IBM Professional Certification for Tivoli
IBM Professional Certification for Tivoli offers an internationally recognized qualification for technical professionals seeking to apply their expertise in today's complex business environment. The program is designed for those who implement, buy, sell, service and support Tivoli solutions and want to deliver higher levels of service and technical expertise. Become an IBM Certified Professional today!
Updates November 6, 2009
What's New
New Certifications:
Upcoming Workshops
Exam Withdrawal and Certification Retirement
New Exam Discounts - check out the latest discounts
SME of the Month - Cy Atkinson, Technical Team Lead - SWG Client Support - Tivoli Software
Take it Again
Back by popular demand! The Professional Certification Program from IBM is launching the Take It Again (TIA) voucher program for 2009. Under the Take It Again program, you may purchase specially priced vouchers that allow you to retake an exam for no additional costs. The TIA retake opportunity can provide an added level of confidence in your testing success, as you pursue the IBM certification you value. TIA vouchers will be available, worldwide, for most IBM tests. Check it out for details! This is an opportunity you don't want to miss!
IBM Business Partners - Prepare for Growth Through Skills
Are you an IBM Business Partner trying to obtain new certifications to prepare for Growth through Skills? The Tivoli Certification and WW Tivoli Channels team are working together to help you accomplish your goals. Check out the latest offerings on the Tivoli Knowledge Center or the ibm.com/partnerworlld/growthroughskills Web site.
Testimonials
We want to hear from you. Send us your testimonials on how Tivoli Certification has helped you, your company, and your customers and we'll send you a Tivoli Certified travel mug! We want to spread the word on the benefits of certification, and who better to phrase it than you, the Subject Matter Experts. Please send any comments to tivcert@us.ibm.com.
Certification Preparation Seminars
Now you can gauge your readiness for Certification by enrolling in the new Tivoli Certification Preparation program. This innovative program consists of a refresher Instructor-Led Online seminar on a selected topic with a preassessment and post-assessment test given. The preassessment test will allow the instructor to focus more intently on the specific needs of the class, while the post-assessment test will allow the student to determine readiness for the actual Certification test. A prepaid voucher allowing you to take the full Certification test in the chosen skill is included with your tuition payment for you to redeem at a Prometric testing center within one year of completing this course. Cost for each Seminar/Exam is $499.00 USD.
Currently Scheduled Seminars
December 1 - Foundations of Tivoli Process Automation Engine - Preparing for the Certification Exam (ILO) - TT901
December 3 - IBM Maximo Asset Management V7.1 Implementation - Preparing for the Certification Exam (ILO) - TT902
The Preparation program is ideal for customers, Business Partners, and IBMers who want a review of specific skills before Certification testing. Look for these and other Preparation Seminars at
http://www-01.ibm.com/software/tivoli/education/advancedtechnical/.
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New Certifications:
- IBM Certified Administrator - Tivoli Storage Manager V6.1
- IBM Certified Solution Designer - Maximo Asset Management V7.1
- IBM Certified Deployment Professional - Tivoli Identity Manager V5.1 (available mid-November)
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Upcoming Workshops:
Are your skills cutting edge? Help Tivoli software build the next generation of certification exams by participating in upcoming certification exam development workshops. Most workshops are conducted via conference call and Web meetings so travel is not required.
IBM Tivoli Provisioning Manager V7.1 Implementation
Contact Kristin Wall Gibson for more information or to participate as a Subject Matter Expert (kwgibson@us.ibm.com)
- Technical Review Workshop - December 7-8, 2009
- Angoff/Scoring Workshop - December 11, 2009
Contact Kristin Wall Gibson for more information or to participate as a Subject Matter Expert (
kwgibson@us.ibm.com)
IBM Tivoli Asset Management for IT V7.2 Implementation
Contact Kristin Wall Gibson for more information or to participate as a Subject Matter Expert (kwgibson@us.ibm.com)
- Job Task Analysis Workshop - December 14-17, 2009
- Item Writing Workshop - January 4-7, 2010
- Technical Review Workshop - January 14-15, 2010
- Angoff/Scoring Workshop - January 21, 2010
Latest Certifications
The Tivoli Professional Certification Program is proud to announce the worldwide availability of these IBM Tivoli certifications:
- IBM Certified Administrator - Tivoli Storage Manager V6.1
- IBM Certified Solution Designer - Maximo Asset Management V7.1
- IBM Certified Deployment Professional - Tivoli Identity Manager V5.1 (available mid-November)
Go to the IBM Certification Web site for all Tivoli Certifications currently available:
http://www-03.ibm.com/certify/certs/tv_index.shtml
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Exam Withdrawal and Certification Retirement
For the latest news in exam withdrawals and certification retirement, go to: http://www-03.ibm.com/certify/certs/tv_index.shtml
Scroll to "News" section in the middle of the page.
