I want to move into the IT field -- this would be a career change for me. I wanted to get my Oracle DBA certification ... Currently I work for a company who specializes in data storage and the industry for that technology seems great.

My question is how would a person with no programming background get into Oracle?

A lot of schools in the area just say "come on in and learn it" ...I was always skeptical of that. Are there any prerequisite classes that I should take being that I am new to the field? Which Oracle should I start with, 8i or 9i?

These questions are not atypical: I've heard them frequently over the last couple of years writing this column, and even more as a teacher for the past 15 years. The essence of the question is: "Where do I start?"

Sometimes, a columnist likes to outline how they got in the field and what helped them to get where they are, but often this is of questionable value. For example, my academic background is in Soviet and East European Studies, which means that I can read some Russian and was supposed to work for the CIA or something. I got into computers almost by accident, though I always had an interest in science and technology. I learned most of what I know through trial and error, and this way I've lived the life of a true geek for a very long time. Having done this, the one thing I can tell you is: "Don't follow may path!" A well thought-out, structured approach is a better idea. This is easier when you're young and looking to a career for the first time. It's not easy if you're looking to switch from one career to another, but still doable.

So what do you do if you are looking to switch careers? The first thing you need to consider is why are you making the switch: More money? Not happy with current boss? Want a challenge? Your motivation will often have a big part to play in your success. For example, if you think that a career in the IT industry is a sure path to loads of cash and a Corvette in the driveway, you may be unpleasantly surprised. As anyone that is working in the industry today will tell you, IT is no different than other industries. It has its ups and downs and we're probably more on the down looking for an upswing than we have been in a very long time. However, if you are looking for a challenge and a career where you have to keep learning new things all the time, than you're on the right track.

The thing that got me interested in IT as a career, and that keeps me in the industry, is that it's always changing. New products come out almost every day and technologies change at a phenomenal rate. This is fun and exciting, but it also means that you always have to be learning and making the effort to keep your skills current. We've all heard stories of individuals making their spouses computer widows (or widowers). Some of that deals with a situation that occurs in the IT industry more than in many others --- the requirement to keep up because standing still means you are going backwards. The fact that you are on CertCities.com and reading this column means that you have the desire to keep up, but how's your family going to feel about the time you spend away from them? Time management and making an effort for a good work/life balance is something that cannot be taken for granted when working in IT; my wife reminds me of this fact on a regular basis. Besides, getting away from the computer can help to clear your brain.

Once you have determined your motivation, you will know whether or not a career in IT is right for you. The next step is, "Where do I start?" Many schools, as indicated in the reader's question, simply say "Come on in -- no experience necessary" and many are right, but it depends on what they are offering. If they focus their efforts on certification programs, you should note that all certification programs require some fundamental understanding of the concepts underlying computers in general. If you don't have exposure to computers aside from surfing the Internet at home and checking your e-mail periodically, you need to learn what the basic concepts are before you look for a career in IT. Even though a service manager at a car dealership does not need to know all the details of what makes my car run, he needs to know the basics of how all cars run, but the mechanic better know a lot more. If you want to be a mechanic (programmer or system administrator) you better have a solid background on what makes a computer tick; if you want to manage these folks, you better have some idea.

To answer this reader's first question ("How would a person with no programming background get into Oracle?"), you may need to get some exposure to generic programming and database concepts before looking an at Oracle certification program. A good place to start is evening programs at a local community college or high school. Many offer introduction to computers and programming classes that are very reasonably priced and can give you the basic understanding you need to more fully grasp the information presented in the certification-oriented classes. If you need more general information on computers and how they work, an A+ certification may be a good place to start. While this may delay your Oracle certification for a bit, it will most likely allow you do better during class and, quite possibly, on the exam.

Your next step will be to choose a school to take your certification program at. Here you have two basic choices: Oracle University or a non-Oracle-sanctioned organization. Oracle obviously would prefer that you take all your classes at Oracle University or an official Oracle University partner. In fact, you will need to take at least one class there (see my column on this topic) if you are starting your Oracle 9i certification track now. However, there is a downside to Oracle University classes: the cost. The upside is that the instructors are usually quite good and the curriculum closely mirrors the exam topics, and you can legally use the software in the classroom to practice.

Other organizations may not have curriculum that is as geared towards the exam or you may not have easy access to the software, or the student/teacher ratio may be higher than expected. Generally, stay away from low-ball, price-focused organizations: I've usually found that you cannot be certain of the quality of instruction or availability of software. In looking for an organization to take your classes at, always ask:

• Is the curriculum geared to passing the exams only or learning real world scenarios (both are needed to pass the exams and be effective in the workplace)?
• Are the instructors themselves certified?
• Do they offer computers with the software installed to practice concepts taught in class?
• Do they have licenses for software used by students (are they legal)? If you are told that you can get the software yourself from the Oracle Technology Network (OTN) and then use that in class, you should check the OTN license agreement - it explicitly forbids this. (See my earlier column about this topic.)
• What is the success rate of their students passing the certification exams (not any exam but the ones you are interested in)?
• If you fail an exam, can you re-sit the appropriate classes within a reasonable time frame to refresh your knowledge?
  
• If they offer career placement, what is the success rate of the students in your program (not all programs, but the one you are in) getting jobs?
• Can you talk to past students to get their impressions?
• Do they offer a money-back policy if you are not satisfied with the first set of classes and want to withdraw?

Let's face it, these classes are not cheap and the training center is providing a service. You want to make sure that the service will give you want you are paying for and ensure a reasonable chance of success in both passing the exam and making use of the information after the classes are over.

Many folks tend to opt for self-study using books . While this approach may be of benefit to those that have been in the industry for some time, if you are changing careers and do not have a background in the fundamental concepts of your certification, I would caution against relying solely on books. While I may be impacting my own pocket by saying this, since I have written a number of certification titles for Oracle and Microsoft technologies, an instructor can answer all those questions and allow you to more easily grasp key elements of what you need to know, which may take a very long time to understand by reading one or more books.

The last question asked by this reader is "Which Oracle should I start with, 8i or 9i?" I have actually dealt with this topic in another column (click here). The short answer is the one that is in demand by employers in your area -- and you need to do some research to determine this. Making a major decision like changing careers requires a great deal of forethought and preparation. Find out what prospective employers need before starting out. Ideally, being certified in both may be a good approach: Start with Oracle 8i and while looking for employment pursue the 9i certification (and you may even be able to get around Oracle's requirement to sit a class since OCPs in 8i are exempt from that requirement).

Next time, I'll cover what to do after you get your Oracle certification. In the meantime, keep those questions coming...