| Date tip published: | 08/23/2004 |
| Description: | This article will review the Lotus certification programs with a concentration on the certification of interest to developers and in particular, the Notes Domino 6 certifications. Read this article to learn the benefits of getting certified, the actual certifications available and suggested tips on how to easily pass the exams. |
To learn more about getting certified as a Notes and Domino developer use the following links:
Notes Domino 6 Certified Developer Package
Notes Domino 6 LotusScript Package
 Notes Domino 6 Certification Paths
In a previous article we reviewed the WebSphere certifications. (Click here to see that article.) This article will concentrate on the Lotus certifications, especially the certifications for developers on Notes Domino 6.
Why get certified? Certification is a great way to show a level of competency. Certification is a great addition to your resume. Depending on the level of certification, getting certified requires passing one or a series of multiple-choice exams. You take these exams at a Pearson VUE or Prometric testing center. These testing centers are available world-wide in larger cities.
IBM's certification programs are based upon products and versions. For the Lotus products there are a number of certifications available. The following Lotus products have a certification program available:
- Notes Domino 6
- Notes Domino 5
- Collaborative Solutions (like Instant Messaging (Sametime), QuickPlace, Domino.Doc and Workflow)
- Workplace
There are up to three levels of certification for a product. The entry level certification is the Associate level. The intermediate level of certification is the IBM Certified Professional. For the Lotus certifications this level is called "Certified Application Developer" or "Certified System Administrator". The Advanced level is typically called the Advanced or Enterprise level. The exact name used will vary by product. Below are the three levels of certification showing the typical certification titles used for each level.
Currently IBM has the following certifications available for the Lotus products listed above:
IBM Lotus Notes Domino 6
- IBM Certified Associate Developer - Lotus Notes and Domino 6/6.5
- IBM Certified Application Developer - Lotus Notes and Domino 6/6.5
- IBM Certified Advanced Application Developer - Lotus Notes and Domino 6/6.5
- IBM Certified Associate System Administrator - Lotus Notes and Domino 6/6.5
- IBM Certified Application System Administrator - Lotus Notes and Domino 6/6.5
- IBM Certified Advanced System Administrator - Lotus Notes and Domino 6/6.5
IBM Lotus Notes Domino 5
- Certified Lotus Specialist (CLS) - Application Developer
- Certified Lotus Professional (CLP) - Application Developer
- Principal Certified Lotus Professional (PCLP) - Application Developer
- Certified Lotus Specialist (CLS) - System Administrator
- Certified Lotus Professional (CLP) - System Administrator
- Principal Certified Lotus Professional (PCLP) - System Administrator
Lotus Collaborative Solutions (Instant Messaging (Sametime), QuickPlace, Domino.Doc, and Workflow)
- IBM Certified Associate Developer - Lotus Collaborative Solutions
- IBM Certified Application Developer - Lotus Collaborative Solutions
- IBM Certified Advanced Application Developer - Lotus Collaborative Solutions
- IBM Certified Associate System Administrator - Lotus Collaborative Solutions
- IBM Certified Application System Administrator - Lotus Collaborative Solutions
- IBM Certified Advanced System Administrator - Lotus Collaborative Solutions
IBM Workplace
- IBM Certified Application Developer - Lotus Workplace Web Content Management 2 with Java
- IBM Certified System Administrator - Lotus Workplace Messaging 2
Note that the Notes Domino 5 certifications do not follow the IBM naming convention. The R5 certifications predate the IBM certification program which consolidated the various certification levels used by each of the IBM products into a set of common levels and titles. Note that the R5 exams will be withdrawn on November 30, 2004. If you are planning on getting certified in R5 then you will have to complete the required exams by that date. If you become an R5 CLP then you can upgrade your certification to Notes Domino 6 with just one update exam. The CLS level does not have an upgrade path to Notes Domino 6.