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Promotions - Discounted Exams and Assessment Tests
The latest "New certification promotions and discounts" information available at: http://www-03.ibm.com/certify/news/tvpromos.shtml
DISCOUNTS ON EXAMS
Promotions are good at any Prometric (www.prometric.com) testing centers worldwide. Provide the relevant promotion code, found on the "New certification promotions and discounts" url above, when registering for the exam.
Current promotions include:
- IBM Tivoli Storage Manager V6.1 Administration - Get 35% off when you take exam 004 - promo code 35T004 (Available September 7, 2009 through November 30, 2009)
- IBM Maximo Asset Management V7.1 Solution Designer - Get 35% off when you take exam 005 - promo code 35T005 (Available October 27, 2009 through December 31, 2009)
- IBM Tivoli Identity Manager V5.1 Implementation - Get 35% off when you take exam 006 - promo code 35T006 (Available November 11, 2009 through January 31, 2010)
- Discounted Testing for IBM Business Partners - (ongoing): Get 35% off any Tivoli exam. More information on the Promotions page at IBM URL above.
- Discounted Testing for IBM Employees - (ongoing): Any IBM employee may take a Tivoli exam at the cost-recovery rate of $30 by contacting any exam proctor in their area and making arrangements for a testing session. The proctor list can be found at: http://w3-103.ibm.com/software/xl/portal/viewcontent?type=doc&srcID=XT&docID=P101658X09146A52
- Discounted Testing for Academic Initiative - (ongoing): Get 50% off exams and free educational materials. More information is at: http://www-304.ibm.com/jct09002c/university/scholars/certification/
- Discounted Testing for User Group Members - (ongoing): Discounts and promotions for user group meetings, where available. More information is at: http://www.tivoli-ug.org/cert_zone?page=cert_zone
DISCOUNTS ON ASSESSMENT TESTS
The Tivoli Professional Certification Program offers assessment tests for most Tivoli exams. Assessment tests ($30 USD) are designed to predictive of a candidate's success on the actual exam and can be taken on-line in an unproctored environment.
Current promotions include:
- Discounted Testing for IBM Business Partners - (ongoing): Get 50% off any Tivoli assessment test. More information on the Promotions page at IBM URL at top of this section.
For more information, including Assessment Frequently Asked Questions and a link to the assessment tests, go to:
http://www-03.ibm.com/certify/news/tvpromos.shtml
Certification Skills Development and Training
NEW Courses from Tivoli Education
Check out the "News, Events, Special Offers" section on the Tivoli Education site at: www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/education/.
Now Available:
- IBM Tivoli Asset Management for IT 7.2 Fundamentals
- IBM Maximo Asset Management 7.1 Fundamentals
- IBM Tivoli Netcool/Impact 5.1 Administration and Implementation
- IBM Tivoli Composite Application Manager for Transactions 7.1 Implementation and Administration Workshop
Coming in November:
- IBM Enterprise IT and Asset Management 7.1: Customizing Business Objects
- IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless 9.2 Administration and Configuration
- IBM Tivoli Netcool Performance Manager for Wireless 9.2 User
- IBM Tivoli Netcool OMNIbus 7.3 New Features Implementation
- IBM Tivoli Storage Productivity Center 4.1 Administration and Operation
- IBM Tivoli Asset Management for IT 7.2 Fundamentals SPVC
- IBM Tivoli Storage Manager 6.1 Advanced Administration, Tuning, and Troubleshooting
- IBM Tivoli Identity Manager 5.1 System Administration
- IBM Tivoli Identity Manager 5.1 Basic Implementation
- IBM Tivoli Business Service Manager 4.2 for Administrators SPVC
Recently Released Instructor-Led Online (ILOs):
- IBM Tivoli Asset Management for IT 7.2 Fundamentals
- Foundations of Tivoli Process Automation Engine - Preparing for the Certification Exam
- Introduction to Web Services in the Integration Framework (Live Seminar)
FREE Courses from Tivoli Education
All current "free" courses can be found at: www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/education/edu_prd_free.html
Previous Product Version Training - Interested?
