1/8/2003 -- IBM recently announced several changes to its certification program.

First, the company has decided to formalize the structure of its software certification program around six job roles: Administrator (Database and System), Developer (Application and Solution), Implementer/Integrator (Deployment Professional), Advisor (Sales), Designer and Instructor. A three-level skill hierarchy designating experience levels will be implemented within these roles.

Other recent changes to the program include:

• IBM certification exams are now being offered at Vue testing centers worldwide.
• The company has changed the requirements for its certified WebSphere developers at the intermediate and advanced levels. The number of exams for becoming a WebSphere Studio Application Developer has dropped from three to two, and the number of exams for Enterprise developer have dropped from five to four.
• As previously announced, IBM has also retired its MQSeries Adapter certification. No replacement certification is being offered.

More information on these changes can be found here. - B.N.