# Why getting the Java Enterprise Architect Certification?

> May 3, 2016 · https://eldermoraes.com/why-getting-the-java-enterprise-architect-certification/

Since this year has begun I've started my "_journey_" to the "_Oracle Certified Master, Java EE 6 Enterprise Architect_". It's been fun and either a lot of work to be done (not that I am doing all I'm supposed to do, but...).

Since I decided to do it some people had asked "_why do you want this certification_?". Even I asked it for myself so many times... ;)

Well I don't know if I have a really clear answer to this question as it involves a bunch of things for me, but I'll try to organize the whole picture.

First of all, after I have attended to JavaOne LA last year I got a scary conclusion: I've became obsolete! I was doing good, in a nice job, doing a nice work, with a good salary but... became almost a dinosaur.

Those three awesome days were like a crowbar for my "_old_" mind (hey I'm not old ok...). I went to all the labs that I could and attended to every single talk that was possible without being omnipresent. I was starving for those informations that I had lost over time.

At end of the final keynote I went home guessing "_what should I do now?_". I really needed to do something or my career would collapse in a short time.

Making the long story short I realized that my skills, preferences and experiences were pointing to architecture area. I have worked with it some periods of time and always had a lot of fun. So it was decided: I would do everything to become the best architect that I could be. Period.

The first problem to overcome was that I couldn't make much progress in this area in the company where I was working. The matter was not the company, but my responsibilities there. So then the "Certification Project" has come.

What was my point? Well if I need to learn and understand a bunch of things to become what I want to become, why not starting by getting "_officially_" recognized? Mainly due the fact that I couldn't develop the needed skills where I was working then.

Yeah, I know... getting a certification doesn't mean you master those skills, but is a very good starting point. And I know it based on my on previous experience.

I'm still on the way to get the certification (my first test will be on May 31th), but I can already identify the benefits for running this run. As I said to some people, the certification is only a excuse to learn somethings that I need and to reach the point that I want.