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THE PROGRAM:
THE EXAMS:
LOCATING AND
OBTAINING REFERENCED SPECS, ARTICLES, AND
BOOKS:
REGISTERING FOR AND SCHEDULING YOUR
EXAM:
TAKING THE EXAMS:
PREPARING FOR THE EXAMS:
AFTER YOU TAKE AN EXAM:
THE
PROGRAM
- Why should I get
certified?
Credentials are important in the
BPM world, where practitioners may
work on many projects for different
clients or employers over time. The
twenty-five experts from top BPM
companies and well-known independent
consultants who designed the OCEB
topical coverage and wrote the exam
questions want peers and prospective
employers to feel confident about a
certified candidate’s ability to
participate in or lead real-world
initiatives in enterprise BPM. Your
status as an OCEB Certified
Professional shows current and
future employers or clients
that you have the required knowledge and
skills, making you a
more attractive candidate for hiring and
promotion. »
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Question
or »
Top
- Why should I hire
OCEB Certified Professionals?
Because the OCEB Program is an objective, validated
measurement of a candidate’s knowledge
and skills in BPM. The examinations,
designed and written by
experts from
top BPM companies and well-known
independent consultants, cover the BPM
domain with the breadth and depth that
will let peers and prospective
employers feel confident about a
certified candidate’s ability to
participate in or lead real-world
initiatives in enterprise BPM. For a
general view of the
topics
covered by all five exams, look here.
For links to specific lists of
topics
for each exam individually, look here.
»
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THE EXAMS
- What OCEB Exams are there?
During the OCEB Beta Program, this
answer applies:
Currently, the OCEB program is in Beta
test. The OCEB Fundamental
Beta Examination period has
closed. The Intermediate and Advanced
examinations will become available as
they are completed, each for a limited
time as the schedule of the Beta
program allows. Look
here
for a diagram showing the OCEB tracks and levels,
and how they relate.
When the OCEB Program is completed
and launches formally, during the
fourth quarter of 2008, this answer
will apply:
The OCEB Certification Program
includes five exams and certifications
– the OCEB Fundamental exam, and
above it, a Business Track and a
Technical Track, each with an
Intermediate and an Advanced exam and
certification. Look
here
for a diagram showing how the
tracks and levels relate. Each OCEB examination
tests a candidate's knowledge of
different BPM knowledge and skills. Click
here
for more information on each Exam.
»
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- Which Exams should I take?
During the OCEB Beta Program, this
answer applies:
OMG is currently conducting a Beta
test of the OCEB examinations.
Admittance to the OCEB Beta Program
has closed.
When the complete OCEB Program
launches formally, during the fourth
quarter of 2008, this answer will
apply:
You should start with the OCEB Fundamental, because passing it is a
prerequisite to getting certified at the
OCEB Intermediate and Advanced levels.
Within each track - Business and
Technical - certifying at its
Intermediate level (that is, passing
both the Fundamental and that track's
Intermediate examinations) is required
to certify at its Advanced level. So,
the two questions are -
How high should I
go, and Which track - Business,
Technical, or both? That will depend on the
job title that you have, or want, and
the skillset
that you have, or are learning. Look
here
for a functional description of the
skills that each level of certification
indicates. Go
here for a more in-depth
discussion of this topic.
»
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- Do I have to take the exams in
order?
During the OCEB Beta Program, this
answer applies:
During the OCEB Beta program, if
you are admitted to the program, you
must take the examinations in the
order prescribed, because each
examination will be available in its
Beta format for only
a limited time, and then go off-line
until the program launches late in
2008. If you are not part of the
Free or Half-Price Beta programs, you
may still take the Beta exams while
they are available by registering with
Pearson VUE and paying full
price.