The requirements for each level will vary based on the product and the actual certification. The entry level (Associate) certification requires one exam and the Application Developer requires two exams. The Advanced Certification level requires three exams. The exams used for the Associate level are required for the higher levels. Unlike the WebSphere certifications, the lower certifications are required to achieve the higher certification for that particular product and specialty (developer or administrator.) The balance of this article will focus on certifications for an application developer.
 Preparing for the Exams
The best way to prepare for the exams is to obtain the product and learn how to use it. It may be possible to just read a book on Domino and pass the exam but the easiest way to ace the exams is to learn how to actually use Notes and Domino. If you have no experience at all with Notes and Domino get the Domino Designer client and learn how to develop applications. Develop some applications for use around the house to catalog your collection of CD's or a website on your favorite hobby. There is much that can be done without a Domino server. TLCC has courses to help you learn Notes Domino application development. There are also redbooks by IBM and many other books available. Finally, when it comes time to take the exam several vendors offer practice exams to help you test yourself before taking the actual examination. TLCC has been partnering with CertFX, one of the practice exam vendors, and has received good feedback from our students on the CertFX products.
Taking the Exams
The exams are available through two testing vendors, Pearson VUE and Prometric (formerly known as Sylvan.) The cost ranges from $75 to $175. Most exams are $150. Below are the links for each test vendor:
IBM Certified Associate Developer - Lotus Notes and Domino 6/6.5
This certification requires only one exam and is a good way to get started on the Domino certification path. The required exam is:
- Exam 610 - Notes Domino 6 Application Development Foundation Skills
The exam focuses on application development foundation skills as it relates to design elements like forms and views, application architecture, security, database management, and programming. The programming languages such as LotusScript, Java, or JavaScript are not covered (at least not in detail.) The exam objectives (from the IBM/Lotus website) are listed below. The cost for this exam is $125 at Prometric.
 Click here to see the 610 exam objectives
Design Elements
- Creating field help and hints
- Creating shared image resources
- Creating sorted and categorized views
- Creating, Modifying & Troubleshooting Embedded Elements: Navigator
- Creating, Modifying & Troubleshooting Embedded Elements: Views
- Creating, Modifying, Troubleshooting Actions
- Creating, Modifying, Troubleshooting Agents
- Creating, Modifying, Troubleshooting Columns
- Creating, Modifying, Troubleshooting Fields
- Creating, Modifying, Troubleshooting Folders
- Creating, Modifying, Troubleshooting for Dual Clients
- Creating, Modifying, Troubleshooting Forms
- Creating, Modifying, Troubleshooting Hotspots
- Creating, Modifying, Troubleshooting Layers
- Creating, Modifying, Troubleshooting Links
- Creating, Modifying, Troubleshooting Navigators
- Creating, Modifying, Troubleshooting Pages
- Creating, Modifying, Troubleshooting Sections
- Creating, Modifying, Troubleshooting Views
- Displaying Date/Time in columns
- Displaying document hierarchy in views
- Displaying icons in columns
- Displaying numbers in columns
- Hiding Agents
- Scheduled Agents
- Setting Agent Properties
- Working with Data Types: Color
- Working with Data Types: Formula
- Working with Data Types: Keywords
- Working with Data Types: Names
- Working with Data Types: Number
- Working with Data Types: Password
- Working with Data Types: Rich Text
- Working with Data Types: Rich Text Lite
- Working with Data Types: Text
- Working with Data Types: Time Zone
- Working with Data Types: Time/Date
- Working with Shared Resources
Application Architecture
- Creating, Modifying, Troubleshooting for Notes Clients
- Domino Application Architecture
- Executing requests from the Notes Client
- Using images in applications
- Using links to make application elements available to users
- Using tables to manage page layout
- Using the Designer Bookmarks to organize projects
- What is a replica database
- Working with local applications
- - Security
- Adding security to an application
- Defining security levels for application users
- Determine Databases Group Access
- Secure applications: Authors fields
- Secure applications: Readers fields
- Set Database Access: Default Access
