Day # 1 - Preparation - Part 1

(Update: Adobe has released Flex 3 and there will be a Flex 3 certification soon. This blog will exclusively target Flex 2 until the Flex 3 certification details are released - which is Jan 2009)

Here we go, let's get the basics right. The data about certification is spread out across Adobe's website. I am getting all the requisite info for my certification here. To make it easier, I am making it a question & answer mode.

Q: What Certifications are available from Adobe?
A:

• Adobe Certified Expert
• Adobe Certified Professional
• Adobe Certified Associate
• Adobe Certified Instructor

It could be a little confusing, as the website says it's a ACP exam for Flex 2 but the PDF you download says ACE exam for Flex2. Just remember the exam name.

Q: What is the Certification Path?
A: Here is a visual



Q: What is the Flex certification exam called?
A: Adobe Flex 2 Developer Exam

Q: What will the exam consist?
A: It will consist of 65 multiple-choice questions. The exam duration might be between 1 to 2 hours. I am not sure how many you need to get right to pass the certification.

Q: Exam Fees?
A: 150$ as of date.

Q: What are Adobe Flex 2 Topic areas & Objectives of the exam?
A:

Following is a detailed outline of the information covered on the ACE Exam.

1. Flex Application User Interface (UI) Creation

• Identify and describe the basic UI controls used in a Flex application.
• Identify the purpose of UI containers and when to use them.
• Identify how to change the look and feel of a design by using API styles and style sheets.
• Recognize how to customize changes, control-related presentation layouts
• and navigation in an application by using view states, and using transitions and effects.

2. Flex System Architecture and Design

• Recognize how UML and Use Cases are used in object-oriented design.
• Identify the relationship of design patterns with respect to system architecture.
• Recognize and describe event-based programming model in events.
• Identify how to build loosely-coupled components.
• Recognize how Inheritance, Encapsulation, and Polymorphism works.
• Recognize the structure of a J2EE architecture.

3. Flex Application Programming Fundamentals

• Identify the properties and relationships between classes and objects and how they work in Flex.
• Identify how to display data in Flex.
• Identify how to manipulate data in Flex.
• Recognize how to validate data by using built-in and custom validator classes.
• Recognize how to create and use ActionScript classes.
• Identify the purpose and uses of handling events in Flex.
• Recognize how to use XML data in Flex.
• Recognize how to create and use custom components in Flex.
• Recognize how to display data using diff erent chart types, formats, and legends.

4. Interacting with Remote Data and Flex Applications

• Recognize how to use Remote Procedure Call (RPC) services.
• Recognize how to manage data using Flex Data Services (FDS).

Q: More information?
A: Check out the comprehensive link:
http://www.adobe.com/devnet/flex/articles/flex_certification.html