When the complete OCEB Program
launches formally, during the fourth
quarter of 2008, this answer will
apply:
No, you do not, so feel free to
start with one of the Intermediate or
Advanced exams if don't feel like
following the crowd. However, you
won't receive an OCEB certification
until you've passed all of the exams
required for its track and level:
You'll have to pass both the
OCEB Fundamental and an OCEB Intermediate
examination to qualify for OCEB Intermediate
Certification in a track, and both
of these exams plus the OCEB Advanced
examination for OCEB Advanced
Certification.
»
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or »
Top
- What areas of study are most
important to passing each Exam?
Look at these
Coverage
Maps to see what is
covered in each Exam.
»
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or »
Top
- What can you tell me about each of the
Exams?
For more information,
go here.
»
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- What is the cost for each Exam?
During the OCEB Beta Program, this
answer applies:
The
published price to take an OCEB Beta
examination is US$200 or approximately
the local
currency equivalent, but many candidates will take the Beta
examination under either
OMG's
Free Beta Program or Half-Price Beta
Program so the actual price paid
will be less. Candidates who are
not part of the Beta program may
register with Pearson VUE, pay the
full price, and take the Beta exams
while they are available.
When the complete OCEB Program
launches formally, during the fourth
quarter of 2008, this answer will
apply:
In the United States, the cost to
take an OCEB examination is US$200; in
many countries where English is not
the first language, the testing time
will be a half-hour longer and the
price will be a bit higher than the
local currency equivalent. You have to
pay each time you take an examination,
even if you're taking an examination
over because you failed the first
time. Payment
is by major credit card. For exact
pricing in your country, please look on
the Pearson VUE test
site.
»
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- Can I get a discount on the fee
for an Exam?
Probably not.
The only discount we can offer is for
large groups of pre-paid Exams, arranged
by a company for its staff, or training
company for its students. If you
are interested in arranging a group of
Exams, please contact certificationinfo@omg.org.
»
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- What languages can I take the
Exams in?
All of the Beta examinations will be
in English only.
When the complete OCEB Program
launches formally, during the fourth
quarter of 2008, this answer will
apply: All of the Exams are in English. A
Japanese version will be available soon in
Japan and Asia-Pacific, except for
India. In
non-English-speaking countries, the
time allowed to take the examination might be a
half-hour longer; see
two questions down.
»
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- What is the Exam format?
The Exams are computer-based tests (CBTs)
delivered at testing centers owned or
licensed by
Pearson VUE. Exams are
multiple-choice and include text and
BPMN diagrams. Every OCEB question
requires you to choose one out of four
or (occasionally) five or six options.
»
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How long is each Exam?
In
English-speaking countries, 90 minutes. There will be 90 questions
on each exam. When an
English-language Exam is delivered in a
non-English speaking country, the test
time might be up to 120 minutes; check with
your testing center to be sure.
»
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LOCATING
AND OBTAINING REFERENCED SPECS, ARTICLES,
AND BOOKS
- Where can I find a list of
References to study from?
All of the documents referred to
in each exam - specifications,
articles, and books - are listed on
the Coverage Map page for that
exam.
»
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- Where can I get a
copy of OMG’s BPMN, BMM, and BPMM specifications that are on the Exams?
All of the OMG specifications on the
exams can be downloaded free using the
links on the
Coverage
Map pages.
»
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- Where can I get copies of the
articles and white papers that are on
the exams?
All of the articles and white
papers referred to may be downloaded
and/or viewed free using the links on the
Coverage
Map pages.
»
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- Where can I get a
copy of the books that are used on the
Exams?
The books are listed in the References
on the Coverage Map pages, with their
ISBNs - You
can order them from
Amazon,
Barnes & Noble and many other
booksellers. For each book referenced,
we have listed the topics we covered
from it. If you already own a
different book that covers these
topics, you may decide to study from
it instead of buying a new one.
»
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REGISTERING FOR AND SCHEDULING YOUR EXAM
- How do I Register
to take an OCEB Beta Exam?