- Setting and Reading ACLs
Database Management
- Controlling what gets replicated
- Copy a Database
- Create a blank database
- Create a database from a template
- Create & Modify Groups in the Domino Directory
- Creating a Design Template
- Creating database help documents
- Creating database icon
- Monitor/Maintain Replication
- Preventing Design inheritance
- Printing from the designer
- Setting Database Properties
- Setting up Design inheritance
- Setting up Document Locking
- Troubleshooting Database Access
- Using Design Synopsis to analyze application elements
- Using Design Templates to Refresh an application design
- What is a Notes database
Programming
- Create field validation and translation formulas
- Creating formulas with @Commands
- Creating formulas with @Functions
- Display or hide information on forms using hide/when options
- Domino Designer application and design environment
- Make preferred tools readily available to the IDE
- Programming window titles
- Set default field values
- Setting programmer pane properties
- Using Designer Reference Panel
- Using Programmer's Pane Auto-Complete
- Using the Designer objects pane
- Working with Basic Formula Language
IBM Certified Application Developer - Lotus Notes and Domino 6/6.5
Once you pass the 610 exam and become an Associate Developer, then passing two more exams will earn you the Certified Application Developer title. The required exams are:
- Exam 611 - Notes Domino 6 Application Development Intermediate Skills
- Exam 612 - Notes Domino 6: Development Web Applications
Information about each exam is shown below:
Exam 611 - Notes Domino 6 Application Development Intermediate Skills
The exam focuses on more advanced application development skills using Lotus Notes 6 as it relates to various design elements, application architecture, security, database management, and programming. This exam also covers how to develop workflow applications using Domino and is very heavy into security. The programming languages such as LotusScript, Java, or JavaScript are not covered (at least not in detail.) The cost for this exam is also $125 at Prometric.
Click here to see the 611 exam objectives
Design Elements
- Agent Activation
- Allow Agent access
- Creating shared applet resources
- Creating shared Data Connection resources (DCRs), Shared Actions, Shared Fields, Subforms, Colors, Hiding Columns, Framesets, In-View Editing, Layers, Outlines, and Profile Documents
- Customizing twisties: Sections, outlines, and views
- Embedded Elements: Date Picker, Editor, Folder Pane, Outline, Scheduler, Single Category Views, Views
- Encrypt Views
- Hiding Agents
- Modifying multiple design element properties
- Restricting agent operations
- Scheduled Agents
- Setting Agent Properties
- Setting and Modifying Agent Access
- Setting and modifying design element properties
- Setting Effective User of Agent
- Setting view indexing options for performance
- Signing database design elements
- Use profile documents to store data
- Using Calendar views in applications
- Using external files in applications
- Using images in applications
- Database Management
- Agent server document settings
- Controlling what gets replicated
- Creating a mail-in database
- Creating context sensitive database help
- Design an update distribution mechanism using Design
- Design an update distribution mechanism using replication
- Hiding database designs
- Managing multiple design elements
- Set Database Properties to improve database performance
- Setting Database launch properties
- Setting Database Properties
- Setting up Design Locking
- Setting up Document Locking
- Setting up View Logging
- Sign a database
- Troubleshoot mail-in database problems
- Troubleshooting Design Locking
- Use design synopsis to evaluate and document the application
Application Architecture
- Access data in an external Domino database
- Allowing view customization
- Build a navigation structure
- Connecting to external applications
- Controlling form display in views using form formulas
- Design applications based on Data Integrity issues
- Design applications based on design element IDs: UNID & NOTEID
- Design applications based on graphics elements
- Design applications based on OLE on a form
- Design applications based on Summary/Non-Summary data storage
- Design applications to optimize view performance
- Domino Application Architecture
- Set up full text indexing
Security
- Design a secure application
- Determine Database Roles
- Determine password security
- Encrypting documents
- Mail encryption
- Restrict Form Access
- Restrict Section Access
- Restrict View Access
- Set workstation level Security (ECL)
