Oracle DBA Certification Guidance please

[allaboutgis]

I would like to become a certified Oracle DBA. I would prefer not having to take a class ($$$), so I plan to use Self Test Software. I read in this forum that, for 9i, you have to take a class? Is this true? If so, I would do 8i then upgrade to 9i. Any idea when 8i will be "retired"? Should I be concerned? What sort of timetable can I expect, in terms of completion if I am to put in 2-3 hours/day? Any help/suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[kangs]

Oracle 8i Not Yet Retired.. You can finish Oracle 8i and go for Upgradation to Oracle 9i.

Thanks
Kangs

 

[mhusain]

Orale usually gives a 6 month advance public notice thru their website for retiring a certification track. They normally keep 2 certification tracks alive i.e for the current version of database and the previous version. So expect to see the notice of retirement for 8i when oracle 10i comes into market. This is not a policy but has been the way in the past.

 

[lhugh]

I don't know of any companies using Oracle 9i right now. I think it is too new for companies to try