For OCEB Beta Examinations
only: OCEB Beta examinations are
administered by Pearson VUE for OMG,
and are available in the Americas,
EMEA (Europe, the Middle East,
Africa), and India. Currently, OCEB
Beta examinations are not available in
the Asia-Pacific region, except for
India.
If you are in a country where the OCEB
Beta examinations are available,
follow these instructions:
Go to the OMG
Exam Registration page at Pearson VUE:
http://www.pearsonvue.com/omg
IF YOU ARE NOT IN
INDIA: Click on the menu box that corresponds
to what you want to do. In the stack
of menu buttons on the right, you
can:
-
Locate a Test
Center
-
Schedule a Test
(requires
a Pearson VUE web account)
-
Reschedule a Test
(requires
a Pearson VUE web account)
-
Cancel a Test
(requires
a Pearson VUE web account)
or take care of a few other
things. At the bottom of the page, you
can
-
Schedule Online,
(requires
a Pearson VUE web account) or click
through to information that will let
you
-
Schedule by
Phone or
-
Schedule Through
a Test Center.
-
Then Follow the directions on
the Pearson VUE Website.
To create a free Pearson VUE Web
Account:
On the sign-in page that appears
when you click on any function that
requires an account, click on the link
labeled "create a new web
account" and follow the
instructions that appear.
IF YOU ARE IN INDIA: Scroll
down to the bottom of the Pearson VUE
/ OMG entry page
http://www.pearsonvue.com/omg
Under the row of three large buttons
(starting with "Schedule
Online") you'll find instructions
for India. Click on "Click
here" and select a test center
from the list that appears. Contact
that test center directly, either by
telephone or in person, to schedule
your test.
»
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- Where can I take
an Exam?
The Exams are available worldwide,
exclusively at Pearson VUE Testing Centers. There are thousands of
centers in over a hundred countries
around the world. You can locate a test
center by going to the OMG
registration page at Pearson VUE,
http://www.pearsonvue.com/omg
, and clicking on Locate a Test
Center. You will also be able to search for
and choose a test center as part of your
registration process.
»
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- When can I
schedule my Exam?
Each test center sets its own hours and
days of operation. You can schedule an
Exam at any time when the center you
choose is open and has an available
testing slot. You will schedule your
Exam as part of the registration
process.
»
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- What information
should I be prepared to provide when I
schedule my appointment?
When you schedule your appointment, you
should be prepared to provide any of the
following information:
- Your name (you may be asked to
provide your name as you would like to
have it appear on your certificate)
- Your Pearson VUE Candidate I.D.
Number, if you have one
- Contact phone numbers - If there is
a problem, Pearson VUE will use these numbers to
reach you
- Mailing address - Please provide the
address to which you would like your
certificate mailed. You must
provide a home address. You may (and
are encouraged to) also provide an
office mailing address.
- Exam number and title
- e-Mail address - Once again for
contact purposes, this is often the
fastest and most effective means of
contact.
- Method of payment
»
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- Can I cancel
and/or reschedule my test appointment
via the Pearson VUE Web site?
Yes, you can cancel and/or reschedule
your test through the Pearson VUE Web
site, except in India. Please read the rescheduling
policies in the confirmation letter for
your appointment.
»
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TAKING THE
EXAMS
- How do I take the
Exam?
Here is a summary. There is more
information in the detailed answers
below.
These are computer-based tests, which
you take on a computer at a test center.
On the day of the test you go to the
center, present two forms of
identification, and sign in. You will be
escorted to a quiet room with one or
more testing stations. You won't be
allowed to bring anything into the room
with you but your wits and (for some
exams) a wipe-off
note board. You'll sign on to the
computer and the test will begin. You
will be required to complete an
agreement promising not to reveal the
contents of the test. The questions
themselves are variations of multiple
choice formats. The Exams last 90
minutes.
»
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- When should I
plan to arrive at the testing center?