Prior product level courses can be found at: www.ibm.com/software/tivoli/education/edu_prd_bl.html
IBM Tivoli Online Education Savings
IBM Education Assistant (IEA) for Tivoli Products
IBM Education Assistant is a self-assistance tool designed to help you successfully configure and use Tivoli and other IBM products. IEA includes:
- Show Me Demos: guided demonstrations that show how to complete a specific task
- Tutorials: step-by-step instructions to follow for completing tasks
- Presentations: technical overviews that provide background on a topic (some include voice-over)
- Additional resources: links that organize product documentation, Redbooks, and white papers
IEA home page is at:
http://www.ibm.com/software/info/education/assistant/
Get On Our List - Tivoli Certification e-Newsletter!
Interested in receiving your own copy of the Tivoli Certification e-newsletter? Let us know! Send an e-mail request to: tivcert@us.ibm.com. The e-newsletter is sent out the first week of every month and includes the latest certifications, exam development projects (we need your help!), and other certification news and information. A .pdf copy of the latest Certification e-newsletter can be found at http://www-03.ibm.com/certify/certs/tv_index.shtml -> scroll to "news" section in middle of page.
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SMEs of the Month: Cydnee White, Technical Course Developer for Tivoli Storage products
Cy Atkinson
SWG Client Support - Tivoli Software
TWSz L2 Support - Americas - Technical Team Lead
The Tivoli Certification Team would like to recognize Cy Atkinson as our November SME of the Month. Cy assisted with the IBM Tivoli Workload Scheduler for z/OS V8.3 Administration exam.
Cy started with IBM as HARDWARE CE for FE division in 1977, switched to Software support (JES2 and OPC) in 1985, and has worked on OPC (name changed to TWSz) ever since. This is the only product he has supported at IBM. Cy was on the team to develop the first certification exam for a z/OS product and faced some challenges with a certification process seemed tailored more for products that run on distributed platforms where the customer roles are defined differently.
When asked what he does in his spare time, Cy replied: What's that? ;-) I have a wife who loves to redecorate, one new (two months old) grandson, and a granddaughter on schedule for February. His hobbies include woodworking, yard work / landscaping, home improvements, reading and chasing squirrels out of the bird feeders.
Subject matter experts (SMEs) are an integral part of the exam development process and their expertise and dedication are what make the Tivoli Certification Program successful. We thank all the SMEs who have worked with the Tivoli Certification Program - we couldn't have done it without you!! The Tivoli Certification e-newsletter features a SME who has been extensively involved in a recent Tivoli Certification exam development project.
The Tivoli Professional Certification team would like to thank Cy and all of the other SMEs that have been working with us on various exams so far in 2009.
Want to be a SME of the Month? Get involved in our exam development projects! The SME of the Month receives recognition in this newsletter which goes out to over 2100 Customers, Business Partners, and IBMers.
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Certification Resources Quick Links
- Testing at TUC Meetings - FREE Tivoli Certification testing at many user group meetings. Additional information and FAQs about how to provide testing at your next TUC meeting.
- Study Guides - Guides available for Tivoli exams with more to come! (search on tivoli AND certification)
- News - the newest exams and latest updates, right here!
- Testing Centers Worldwide - exams can be taken at any Prometric testing center worldwide.
- Exams - a listing of the most current certification exams, including exam objectives and prerequisites.
- Roadmap - specific information about the different certification tracks, and the tests required for each.
- FAQs - questions and answers about the Tivoli Professional Certification Program.
- Contact us - update your profile, give us feedback, or inquire about new certifications.
- IBM Certification Policies (left nav) - Privacy and Identification, Testing Policies, Special Accommodations, and Conduct Guidelines.
