When IBM acquired Lotus, many predicted the end of the company, along with its flagship product Lotus Notes/Domino. The prediction, oft made even by Lotus advocates, was far from accurate. The product has continued to grow, with version 6 introduced just last year. Version 6 certification options soon followed. As much as Redmond would like you to believe it, Microsoft is not the only option for specialised certifications. In this article, I'll provide an overview of Lotus Notes/Domino version 6 certifications. An old technology with a new twist
IBM has not totally revamped the Lotus Notes/Domino product line, but it has rolled the Lotus certification process into the IBM umbrella. So don't be dismayed by the IBM logo on the Lotus certification site. Lotus certification paths
The Lotus product line is broad, so it offers four certification paths. These paths allow you to focus on your area of expertise and prove your skills in the chosen area. The paths are:
- Collaborative Solutions Application Development Collaborative Solutions System AdministrationNotes and Domino 6 Application DevelopmentNotes and Domino 6 System Administration
Like most companies that offer certification, Lotus has several levels for its product line:
- CLS: Certified Lotus Specialist
- CLP: Certified Lotus Professional
- CLEI: Certified Lotus End-user Instructor
- CLI: Certified Lotus Instructor
Lotus offers one more level for those individuals attaining CLP status for application developer and/or system administration: the Principal Certified Lotus Professional (PCLP). Attaining this status for Lotus Domino application developers or administrators requires passing one more exam (from a list) on top of earning the CLP. Those concentrating on Collaborative Solutions must pass all relevant exams. Again, stay tuned to the Lotus education Web site for requirements. If you're already certified
Many companies, such as Microsoft, require developers or administrators to upgrade their certifications in accordance with new product versions. Lotus does not make this demand. So if you are Lotus Notes/Domino R5 certified, you can rest easy. This may be a good idea, since the adoption of a new product version is often slow and sometimes nonexistent. However, Lotus does provide certification paths that allow those certified in R5 to upgrade their certifications by passing a single test. There are separate tests for developers and system administrators:
- Exam 601: Notes Domino 6 Application Development Update
- Exam 602: Notes Domino 6 System Administration Update
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