You should arrive at the testing center
at least 30 minutes before the test is
scheduled to begin. During that time you
will provide proper
identification and the test center
administrator will give you a
short orientation and then escort you to a workstation. If
you do not provide
appropriate identification, you will not be allowed to test
for security reasons. Late arrivals will
not be admitted.
»
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- What type of
identification must I bring to the test
center?
You must have two forms of ID, one with
a photo and both with a signature.
Acceptable forms of primary (photo) identification
include:
- Government issued driver’s license
·
- Employee ID work badge
- School ID
- Military ID*
- Passport*
- Alien registration card
- Permanent resident visas (Green
Cards)
- State/Country ID
* Primary ID’s which contain an
embedded signature are permitted as
long as the Secondary ID presented has
a visible signature.
Acceptable forms of non-photo
identification include:
- Can my Exam be
taken on my PC, or do I have to go to a
test center?
The Exams are administered only at
authorized Pearson VUE testing centers,
in their secure environment, on their
secure equipment.
»
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- What items can I bring into the
testing area?
You may
bring your identification, but not much
else. No computers, PDAs, cellphones,
pagers, books, notes, scratch pads,
writing instruments, coats, jackets,
backpacks, briefcases, purses, and so
on. You get the idea.
»
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- Are there lockers? Can I keep my
purse with me?
Some centers may have lockers, but they
are usually small, and there may be none
available when you take your Exam.
Please do not bring personal items to
the test center.
»
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- Will I test with only
OCEB Examination candidates?
No. There may be candidates taking other
professional exams at the same time
using Pearson VUE's computer-based delivery system
technology.
»
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- Do I have to agree to anything,
like confidentiality, before I can take
an Exam?
Yes. When you sit down to take an Exam
at the test center, you will be asked to
agree to keep the contents of the Exam
confidential and to accept some terms
and conditions relating to the Exam and
your certification. You will not be
allowed to take the Exam if you do not agree to
these requirements.
You can review the
Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)
here.
You can review the Candidate Agreement
here.
»
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- What is the
format of the Exams?
All questions are multiple choice. All
Exams are closed book. No written
materials or notebook computers will be
allowed in the testing area.
»
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- During my exam,
can I skip questions and answer them
later in the session?
Yes: As you take the exam, you may
either mark questions that
you feel are too difficult, or just skip
them, to go back to after you reach
the end. After you finish the last
question, you will see a review screen
that lets you jump back to any
questions that you want to
review. On the review screen,
different symbols will identify
questions that you marked, and
questions that you skipped. Both
marked and unmarked questions will be
scored when you finally submit your
exam.
Unanswered questions will be scored as
incorrect.
»
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- Is it OK to guess
answers or are these tests marked
negatively?
The Exams are not scored negatively -
that is, no points are deducted
for incorrect answers. This means that you can safely
- and should - guess an answer to every
question that you don't know. It is best to
check if you have actually answered ALL
questions before completing the exam
(and the Review Screen makes this
easy). If
you are running short on time, just
click any answer and move on. This way,
you will at least have a chance to get
some of them right.
»
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- Do the Pearson VUE
test centers provide special testing
accommodations?
Yes. Candidates with documented visual,
physical, hearing, or learning
disabilities, which would prevent them
from taking an examination under
standard conditions, may request special
testing accommodations and arrangements.
Please contact Pearson VUE directly.
»
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- Do I have to take the exams in
order?
During the OCEB Beta Program, this
answer applies:
During the OCEB Beta program, if
you are admitted to the program, you
must take the examinations in the
order prescribed, because each
examination will be available in its
Beta format for only
a limited time, and then go off-line
until the program launches late in
2008. If you are not part
of the Free or Half-Price Beta
programs, you may still take the Beta
exams while they are available by
registering with Pearson VUE and
paying full price.
