's new Oracle Certified Master title is performing well, with 62 candidates worldwide earning the hands-on lab title since its debut last year.

In the interview, DiIanni also told CertCities that the program is considering adding specialties for it's Oracle Certified Professional, Database Administrator title -- particularly a Linux specialty. He also talked about the current progress of the program's other tracks, when the 10g exams might be released, as well as other issues.

To read CertCities.com's interview with DiIanni, click here.

For more on Oracle's certification program, go here. -Becky Nagel