- Set Database Access: Administration server, Database Encryption, Directory access, Effective Access, Enforcing Consistent ACLs, Extended ACL (xACL), Modifying Names fields, Roles, Form access and View access
- Setup ACLs for replication
- Sign Fields
Workflow
- Create workflow related fields: conditional/unconditional fields, document encryption, hide when fields, keyword fields, reserved word fields, signing, workflow related field attributes
- Create workflow related forms: mail enabled forms, setting workflow related form attributes, Store Form in Document
- Create workflow related sections
- Create/distribute workflow tracking databases
- Create/set up workflow roles: external to Notes and within Notes
- Create/set up workflow routing rules (addressing) using formulas:conditional/unconditional, Booleans, constants, variables and @Functions
- Create/set up workflow routing rules (addressing) using multiple mail systems
- Creating Mail-in Databases
- Creating mail enabled forms
- Creating Workflow Applications
- Determine Workflow control
- Implementing Calendaring and Scheduling
- Route documents and send links to documents
- Set Field Access: Authors, Encryption, Groups, Readers, Signing and Groups
- Set Section Access: Groups
- Setting and Reading ACLs
- Track documents through a workflow process
- Troubleshoot mail enabled field problems: field attributes
- Troubleshoot mail enabled form problems: workflow related
- Troubleshoot workflow distribution problems: replication, Roles,routing, rules and replication
Programming
- Automatically enable option declare
- Coding Formulas
- Control Section Access
- Creating, Modifying, Troubleshooting In-view Editors
- Design applications based on appropriate coding alternatives
- Design applications based on conflict integrity issues
- Domino Designer application and design environment
- Encrypt sections
- Make preferred tools readily available to the IDE
- Programming Columns based on other column values
- Programming with the formula language
- Sign sections
- Use applets to enhance the application
- Use third party design tools with Designer
- Using Auto-Complete
- Using find & replace in the programmer pane
- Using hidden columns to sort view data
- Using layout regions in dialog boxes
- Working with Name values
- Working with @Functions
Exam 612 - Notes Domino 6: Developing Web Applications
The exam focuses on how use develop Domino applications for use by web browser clients. The cost for this exam is also $125 at Prometric.
Click here to see the 612 exam objectives
Application Architecture
- Designing applications that work on web clients
- Designing web applications that read non-Domino data
- Planning applications that work in both Notes and web clients
- Exploring page layout and navigation
Design Elements
- Creating Public access agents and views
- Creating, Modifying, Troubleshooting Fields for Web clients
- Creating, Troubleshooting, Modifying Style Sheets
- Embedded Elements: Using Embedded Views and File Upload controls
- Understanding File Protection documents
- Using forms to inherit document contents on both Notes and web clients
- Using images in applications
- Using native Domino Java applets
- Using tables to manage page layout
- Creating View Templates
- Creating, Troubleshooting, Modifying Forms for Web clients
- Hiding design elements from different clients
- Using HTML events on forms and pages
- Using HTML properties on views
- Creating, Troubleshooting, Modifying Layers, Links, Outlines and Pages
- Controlling document target frames
- Creating, Troubleshooting, Modifying Framesets
- Personalizing web site experience using Profile Documents
- Creating, Modifying and Troubleshooting Java Libraries, JavaScript Libraries and LotusScript Libraries
- Employing Java Applets
- Implementing Java Servlets
- Creating, Modifying, Troubleshooting File Resources, Views for Web clients and Web Agents
- Deploying, utilizing LotusScript for Web clients
- Creating, Modifying, Troubleshooting JavaScript for Notes & Web clients
- Setting Agent Properties
- Using JavaScript events in Domino
- Running agent as web user
- Running agents on the web
- Creating Public access forms
Manage and Maintain
- Setting up web site rules
- Understanding server tasks for web browsing
- Creating Web Site Rule documents
- Defining global web site settings using the Administrator client
- Using server documents to manage Internet access to the server
- Understanding the types of global web site settings you can define on the servver
- Setting database properties for web access
Programming
- Adding horizontal rules to forms & pages
- Making preferred tools readily available to the IDE
- Modifying simple JavaScript
