Oracle database certifications in Japan or how to make more money from certs

I don't know if this is well-known, but the path to become an OCA/OCP/OCM is a bit different in Japan. First, the naming is different. There are four exams : Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinium. Yes, one more exam. Before 10g or 11g (I don't remember), certifications in Japan had no relation with OCA/OCP/OCM. Now, Silver=OCA, Gold=OCP and Platinium=OCM. What about Bronze then ? That's where Oracle found a way to get more money from Japanese. Japanese people love exams. There are all sorts of exams in Japan. An exam about a famous manga written by Yokoyama Mitsuteru called sangokushi (very good by the way if you're interested in China's romance of the three kingdoms), an exam about fishes, etc... Moreover, IT companies in Japan are taking certifications very seriously. Certifications are almost must-have career objectives. So many IT employees are aiming at Oracle certifications. Ok, back to the Oracle database certification. Let's compare the path to OCA in Japan and in the US.

Becoming an OCA in Japan

Remember ? OCA is equivalent to Silver, and Bronze is a pre-requisite.

Step1 : Passing Bronze

Pre-requisites for Bronze. You need at least one of the following:

• 11g SQL Basics I[11g SQLI] : 22260 yens
• Bronze SQL Basics I[Bronze SQLI] : 22260 yens

Then, you can take the Bronze exam, which costs 22260 yens.

Step 2 : Passing Silver

With Bronze in your pocket, you're ready to go for Silver. This will cost you another 22,260 yens.

Congratulations, you've spent at least 66780 yens, which in the current rate is about 805 US dollars.

Becoming an OCA in the US

You need at least one of the following:

• Introduction to Oracle9i SQL : 125 US dollars
• 1Z0-047 Oracle Database SQL Expert : 195 US dollars
• Oracle Database 11g: SQL Fundamentals I : 125 US dollars

After one of the pre-requisites is cleared, you can take the Oracle Database 11g Administration I, which costs 195 US dollars.

So the cheapest path is 320 US dollars.

How do you call that ?

Different countries, different rates. Yes. Still, 805 dollars vs 320 dollars. How do you call that ? Fraud ? Racket ? Whatever you call it, I only see it as a way to grab more money. Fortunately, most companies in Japan will pay the exam fees if you pass. Let's call it extra motivation then. Thank you Oracle.