THE
PROGRAM
- Why should I get
certified?
To make more money. That’s the short
answer. As an OCRES Certified
Professional, you will be able to show
future and current employers and clients
that you know Real-time and Embedded
programming specifications, making you a
more attractive candidate for hiring and
promotion.
- Why should I hire
OCRES Certified Professionals?
Because the OCRES Program is the first
and only objective, validated
measurement of a candidate’s knowledge
of Real-time and Embedded programming
specifications. You don’t have to guess
or try to test the candidates yourself.
In addition, you can tell that an OCRES
Certified Professional has made a
commitment to knowing Real-time and
Embedded programming specifications.
Top
REAL-TIME
AND EMBEDDED PROGRAMMING SPECIFICATIONS
- Where can I get a
copy of OMG’s Real-time and Embedded
specifications that are on the Exams?
All of the OMG specifications on the
exams can be downloaded from the
Coverage Map
page.
- Where can I get a
copy of the book that is used on the
Exams?
The Book is Software
Engineering for Real-time Systems
by Jim Cooling, ISBN 0201596202 - You
can get it at
Amazon,
Barnes & Noble and many other
booksellers. Top
THE EXAMS
- What OCRES Exams are there?
The OCRES Certification Program
includes three exams – the OCUP
Fundamental Exam on UML, plus the
OCRES Intermediate and
OCRES Advanced Exams. Look here
for a diagram showing how the OCUP
exam fits into the OCRES program. Each OCRES examination
tests a candidate's knowledge of
different Real-time and Embedded
specifications and knowledge. Click here
for more information on each Exam. Top
- Which Exams should I take?
You should start with the OCUP
Fundamental, because passing it is a
prerequisite to getting certified at
OCRES Intermediate, and passing OCRES
Intermediate is a prerequisite to
getting certified at OCRES Advanced. So,
the real question is - how high should I
go? That will depend on the skillset
that you have or are learning. Look here
for a functional description of the
skills that each level of certification
indicates. Top
- Do I have to take the exams in
order?
No, you do not, so feel free to
start with the Intermediate or
Advanced exam if don't feel like
following the crowd. However, you
won't receive an OCRES certification
until you've passed all of the exams
for its level: Both the OCUP
Fundamental and OCRES Intermediate
examinations to qualify for OCRES
Intermediate Certification, and both
of these exams plus the OCRES Advanced
examination for OCRES Advanced
Certification. Top
- What areas of study are most
important to passing each Exam?
Look at this Coverage Map to see what is
covered in each Exam. Top
- What can you tell me about each of the
Exams?
For more information,
go here. Top
- What is the cost for each Exam?
US$200 in the United States. In other
countries, the testing company, Pearson
VUE, may charge a similar amount
in the local currency. Currently, the
price in Europe is about €180, and the
price in Japan is about ¥25,000. Payment
is by major credit card. For exact
pricing, please look on the Pearson VUE test site. Top
- Can I get a discount on the fee
for an Exam?
After all of our expenses, OMG has very
little room left to give discounts. We
started this program to promote
Real-time and Embedded specifications
and knowledge and assist practitioners
and companies that use them, not
(unfortunately) to make a bundle.
The only discount we can offer is for
large groups of pre-paid Exams, arranged
by a company or training company. If you
are interested in arranging a group of
Exams, please contact
ocres@omg.org. Top
- What languages can I take the
Exams in?
All of the Exams are in English. A
Japanese version will be available soon in
Japan and Asia-Pacific. Top
- 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 UML
diagrams. Top
- How long is each Exam?
90 minutes. There are 80 questions on
the OCUP Fundamental exam, and 90
questions on each OCRES exam. When an
English-language Exam is delivered in a
non-English speaking country, the test
time might vary. Top
REGISTERING FOR AND SCHEDULING YOUR EXAM
- How do I Register
to take the Exam?
Go to the OMG
Exam Registration site http://www.pearsonvue.com/omg.
Click on "Schedule, Reschedule,
Cancel or Confirm an Exam"
or “Locate a Testing Center”
Click on "Locate a Test
Site" or "Schedule an
Appointment"
Select your country and
state/province.
Click "Next" to accept the
pre-selected "Client: OMG"
and "Program" choices.
Click through the OMG
information page, and
Pick your exam: OCUP Fundamental, OCRES
Intermediate or OCRES Advanced
You will need to choose the Test Center
that you wish to go to, choose a date
and time for the Exam, and pay by credit
card.
Top
- Where can I take
an Exam?
The Exams are available worldwide,
exclusively at Approved Pearson VUE Testing Centers. There are thousands of
centers in over a hundred countries
around the world. You will search for
and choose a test center as part of your
registration process.