- Rendering HTML in applications
- Using Domino URL Syntax
- Using HTML for Notes and web access
- Using JavaScript in applications
- Using the HTML Editor
- Using weekday to create design elements
- Using XML in applications
- Using @Commands in web applications
- Using @Functions in web applications
- Writing formulas to support different clients
- Creating HTML fields on pages using computed text
- Deploying a simple Java applet on a web page
- Rendering DHTML in applications
- Understanding an HTML page and its format
- Using HTML in Views
- Using HTML Tables
- Using JavaScript to access field contents
- Using JavaScript to create a redirect page
- Working with HTML attributes on fields
- Working with $$Return fields
- Deploying, utilizing LotusScript agents
- Passing data from a web form to a web agent
- Validating user entered data using JavaScript
- Working with DXL Tools
- Testing JavaScript
- Understand the JavaScript Document Object Model (DOM)
- Working with Common JavaScript
- Using CGI variables
- Working with Cookies in your applications
Security
- Controlling CGI Directory access
- Planning application security based on Web authentication
- Setting Database Access: Controlling Web Authentication and Using SSL
- Setting Field Access: Using Encryption
- Determining Secure Sockets Layer security
- Understanding security differences between Web access vs. Notes client access
- Setting Database Access for Anonymous Access, using Maximum Internet name and password , and using Roles
IBM Certified Advanced Application Developer - Lotus Notes and Domino 6/6.5
Once you pass the 611 and 612 exams and become an Application Developer, then passing one more exam will earn you the Certified Application Developer title. You have a choice of exams to take (pass just one of the following):
- Exam 273 - LotusScript in Notes for Advanced Developers
- Exam 513 - Using JavaScript in Notes Domino Applications
- Exam 516 - Using Java in Notes Domino Applications
Information about each exam is listed below:
Exam 273 - LotusScript in Notes for Advanced Developers
This exam concentrates on the LotusScript language and the Domino Object Model. The cost for this exam is also $125 at Prometric.
Click here to see the 273 exam objectives
Database Level Competencies
- Establish connectivity within the database
- Establish connectivity between Notes databases
- Establish connectivity among Notes/non-Notes databases
- Access session information
- Access DbDirectory information
- Create a database
- Delete a database
- Create a new replica database
- Access a database
- Set up ODBC connectivity
- Document Level Competencies
- Establish relationships among documents
- Make response documents
- Create a document using methods and items
- Show a created view using the refresh method on NotesView
- Delete a document
- Create/delete items
- Create/delete rich text itemsAccess documents through collections
- Search for all documents in a database
- Search for all documents in a view
- Process a collection
- Full Text Search a collection
- Count a collection
- View documents through the User Interface
- Access all documents in a database
- Load the LSX module
- Create agents
- Create newsletters
Programming Concept Competencies
- Control Field events
- Control Form events
- Control Button events
- Make use of scope
- Solve problems using Looping (Iterating)
- Solve problems using Logic (Program flow)
- Solve problems using Options (alternation/branching)
- Solve problems using Functions/subroutines (branching)
- Solve problems using Array processing
- Solve problems using Option base
- Solve problems using Declaration/initialization
- Build error checking routines
- Debug programming problems
User Interface Competencies
- Access documents using UIWorkspace
- Access documents using UIDocument
- Log to a Log file
Production/Architecture Issues
- Plan and architect problem solutions
- Decide script programming design and implementation issues such as:
- When to use/not use script
- when to use form events versus field actions
- when to use view columns versus fields
- when to use interactive versus batch
- when to use the front end/back end for. . .
- getting data from databases
- setting document contents
- When to use in memory versus on disk structures
- When to use gets versus loops
- Enable server agents through script
- solve security issues through script
- Decide script scope & source issues
- Mark documents processed through script
Exam 513 - Using JavaScript in Notes Domino Applications
This exam concentrates on the JavaScript language and how to use JavaScript in Domino web applications. The cost for this exam is also $125 at Prometric.