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Tivoli Testing at TUC Meetings: General Information, Discounts, FAQs
General Information
Tivoli Certifications are an important way for your customers and business partners to distinguish their skills and earn recognition from IBM for the investment they have made in Tivoli skills. The Tivoli Certification Program has agreed to allow TUC members to take Tivoli Certification exam free of charge at TUC meetings - as a benefit for participating in a local TUC.
Test setup is much easier now than it has ever been in the past. The only tools you will need are PCs or laptops that have a browser and an Internet connection. The testing itself is 100% Web-based but to insure the integrity of the program, all testing is done in the presence of an authorized certification proctor.
IBM employees who manage TUCs are invited to become certification proctors and deliver Tivoli exams at their TUC meetings. The process is quite simple and can be arranged quickly. To request details, please send an e-mail to Tivoli Certification (tivcert@us.ibm.com).
Tivoli Testing at TUC Meetings
As a benefit of being a GTUG member, you are entitled to a 15% discount on any Tivoli Professional Certification exam taken at any Prometric testing center worldwide. So if you are not able to take advantage of free Tivoli Testing at TUC Meetings, be sure to use this 15% discount code when registering for a Tivoli exam!
Code: 15TUGS09
%off: 15
Valid: For all Tivoli exams
Expires: December 31, 2009
Frequently Asked Questions about Testing at TUC Meetings
How are the exams administered?
The exams are administered on computers using a Web-based system known as "Prime". A candidate will log on to the Prime Web site and create their own Prime testing account, being careful to use their existing testing ID number if they have one, selecting "Tivoli Certification" as their program of interest and inputting current name and address information - be especially careful to include your correct e-mail address since this is where your certification will be sent when you pass your exam. An authorized Tivoli Certification proctor will launch the desired exam using a secret keycode and password. The tests are self timing and will end when you have finished or run out of time. Your testing records will be sent automatically to IBM for processing. If you passed your exam you will receive your certificate as an e-mail attached pdf file within a few business days.
What hardware and software is needed to deliver exams?
Hardware requirements are not extensive, all that is needed is a PC or laptop with a Web browser and a broadband Internet connection. If the PC can run Windows 95 or later, it is probably adequate. A printer is optional since score reports can be viewed online at any time.
I want to deliver exams to the TUC that I manage, what do I need to do?
Send an e-mail to Tivoli Certification (tivcert@us.ibm.com) telling them that you are a TUC manager and want to deliver Tivoli Certification exams to your TUC members. As an authorized Tivoli proctor you will have 3 main responsibilities:
- Delivering exams efficiently and in a manner that makes testing as comfortable as possible for the candidates - remember, many people find taking an exam of this type to be quite stressful so do what you can to make them at ease.
- Protecting the integrity of the Certification Program. As an authorized proctor you become a representative of the Tivoli Professional Certification Program. We will do whatever we can to support you but it is your efforts that determine the ultimate success or failure of the program. While cheating is rare in a proctored environment, it does occur and it is the proctor's job to stop it. Cheating takes two basic forms, getting help on the exam (from a neighbor, book, cell phone or Web resource) or by copying down questions to bring out of the testing center.
- Providing candidates with information about the Tivoli Professional Certification Program - while we do not expect you to become an expert on Tivoli certifications you should be able to provide candidates with some basic information about the program. Most of the program information that you will be asked about can be found on the "www.ibm.com/certify" Web site. Additional questions can be directed to the program's e-mail alias "tivcert@us.ibm.com".
Are special facilities needed for testing?
Sort of... you need to provide your TUC members with a quiet, distraction-free setting to assure they can focus on the exams they are taking. The facility needs to support the computers you are using to test with and have broadband Internet access. The Internet connection does not need to be exotic but it cannot be a dial-up connection either. Plan to scale the bandwidth appropriately for the number of computers you have connected. Make sure that the computers are spread apart enough to allow for comfortable testing, say 1 meter between computers if possible.
Can I test people remotely?
No. Like all IBM and IT industry "high-stakes" certification exams, Tivoli certification exams may only be administered in a proctored environment. Proctoring is the only method available to assure the consistency of any testing program. As a proctor you must be physically present during testing to observe the candidates who are testing to make sure that things run smoothly and no cheating occurs.
