Becoming a Zend PHP Certified Engineer
Posted in Company News
Even though I have never been a big fan of certifications, diplomas, and the likes as substitutes for a good dose of hands-on work experience, I decided to test my PHP knowledge which I accumulated over the years, and sit for the ZCE exam. For those of you who don’t know what a ZCE exam is, you can check it out here. Getting PHP certified is an excellent way to test your PHP knowledge AND differentiating yourself when approaching prospective clients and employers.
First, I went to the Zend Certification website to check out the suggested study material needed to prepare for the exam. Then, I wrote a study plan! What comes next is a step-by-step description of what I did to prepare for the ZCE exam which I took and passed on first try on July 25th, 2008. Of course, this may or may not work for you.
I purchased the Zend PHP 5 Certification Study Guide by Davey Shafik and Ben Ramsey. Being a real maniac when it comes to taking tests, I also got my hands on a PHP 4 study guide. I studied them both THOROUGHLY. For each chapter I read, I wrote down on a sheet of paper all the functions (and parameters) and concepts which were mentioned in the books.- I then went to the PHP website and studied every single word mentioned in the Language Reference, Security section, Features section, and part of the Function Reference.
In the Function Reference I concentrated on the following sections:
http://www.php.net/manual/en/refs.basic.php.php
http://www.php.net/manual/en/refs.compression.php
http://www.php.net/manual/en/refs.xml.php
http://www.php.net/manual/en/refs.database.php
In the Database Extensions section, I studied the PDO, and the MySqli section very carefully. I reviewed the most used PHP.INI directives.To those of you who are thinking that they can pass the ZCE exam just by reading the study guide: it doesn’t work that way. The exam tests BOTH your PHP knowledge accumulated on the job AND language syntax (functions and parameters, etc) which you can only know by reading the PHP Manual very carefully. - I purchased a 10-exam pack of mock tests from Vulcan. I suggest everybody try these tests before
sitting for the actual exam as they give you a chance to get acquainted with the test format and difficulty level. Some people have complained they took and passed the mock exams but failed the real one. I believe the key here is to actually get excellent grades on the mock exams rather than just passing them. With regard to the difficulty level of mock exams as compared to the real ones, I can only say there are almost unnoticeable differences between the two. Taking notes of stuff I never heard of on the mock exams and studying them afterwards really helped me further my PHP knowledge. I bought 10 exams, but I actually took just 5. Why? Because many of the questions on the exams are repeated over the over again on subsequent exams. Thus, you tend to memorize questions which actually defeats the whole purpose of taking sample tests. - Scheduled a test date, sit, and passed on first try!
I hope this step-by-step process will benefit others while preparing for their ZCE exam. I’m actually willing to donate my remaining 5 mock exams credits to whoever asks for it first!
Here’s a pdf file of my php5 notes
Also, we are currently growing our business and we will soon need help from outside contractors. Interested freelancers/contractors are encouraged to apply here
August 6th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Do you have a downloadable version of your function/cheat sheet available? (I’m refering to your quote below)
” For each chapter I read, I wrote down on a sheet of paper all the functions (and parameters) and concepts which were mentioned in the books.”
August 9th, 2008 at 12:32 am
Congrats you for your certification. I am also preparing myself for the ZCE. Your suggestion looks great. It will be helpful for me if you donate your remaining mock exams.
August 9th, 2008 at 12:43 am
lami, I will gather my notes and make a pdf. Right now they are handwritten and hard to read.
kazi, I will send you the link
August 11th, 2008 at 7:22 pm
How many months did you dedicate? You are most kind to post your experience. Can you also send me the pdf, as I have limited materials to help pass the exam.
Congratulations! Aug 4th, that was only days ago!
August 11th, 2008 at 9:36 pm
seed,
Thanks!
I prepared for it in less than a month. I will send the pdf as soon as I have it ready, but everything you need to know is in the manual, really.
August 13th, 2008 at 9:48 am
The manual is pretty much an encyclopedia and my guess is it scares people when you say use the manual.
Most of use will like a curricullum or something of the sort to work with and then reference the manual (like we already do).
Thanks for taking your time to put this stuff on PDF men…
September 9th, 2008 at 11:56 am
Hi frank
that would be great!!
im currently reading up for the zend certification exam and i fell over this blog, i was wondering if it was possible i could get a look on your notes like lami
- Mads
September 9th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Thanks for the ideas. I am currently preparing as well to take the exam at the end of September (set the date to force me to study). I bought the 5 pack mock exam, gone thru 2 of them (passed both, but not using that as a guide that I will actually pass). Bought the PDF version of the book, and have been using that and the web for trying to get this thing done. Looking at your list, it is very helpful to see what you did to prepare for the exam. Pointing out which sections you studied will help me concentrate on the areas as well. Thanks for this.
September 17th, 2008 at 3:22 am
Congrats for your success.
I am also preparing myself for the ZCE for a long run but i am so idle to take it serious.
but this time i am serious and your guideline looks great.
It would be great for me if you share your mock exams or your pdf version.
September 25th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Hi, Frank, Congratulations on your passing the ZCE certificate!
Thanks in advance!
I am kind of a php addict. Currently I’m also preparing for the ZCE exam now, and determine to pass it on my first try, so I really need to be fully prepared and do a lot of study and search, I wonder if I can get a copy of your pdf which should definitely be a treasure for me
September 29th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
Hey ! I have 2.5 yrs of experience on php and currently working on e-commerce websites, want to appear for Zend certification. Would it be right time for me to prepare for this certification.
Please advice !
September 29th, 2008 at 10:56 pm
Poornima,
2.5 years of php experience is enough to sit for the Zend PHP exam. go for it!
all others,
I will attach a pdf file of my notes soon. I’ve been extremely busy with work. thanks
October 1st, 2008 at 12:27 am
This is a nice guideline for preparing the ZCE . I myself try to follow the instruction you discuss. If you send me your mock exams or your pdf version , that will be great help for my preparation.
October 2nd, 2008 at 4:36 am
Hey Frank!
Sounds like your revision is similar to mine, not sticking to the book I found was a good idea as their are missing topics.
I have linked to this post on my Zend PHP 5 Certification Blog:
http://zend.is-hacked.com
Seems your hand writing is nearly as bad as mine, may have to re-write your PDF on computer see if I have missed anything..
Adam.
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:22 am
[...] Becoming a Zend PHP Certified Engineer (Good Revision Aid PDF) What To Expect Robert Peake: Zend Certified Engineer Doing what Im doing? Taking the Zend certification exam [...]
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:33 am
Adam,
sometimes I can’t even read my own handwriting. I guess that’s common among programmers as we barely handwrite anymore? thanks for linking to this post. I hope it will benefit others.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:15 am
Hi All,
If any one has any materials or questions regarding zce certifications, coukd he send it
January 4th, 2009 at 5:34 am
[...] Blog post from someone who’s already passed the exam [...]