Exam 516 - Using Java in Notes Domino Applications
This exam is on Java language and how to use Java in Domino applications. The cost for this exam is also $125 at Prometric.
 Do you already know R5 Domino?
If you already are familiar with Notes and Domino R5 than consider getting certified as a R5 Application Developer and than upgrade your certification to Notes Domino 6. To become a R5 Certified Application Developer requires passing three exams. Then pass one exam to upgrade your certification to Notes Domino 6. This has several advantages:
- Get tested on what you are familiar with
- Add three (or five!) certifications to your resume instead of one by taking just four (or five) exams
The exams are:
- Exam 510 - Domino R5 Designer Fundamentals
- Exam 511 - Domino R5 Application Security and Workflow
- Exam 512 - Domino Application Architecture
- Exam 601 - Notes Domino 6 Application Development Update
Passing these four exams will earn you the following certifications:
- Certified Lotus Specialist (CLS) - Application Developer
- Certified Lotus Professional (CLP) - Application Developer
- IBM Certified Application Developer - Lotus Notes and Domino 6/6.5
How can you add five certifications to your resume? Take the four exams listed above. Then take one of the qualifying exams to become a Principal CLP. When you upgrade your certification to Notes Domino 6 than you will also become a Advanced Application Developer on Notes Domino 6 too. You will earn the following additional certifications:
- Principal Certified Lotus Professional (PCLP) - Application Developer
- IBM Certified Advanced Application Developer - Lotus Notes and Domino 6/6.5
Click here for information on TLCC's R5 courses to help you get ready for the test
Click here to view the Lotus exam study guide for the R5 exams
Click here to view the Lotus exam study guide for the Notes Domino 6 Update exam
Remember, this option will end on November 30, 2004 when the R5 exams are removed from the market. |
Lotus Collaborative Solutions Certifications
There are three levels of certification for the Lotus Collaborative products (Instant Messaging (Sametime), QuickPlace, Domino.Doc, and Workflow.)
IBM Certified Associate Developer - Lotus Collaborative Solutions
IBM Certified Application Developer - Lotus Collaborative Solutions
IBM Certified Advanced Application Developer - Lotus Collaborative Solutions
Getting certified for the Associate level requires passing one exam from the list below. Getting certified as a Applications Developer requires three exams from the list below and the Advanced Application Developer requires passing all four exams.
- Exam 561 - Developing Instant Collaborative Applications with QuickPlace 3
- Exam 563 - Domino.Doc 3.0 Customization
- Exam 565 - Developing Applications Using Lotus Workflow 3
- Exam 572 - Developing Web Applications in Sametime 3
Click here for more information on these exams at the Lotus website
Click here to see the CertFX practice tests for these exams
Lotus Workplace Certifications
Lotus recently released certifications for the Workplace family of products. As of this date (8/23/2004), they have released one certification of interest to developers:
IBM Certified Application Developer - Lotus Workplace Web Content Management 2 with Java
This certification can be achieved by passing the following exam:
- Exam 830: Developing Websites Using IBM Lotus Workplace Web Content Management 2 with Java
You can expect Lotus to have many more certifications for this family of products in the next year. The best way to prepare for the Workplace certifications is to learn Java and WebSphere.
Click here for more information on this exam at the Lotus website
Click here to learn how you can become a Java and WebSphere expert
Links for More Information
TLCC R5 Exam Suggestions - This page lists the various TLCC courses suggested for each R5 certification exam
TLCC Notes Domino 6 Exam Suggestions - This page lists the various TLCC courses suggested for each Notes Domino 6 certification exam
Lotus Certification Page - This is the home page for getting information on Lotus certifications.
Notes Domino 6 Study Guide - This pdf file from IBM/Lotus contains the exam descriptions, objectives, and sample questions for the Notes Domino certification exams (however, not the upgrade exam to upgrade your certification from Notes Domino R5 to Notes Domino 6).
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