Does everybody need to take the same exam?
No. Any Tivoli exam can be taken at any time and in any combination. Though we expect people to be prepared for the exam they take, there are no prerequisite requirements.
How long are the exams?
The exams vary in length depending upon how many question were needed to sufficiently cover the required scope. The range is from 75 minutes to 120 minutes with the majority allowing 90 minutes. There are usually between 50 and 100 questions on an exam. There is an automatic timer that counts down the time you have remaining on your exam. If time runs out before you are finished, you will always be allowed to answer the question that you were on when time ran out and then the test will be automatically scored. Your test will not be lost if you are still working on it when time runs out.
How many exams can I take?
You can take as many different exams at a TUC meeting as time and your TUC leader allow. The only program requirement is the IBM policy on retaking a failed exam. This policy states that you can take any specific exam only 2 times in a 30 day period. This means if you fail an exam, you can retake it immediately, but would then have to wait for 30 days after the first attempt before making a third attempt, and so on.
What is the best technique for taking an exam?
You earn points by answering questions correctly. Unlike some "standardized" tests you may be used to, you do not loose any points on IBM certification exams for incorrect answers. Because of this, the best approach to take is to go through the test once fairly quickly answering every question. Mark the questions that you are unsure of (there is a check box labeled "mark item for review" in the upper-right hand corner of the screen for each question). When you reach the end of the exam you will be presented with a summary screen that lists all the questions on the exam and shows you which ones you have marked. You can jump directly back to each of the marked question to use your remaining time going over them in more detail.
I have taken IBM tests before, do I need to know my old testing ID number?
Yes, if you have ever taken any IBM certification exam before you will have been given a testing ID number by the vendor you tested with. It is very important that you use the same ID number for all your testing or your records will be spread across multiple profiles in the IBM Certification database. Since all of the Advanced Deployment Professional certifications require passing multiple exams, these will never be matched together if they are in different profiles. The most common are the Prometric and VUE IDs. A valid ID is always 9 digits long and often starts with "PR0", "SP" or "VUE". In the USA and Canada it used to be the practice to use your Social Security or Social Insurance number. While these numbers are still valid, they are not commonly used any longer due to privacy concerns. If you have forgotten your testing ID number you can retrieve it from an old score report, by contacting Prometric customer support, or by sending an e-mail inquiry to "
certify@us.ibm.com". If you have never taken an IBM exam before, leave the ID field blank when creating your Prime account and a new ID will be generated for you. Do not create your own ID.
I failed my first exam. When can I retake it?
You can take any specific exam 2 times in a 30 day period. You do not have to wait between the first and second attempt but if you do not pass the second time, 30 days must go by from the time of the first attempt before you are allowed to make a third attempt (and 30 days between attempt 2 to attempt 4 and so on).
I passed my exam, now what?
You will receive an e-mail from the Prime testing system immediately just confirming that you have taken an exam. In 2 or 3 business days your results will have been transferred to IBM and processed. You will then receive an e-mail from the Professional Certification Program from IBM. If this is the first IBM exam that you have ever taken, you will be asked to log on to a Web site and agree to a Certification License Agreement. Once you have done that, your certification will be sent as a pdf attachment in a subsequent e-mail. If you have taken an IBM exam in the past you will receive your certification via an e-mail attachment directly without being asked again about the license agreement. If you have not received your certificate within a week of passing your exam, please send a note of inquiry to the IBM Certification Support Team at "
certify@us.ibm.com".
How do I print my score report?
Unlike other testing systems, no score report prints "automatically" when you are finished with your exam. If there is a printer defined in your testing environment, select File --> Print when the score report is displayed on your screen. Remember that you can access your Prime account from anywhere at anytime and review all your previous exams that were delivered via Prime using this same account. This will allow you to view your score report online or print it out at anytime in the future from your home or office.
To access your Prime account:
https://ibmtesting.prime.prometric.com
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Assessment Tests Available
The Tivoli Professional Certification Program now offers assessment tests for certain exams - with more to come! Assessment tests are available for many of the Tivoli exams and we will eventually have an assessment test for every exam.
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