Hmmm... Within the last two days I saw a news blurb that said there are now 113,000 OCPs - up from ~60,000 two (?) years ago. I imagine the a non-trivial number of these went through the entire ILT schedule to get there. I'm not sure exactly what this new OCP ILT requirement is, but I'd venture a guess that it isn't some new course developed entirely from scratch. Look at what the OCM requires in the way of ILT - two additional existing courses (and they aren't very picky about which).
So, it sounds like ~26,000 new OCPs per year. True, this isn't likely to cause their stock price to double, but I do think it is much more about revenue rather providing useful certification. How else could requiring a $2,000 ILT class be justified? (My understanding is that it is a class, not a practicum exam). Also, this is just the beginning. I'd bet that future certifications will up the ante on this Oracle ILT requirement. Perhaps by 10i (11i?), the OCP will become more like the Oracle Masters deal - more required ILT courses and simpler exams with heavier emphasis on the GUI tools and whatever esoteric features Oracle is pushing at the time. Think of it this way: Possible Oracle10i OCP requirements: 1) Four weeks of Oracle ILT @ ~$2000 / week for a new OCP 2) Two weeks of Oracle ILT for an upgrade 3) Some exams that are easily passed by regurgitating the ILT - flaws and all Assume 100,000 people want a 10i OCP. Assume that 30% are new and 70% are upgrades. (Wild guesses all.) 100,000 * [(0.30 * 4 * $2000) + (0.70 * 2 * $2000)] = $520,000,000 That doesn't include OCM or OCW (Oracle Certified Wizard) which add to the ILT requirements - and revenue. I can't imagine Oracle promoting anything so heavily if they only break even. (Does anyone else remember the Oracle Developer Programme? Evidently, it didn't turn out to be the cash cow it was expected to be, so it quietly disappeared. Don't know about anyone else, but I didn't get a refund.) Don Granaman [Curmudgeon OraSaurus] ----- Original Message ----- To: "Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2002 10:28 AM > Putting on my cost accounting hat I'd like to say this. At $2,000 a pop and > probably with a small group of people attending these classes, Oracle would > be lucky to break even. The costs of developing, hardware and staff to > proctor these exams are very high. A lot of people would have to take this > test for Oracle to break even. A thousand test takers in a year would only > generate $2,000,000 in sales which wouldn't even show up on their financial > statements. > > My $0.02 as a former cost accountant, > > Ken Janusz, CPIM > > ----- Original Message ----- > To: "Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2002 2:08 AM > > > > They aren't - unless it exceeds a non-trivial percentage (6%? 7%? more? I > > can't remember now...) of their income and is "required" (?). > > > > This new requirement for OCP is just another in a long line of > > propaganda/baloney from Oracle in its never-ending attempts to suck up > every > > buck it possibly can. [Oracle likes $$$$$. HR likes mindless checklist > > items. It is a match made in heaven.] I thought that the "need > practically > > any two ILT classes, no matter how irrelevant" 9i OCM was going to be the > > limit of extending the the greedy grab for OCP bucks - for 9i at least. > > This isn't about certification anymore (as if it ever was), its about > > revenue. > > > > Since this "new requirement" (for the moment at least) doesn't apply to > > upgrade from an 8i certification, does anyone know if there is (or soon > will > > be) a new constraint/surprise/ambush limiting that to 8i OCP obtained > prior > > to, oh say, June 15, 2002? September 2002? > > > > Don Granaman > > [OraSaurus - with more disdain than ever for the evil vampire Larry's OCP > > DBA tax] > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > To: "Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Sent: Friday, June 21, 2002 12:23 AM > > > > > > > I thought employees were not allowed to write things off as business > > > expenses... > > > > > > Confusedly yours, > > > Patrice Boivin > > > Systems Analyst (Oracle Certified DBA) > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2002 10:13 PM > > > To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L > > > Subject: RE: the ora certified masters cert, yet again > > > > > > Are you trying to promote it? > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > > > Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2002 6:50 PM > > > To: Multiple recipients of list ORACLE-L > > > > > > > > > I am seriously considering pursuing one, since it can > > > be sold to hiring managers as a sign of professional > > > competence. > > > > > > Look at it from a cost/benefit ratio standpoint. Will > > > someone with this cerifification make $2000 more over > > > her professional life than she would without? > > > > > > So it takes a round trip ticket and three days of > > > vacation. Get the company to pay for it or write it > > > off as a business expense. > > > > > > Good investment, easy money, instant credibility to > > > many hiring managers. > > > > > > jack silvey > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On 19 Jun 2002 at 4:38, Ron Rogers wrote: > > > > > > > > Date sent: Wed, 19 Jun 2002 04:38:18 -0800 > > > > To: Multiple recipients of list > > > > ORACLE-L <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > > > > > > It seems that our list has made mention in this > > > > report from > > > > > Searchdatabase.com. And Oracle is trying to > > > > justify the $2000 expence. > > > > > If I read this correct the $2000 is for 9i OCP. > > > > > ======= > > > > > LEAD STORY > > > > > > > > > > ORACLE FUELS CERTIFICATION CONTROVERSY | > > > > SearchDatabase > > > > > Oracle has a new requirement for its potential > > > > certified > > > > > professionals, and the price tag is about $2,000. > > > > Many DBAs aren't > > > > > happy about the new policy but Oracle says the > > > > class makes their > > > > > certification more valuable than ever. Read the > > > > details of the new > > > > > mandate, and what DBAs and industry experts have > > > > to say about it. > > > > > > > > > > For the full details, click: > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > http://www.searchdatabase.com/originalContent/0,289142,sid13_gci833782,00.ht > > > ml > > > > > > > > ... > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: > > > > http://www.orafaq.com > > > > -- > > > > Author: Eric D. Pierce > > > > INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > > > Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: > > > > (858) 538-5051 > > > > San Diego, California -- Public Internet > > > > access / Mailing Lists > > > > > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an > > > > E-Mail message > > > > to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of > > > > 'ListGuru') and in > > > > the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB > > > > ORACLE-L > > > > (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed > > > > from). You may > > > > also send the HELP command for other information > > > > (like subscribing). > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > > > Do You Yahoo!? > > > Yahoo! - Official partner of 2002 FIFA World Cup > > > http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com > > > -- > > > Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com > > > -- > > > Author: Jack Silvey > > > INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 > > > San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message > > > to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in > > > the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L > > > (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may > > > also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing). > > > -- > > > Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com > > > -- > > > Author: Khedr, Waleed > > > INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 > > > San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message > > > to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in > > > the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L > > > (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may > > > also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing). > > > -- > > > Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com > > > -- > > > Author: Boivin, Patrice J > > > INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 > > > San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message > > > to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in > > > the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L > > > (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may > > > also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing). > > > > -- > > Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com > > -- > > Author: Don Granaman > > INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 > > San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists > > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > > To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message > > to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in > > the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L > > (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may > > also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing). > > -- > Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com > -- > Author: KENNETH JANUSZ > INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 > San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists > -------------------------------------------------------------------- > To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message > to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in > the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L > (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may > also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing). > -- Please see the official ORACLE-L FAQ: http://www.orafaq.com -- Author: Don Granaman INET: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Fat City Network Services -- (858) 538-5051 FAX: (858) 538-5051 San Diego, California -- Public Internet access / Mailing Lists -------------------------------------------------------------------- To REMOVE yourself from this mailing list, send an E-Mail message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (note EXACT spelling of 'ListGuru') and in the message BODY, include a line containing: UNSUB ORACLE-L (or the name of mailing list you want to be removed from). You may also send the HELP command for other information (like subscribing).