When the complete OCEB Program
launches formally, during the fourth
quarter of 2008, this answer will
apply:
No, you do not, so feel free to
start with one of the Intermediate or
Advanced exams if don't feel like
following the crowd. However, you
won't receive an OCEB certification
until you've passed all of the exams
required for its track and level:
You'll have to pass both the
OCEB Fundamental and an OCEB Intermediate
examination to qualify for OCEB Intermediate
Certification in a track, and both
of these exams plus the OCEB Advanced
examination for OCEB Advanced
Certification.
»
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- When will I find
out if I passed, and what my score is?
During the OCEB Beta Program, this
answer applies:
Currently, the OCEB examinations are
available only in Beta form. After
enough candidates take an examination,
we will terminate the Beta period for
that exam and withdraw it from the
Pearson VUE system, and perform a
statistical analysis on the test
results to validate the exam questions
and set the cutoff score. The data
collection, plus the analysis, will
take a month or perhaps longer, so Beta
testers will have to be patient. Using
the results of the analysis, we will
calculate your score based on the
questions that will be in the exam's
final published form. If you score
above the cutoff, you pass and (if
it's the Fundamental level, or you
have passed the Beta prerequisites)
become Certified. Congratulations!
You'll be notified by email, and your
Certificate will arrive in the mail a
month or two later.
When the OCEB Program is completed
and launches formally, during the
fourth quarter of 2008, this answer
will apply:
Once you have completed an exam online
at a Pearson VUE Testing Center, your
score will automatically be displayed on
the screen. You will also receive a
printed copy of the score report before
you leave. This
information is transmitted to OMG for
our records. If you passed the exam you
just took, and any prerequisites, you
will receive your
Certificate in the mail in
3 to 4 weeks.
»
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PREPARING
FOR THE EXAMS
- What training is
required before I can take an Exam?
No training is required, and you do not
have to take or complete any training
course before you take an Exam. Of
course, we strongly advise that you
prepare for the Exam by studying the
subjects listed in the
coverage map - the books or
subject-matter equivalent, plus the
freely-downloadable OMG specifications
and other papers and framework
documents - , and have a good general
knowledge of Business Process
Management. And, training courses and
material prepared specifically for the
OCEB examinations are available
- more about this two questions down
this page, including a link.
»
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- Is there a guide
to what I need to know to pass the Exam?
Here is a
link
to our page with general information
about all of the OCEB exams, and
here is a
link
to a page with links to the coverage
maps and specific information about
each examination individually.
»
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- Are there books
or training courses to help me to
prepare for an Exam?
Yes, most definitely:
Several of the Subject-Matter Experts
who wrote the exam questions are busy
right now, preparing books and courses
to prepare you for the OCEB
examinations. Some of these will be
ready when the examination program
debuts, and at least one will be ready
during the Beta program. We have
listed
these programs on this page. There
may be additional training in BPM,
useful although not targeted directly
to the OCEB examinations, on OMG's
Training
Listings page. You can also look for books about
BPM at bookstores.
»
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- Are there any
practice exams available?
At this time, practice exams are not
available.
»
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- Are there any
sample questions available?
Not yet. We will have some sample
questions available soon.
»
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- What is the minimum passing
score, and the pass
rate?
We will calculate the minimum passing
scores from the results of the Beta
testing, which is going on now. After
the Beta period, when the OCEB program
has its formal launch, we will post
the minimum passing score on
the description page of each Exam. We do not release information on pass
rates.
»
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AFTER YOU
TAKE AN EXAM
- When will I
receive my score reports?
During the OCEB Beta Program, this
answer applies:
Beta test-takers will have to be
patient. Each OCEB exam will be
available for Beta testing for about a
month, or until we collect the
statistical data that we need. Then we
will withdraw that test from the
Pearson VUE system and perform a
statistical analysis on the results -
validating each question, constructing
multiple equivalently-scoring
90-question forms, and setting the
cutoff (minimum passing) score. As
part of this exercise, we calculate
the actual score that each Beta tester
achieved on the final form of the
exam. We'll compare this score to the
cutoff, and let you know if you passed
or not. If you passed, you'll receive
your certificate in the mail in a
month or two.