Top
- 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.
Top
- 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 Social Security, Social
Insurance or Pearson VUE Testing I.D.
(SP#) Number
- 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
- Exam number and title
- Eligibility information, if required
- e-Mail address - Once again for
contact purposes, this is often the
fastest and most effective means of
contact.
- Method of payment
Top
- 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. Please read the rescheduling
policies for your region.
Top
TAKING THE
EXAMS
- How do I take the
Exam?
Here is the 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 a wipe off
note board. You'll sign onto 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. Top
- 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. Top
- 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 photo identification
include:
- Driver's license
- Passport
- Military identification
- Employee identification card
Acceptable forms of non-photo
identification include:
- Credit card
- Check cashing card
In the U.S., Social Security cards
are not considered acceptable forms of
identification. Top
- Can my Exam be
taken on my PC, or do I have to go to a
test center?
The Exams must be administered at
authorized testing centers. Top
- 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. Top
- 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. Top
- Will I test with only OCRES
Examination candidates?
No. There may be candidates taking other
professional exams at the same time
using the computer-based delivery system
technology. Top
- 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. Top
- 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. Top
- Can I (during an
Exam) skip questions and answer them
later in the Exam?
Yes, you may mark certain question that
you feel are difficult and review them
at the end of the Exam. After you
clicked the submit button, the tool will
tell you that you have marked questions
and allow you to jump to them. Both
marked and unmarked questions will be
scored when finally submitting the Exam.
Unanswered questions will be marked as
incorrect answers. Top
- Is it OK to guess
answers or are these tests marked
negatively?
The Exams are not scored negatively.
This means that you can safely guess
answers, as no points will be deducted
for incorrect answers. It is best to
check if you have actually answered ALL
questions before completing the Exam. 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. Top
- 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. Top
- Do I have to take
the Exams in a particular order?
You can take the Exams in any order, but
you will not receive your certification
for a particular level until you have
taken and passed all of the Exams required
for that level.
Each Exam tests you on a different
subset of knowledge, so
you need to take and pass all of the
Exams at and below a given level to be
certified at that level. For example, in
order to be certified at the OCRES Intermediate
level, you must pass both the OCUP Fundamental Exam and the
OCRES Intermediate Exam. Top
- When will I find
out if I passed, and what my score is?
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. This
information is transmitted to OMG for
our records. Top
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 Real-time and Embedded specifications
and textbook sections listed in the
coverage map, and have a general
knowledge of distributed real-time and
embedded application design and
development.
Top
- Is there a guide
to what I need to know to pass the Exam?
Here is the Info
Page for the OCUP Fundamental Exam
with a link to its coverage map, and
here is the Coverage
map for both OCRES exams.
Here
is more information on
the two OCRES exams.
Top
- Are there books
or training courses to help me to
prepare for an Exam?
There are numerous courses and books
available to help you learn Real-time
and Embedded specifications and
knowledge. To find courses, you can start at OMG's Training
Listings page. You can also look for books about
learning Real-time and Embedded
programming at bookstores. I Top
- Are there any
practice exams available?
At this time, practice exams are not
available.
Top
- Are there any
sample questions available?
Not yet. We will have some sample
questions available soon.
Top
- What is the minimum passing
score, and the pass
rate?
The minimum passing scores are in
the description of each Exam, linked
here.
We do not release information on pass
rates.
Top
AFTER YOU
TAKE AN EXAM
- When will I
receive my score reports?
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.
Top
- What happens
after I pass an Exam?
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 OCRES logo for the
level of Certification that you have passed.
Top
- 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.
The diagnostic feedback that you will
receive with the test score report will
indicate the areas that need further
study. There is no discount price
for re-taking an Exam. The fee is the
same as for the initial Exam.
Top
- How do I use the
OCRES Certification logo, and what are
my rights and responsibilities in using
it?
Candidates who qualify for
OCRES certification may use the OCRES
Certification Logo for their level
(Intermediate or Advanced) as
a graphic symbol to demonstrate to
clients their expertise with Real-time
and Embedded programming specifications.
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 OCRES
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 OCRES
certification credential.
You may use the OCRES 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.
Top
- I have lost my
certification kit. Can you re-issue it?
If you send us an e-mail with your name,
address, and candidate ID number, we
will re-issue your certificate only, for
an additional charge.
Top
- 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
ocres@omg.org.
Top
- How long is the
certification valid?
Once you are certified at a certain
level for a certain version of the OCRES
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.
Top
- 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.
Top
- What if I still
have a question?
You can contact OMG by email at
ocres@omg.org.
Top
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