How to Get an Oracle Cloud Certification and What Are Its Advantages?

Quebec businesses are moving a growing share of their operations to cloud applications such as Oracle Fusion Cloud. The success of such an implementation depends largely on working with a certified specialist who can configure the application around the company's needs and optimize every function. But the mechanics of Oracle certifications have changed considerably in recent years: new credential names, hands-on exams, and a mandatory renewal cycle.

"Since April 2023, a candidate can earn an Oracle Cloud Applications (SaaS) certification once, then maintain the credential by passing a delta exam every 18 months." Source: Oracle University, Certification Overview

What are the advantages of an Oracle Cloud certification for your ERP project?

An Oracle Cloud certified resource masters the solution, knows the leading business practices supported by the application, and configures the system around the company's real needs. Oracle is an enterprise software publisher known for the performance of its applications, which support a wide range of business processes. With the Oracle Fusion Cloud suite, the solution no longer runs on in-house servers: it resides in Oracle's highly secure cloud environment, with a modern interface and updates delivered four times a year.

Working with an Oracle Cloud certified specialist brings concrete advantages:

• proven mastery of the Oracle Fusion Cloud solution and its evolution;
• knowledge of the leading business practices embedded in the application;
• a configuration aligned with the company's needs rather than inherited habits;
• optimized operations, with internal processes aligned to the solution's standard processes.

With the General Ledger certification, a certified resource maximizes the benefits of implementing a cloud-based financial management system. That person can also explain the differences with legacy systems such as SAP, Oracle E-Business Suite, PeopleSoft, or JD Edwards, a valuable asset during a migration.

How do you get an Oracle Cloud certification?

The process comes down to four steps: choose the target certification in the Oracle University catalog, train at your own pace, register for the exam, then pass a proctored online test. Each certification is different, but the path is similar from one credential to the next.

1. Choose the certification. The Oracle University catalog organizes credentials by product: Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), cloud applications (ERP, EPM, HCM, SCM, CX), database, Java, and more.
2. Train at your own pace. The Oracle MyLearn platform offers free and paid resources: digital courses, role-based learning paths, hands-on labs, and exam preparation. The Oracle Cloud Applications Learning Subscription provides 12 months of unlimited access to the entire applications portfolio and includes three certification exam attempts.
3. Register for the exam. Registration is done from within the learning subscription or by purchasing a single exam (Oracle Cloud Applications Exam Subscription).
4. Pass the exam. The test is taken online with remote proctoring. Upon passing, Oracle issues an electronic certificate and a digital badge to share.

There is no prerequisite for the General Ledger exam. Oracle nevertheless recommends combining digital training with hands-on experience gained in labs or in the field before sitting the test.

What is the Oracle Cloud General Ledger (GL) certification?

The Oracle Fusion Cloud Financials, General Ledger Certified Implementation Professional credential attests to the ability to implement enterprise structures, financial reporting structures, and the ledgers of Oracle's financial suite. It is designed for implementers, administrators, managers, and consultants who configure the General Ledger: journal entries, intercompany transactions, period close, and financial reports.

The official parameters of exam 1Z0-1054-26, as published by Oracle University:

• Format: hands-on, performance-based test combining multiple-choice questions with scenarios set in a real Oracle Cloud Applications environment;
• Duration: 90 minutes;
• Number of questions: 36;
• Passing score: 68%;
• Prerequisite: none;
• Validation: Oracle Fusion Cloud releases 25A, 25B, 25C, and 25D;
• Credential maintenance: delta exam every 18 months, free for anyone GL certified since 2019.

The General Ledger is the common denominator for several areas of the Oracle Cloud applications: risk management, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and Accounting Hub, among others. All of these configurations require mastery of the General Ledger first. The Accounting Hub certification, for example, focuses on linking external systems to the General Ledger for companies that do not use every module of the Oracle suite.

How long does an Oracle Cloud certification stay valid?

An Oracle Cloud Applications certification is no longer valid for life: it is maintained by passing a delta exam every 18 months. Since April 2023, Oracle University has applied this recertification policy to SaaS credentials. If the holder lets the credential lapse, a full exam is required to regain active status. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) credentials, for their part, remain valid for two years.

Good news for people who are already certified: anyone who earned a General Ledger certification (Implementation Professional or Specialist) from 2019 onwards, whether the credential is active or lapsed, can take the corresponding delta exam for free, according to the official 1Z0-1054-26 exam page. This mechanism pushes certified specialists to keep pace with a product that is updated four times a year, which protects the value of the credential for client companies.

What should you remember before getting started?

An Oracle Cloud certification remains a worthwhile investment, provided you understand its new life cycle: a demanding hands-on exam, then a delta exam every 18 months to keep the credential active. For a company, requiring certified and up-to-date resources reduces the risks of a cloud implementation. For a finance or IT professional, the credential validates skills that are in demand in a market where the cloud offering is mature. PlanAxion, an independent consulting firm based in Quebec, supports organizations through the implementation of integrated management systems, and its consultants hold Oracle Cloud certifications, including General Ledger. Has your business not yet made the move to an integrated cloud management system? The current offering from software publishers, Oracle's in particular, is broad and technologically mature. When will you make the move?

Frequently asked questions

Is an Oracle Cloud certification valid for life?

No. Since April 2023, an Oracle Cloud Applications certification is maintained by passing a delta exam every 18 months. If the credential lapses, you must retake the full exam to regain active status. Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) credentials, for their part, remain valid for two years.

How much does an Oracle Cloud certification cost?

Oracle sells each exam individually as an Exam Subscription, and the Oracle Cloud Applications Learning Subscription includes three certification exam attempts along with twelve months of unlimited training. Prices vary by country, so check the Oracle University purchase page for current pricing in your currency before you register.

Is training mandatory before taking the General Ledger exam?

No, the 1Z0-1054-26 exam has no prerequisite. Oracle nevertheless recommends combining digital training with hands-on experience gained in labs or in the field. Preparation paths are available in Oracle MyLearn, which offers both free resources and paid subscriptions depending on how deep you want to go.

Why work with an Oracle Cloud certified consultant?

A certified consultant masters the solution, knows the leading business practices embedded in the application, and configures the system around the company's real needs. This maximizes the benefits of a cloud implementation, and the consultant can explain the differences with legacy systems such as SAP, EBS, PeopleSoft, or JD Edwards.