When the OCEB Program is completed
and launches formally, during the
fourth quarter of 2008, this answer
will apply:
In most cases, you will receive your
score report immediately after the test
is completed. At the same time, you will
receive some diagnostic information, to
show you how strong you were in various
areas.
»
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- What happens
after I pass an Exam?
During the OCEB Beta Program, this
answer applies:
If you take an OCEB Beta exam, you
won't find out if you passed until
more than a month later - possibly
two. Eventually, you'll receive an
email with your result. If you qualify
for certification, you'll receive a
kit in the mail as described below.
We're reserving a special series of
low certificate numbers especially for Beta
candidates.
When the OCEB Program is completed
and launches formally, during the
fourth quarter of 2008, this answer
will apply:
First, Congratulations! You will have
received your score at the test center
immediately after you finished your
Exam. If you have passed all of the
exams required for a certification
level, we will send you (by mail) a
certification kit, usually within one
month after you pass the Exam. The kit
will include a letter explaining the
certification, the actual certificate
(suitable for framing) and instructions
for downloading the OCEB logo for the
level of Certification that you have passed.
»
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- What happens if I
fail an Exam?
If you fail an Exam, you can retake it
after a minimum of 21 days, but you
cannot take a particular Exam more than
three times in a twelve-month period. There is no discount price
for re-taking an Exam. The fee is the
same as for the initial Exam.
The diagnostic feedback that you will
receive with the test score report will
indicate the areas that need further
study.
»
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- How do I use the OCEB
Certification logo, and what are
my rights and responsibilities in using
it?
Candidates who qualify for OCEB
certification may use the OCEB Certification Logo for their level
(Fundamental, Business or
Technical Intermediate, or
Business or Technical Advanced) as
a graphic symbol to demonstrate to
clients their skill and knowledge in
BPM.
Please follow these guidelines to
correctly promote your relationship with
OMG and protect the integrity of the
Logo:
You may use the Logo on your business
cards, letterhead stationery, resume,
Web site, and marketing materials for
individual service, to indicate that you
have earned a credential in the OCEB Program. You may not use the Logo on any
product, book, or other material. You
may not use it for any purpose other
than to designate your OCEB certification credential.
You may use the OCEB Certification Logo
only as permitted by the OMG Trademark
Usage Guidelines at
http://www.omg.org/legal/tm_guidelines.htm.
Some of these guidelines are:
►You may not
alter the Logo in any way.
►Your name,
trade name, or company name must appear
on any materials where the Logo is used.
►The Logo
cannot appear larger or more prominent
than your name, product or service name,
trademark or service mark, logo, or
trade or company name.
►OMG may, in
its sole discretion, terminate your
right to use the Logo at any time.
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- I have lost my
certification kit. Can you re-issue it?
If you send us an e-mail at
certificationinfo@omg.org with your name,
address, and Pearson VUE ID number, we
will re-issue your certificate only, for
an additional charge.
»
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- How can I check
the status of my certification? Why
haven't I received it yet?
You should receive your certification
kit within six weeks of passing an Exam.
If you have not received it within this
period, please contact OMG by email at certificationinfo@omg.org.
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- How long is the
certification valid?
Once you are certified at a certain
level for a certain version of the OCEB Exam, you are always certified for that
level and version. Of course, as new
versions of the Exam become available,
you may want to get certified on the
newest version.
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- What happens to
my certification once I leave my
company? Does it move with me?
Certifications are associated with
individuals, not companies. Your
certification is granted to you and it
will move with you wherever you go.
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- What if I still
have a question?
You can contact OMG by email at certificationinfo@omg.org.
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For more information or
questions about the OMG Certification Program, please contact certificationinfo@omg.org
OCEB is a joint program of the OMG and the UML
Technology Institute (UTI)
Last updated on
10/30/2008 by Rachel
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