There is a great deal of discussion at the different virtual gathering places of Enterprises Architects and those who want to be on the most important certifications. The answers vary a great deal, mainly depending on a prospect. Those who are already EAs respond with the premise that everyone has about as much education, experience, and influence as they do and recommend pursuing areas that will enhance their abilities.
Then some own a particular framework who suggest that the certification they offer is the most desirable for any EA. Then there are the practical bunch that points out that TOGAF is the most widely recognized certification and the framework that many others are based on. In essence, if you are able in TOGAF, you can quickly become competent in most other frameworks.
What Is TOGAF Certification?
The Open Group launched TOGAF as a professional certification plan for individuals in 2004. Professionals who get the TOGAF certification have explicit knowledge of enterprise architecture's standard framework and methods. This certification is vendor-neutral and accepted globally, including the world’s leading enterprises.
To become TOGAF 9 Certified, a candidate wants to pass two exams:
The TOGAF certification does not require any renewal. However, when a new version of TOGAF is published, the candidate may have to get certified again. The current syllabus of the certification is based on the TOGAF Standard, Version 9.2. The Foundation exam is a multiple-choice exam that tests the knowledge of concepts defined in the TOGAF standard. Most questions are one-liners asking you to make the right option. There is ONLY one correct answer. There are 40 questions, and you get 1 hour to complete them. Pass marks are 55%.
TOGAF 9 Certified Part 2 exam is an open book exam to access the TOGAF 9 standard. The documentation is in PDF format and can be searched. It is a scenario-based exam and tests the candidate’s ability to apply the TOGAF standard in real-life scenarios. There are only eight questions, and you get 90 minutes to answer those. However, the methods mentioned in the exams are incredibly lengthy, and sometimes the answers too can be pretty long, so 11 minutes per question is not that long of a time. Pass marks are 60%.
Should You Get a TOGAF Certification?
Finding out about the certification method is a secondary task. Firstly, one needs to be prepared to achieve the TOGAF certification. If you are thinking of a career in enterprise architecture, you must get TOGAF certified.
Here are some of the reasons why:
1. Enterprise Architects Are Highly Paid
Companies pay high salaries to skilled enterprise architects. Enterprise architects make an average salary of $110,663 in the US. TOGAF is considered a gold standard in enterprise architecture, and achieving a TOGAF certification will provide you a competitive edge in the hiring process. Additionally, you will have better salary possibilities than your non-certified peers.
2. Better Understand an Organization’s Requirements
TOGAF is geared to all perspectives of enterprise-level IT architectures, and it covers everything from design, planning stages to implementing, maintaining, and governance. So, professionals with TOGAF certification can clearly understand an organization’s requirements, make efficient use of resources, and ensure greater Return on Investment (ROI).
3. Connect with Thousands of TOGAF Certified EAs
Navigating through The Open Group website, you will find that more than 70,000 professionals are already TOGAF certified and have helped by applying their proven knowledge of the framework. By completing the TOGAF certification, you will connect with professionals in the same field and share your ideas on assessing the organizational needs better and implementing the required changes.
4. No Eligibility Requirements
Anyone with an interest in starting a career in IT architecture can take the TOGAF certification. Unlike other certifications with specific qualifications and experience requirements, there are no prerequisites associated with the TOGAF 9 Foundation (Part 1) certification. When preparing for the TOGAF 9 Certified (Part 2) exam, you need to clear the Part 1 exam.
Looking at all these benefits, you can decide to go for a TOGAF certification and explain to the employers that you have the experience and technical skills wanted to do the job.
What Should Your TOGAF Career Path Be?
Professionals have taken many paths to give the role of an enterprise architect. Software developers, system administrators, or even database administrators can go ahead in their careers to become enterprise architects. Good communication skills, problem-solving attitude, capacity to negotiate and fire are some of the top skills that make you an ideal EA. Coming to the technical skills, EAs require to be well-versed in architecture strategy, portfolio management, making choices on standards, policies, and protocols, and technology life cycles.
The TOGAF certification allows you to reach the EA level in a shorter time and adds essential value to your collection of skills. You already know the exam specifications and the passing score required to qualify for the TOGAF exams. To prepare for TOGAF certification, one can either go for self-study or visit an online practice course. Taking an accredited course will save the time that you would otherwise spend on studying the study materials.
So, begin your journey to become a successful enterprise architect with a TOGAF certification today!
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