Developers

FileMaker Certification: Frequently Asked Questions

Certificate and exam inquiries

Are there pre-requisites for taking the exam?

No, there are no pre-requisites. Anyone may take the exam.

What should I expect to receive if I pass the certification exam?

Candidates who have successfully passed the exam will receive a FileMaker Certified Developer certificate with permission to use the FileMaker Certified Developer logo. The certificate and logo will have the version of the exam. For example, FileMaker 7 Certified Developer or FileMaker 8 Certified Developer. FSA Associates and Partner level members have an opportunity to list their company and be recognized as having a certified developer(s) on the local FileMaker website. See section on “Highlighting certified developers”.

When will I receive my certificate?

Your certification package will be mailed approximately two to three weeks after the exam is completed.

I passed the certification but haven’t yet received my packet with my certificate.

If you have not received your package after a one-month waiting period, please send an email to fmcertification@filemaker.com. Include your first name, last name, and full address given at the time of the test.

How can I change or correct my name if it’s misspelled on the certificate?

While you can request a correction for a misspelled name, you cannot change your name. For misspelled names, please contact fmcertification@filemaker.com. Allow up to three weeks for a new certificate.

What if I lose my certificate?

Please contact fmcertification@filemaker.com.

Will my certification expire?

There is no expiration date to the certification title you receive. You may, however, be certified on a technology that is outdated if FileMaker, Inc. releases a new technology version and its associated exam. Keeping your certification current is highly recommended. FileMaker, at its discretion, may offer certification for one version back.

Will my test results be given to my employer, should they request it?

No, FileMaker will not provide test results or names of FileMaker certified developers. It is the responsibility of the certified developer to share that information with their employer if they so desire.

What if my employer requests that FileMaker confirm my certification?

FileMaker will not deny or confirm individual names of FileMaker certified developers. The certificate is your proof of certification. Your employer will be advised of this policy.

What is the cost of the exam?

The exam cost is US$150 (or equivalent in other countries). At the time of registration, candidates are required to provide payment information. Thomson Prometric processes most major forms of credit card payment. After paying for the test, the candidate can schedule a convenient time and location for the exam.

Where do I register for the exam?

To register, go to: http://2test.com

Where do I take the exam?

Thomson Prometric, a renowned industry leader in test development and delivery, has over 3,000 test centers available worldwide. When you register for an exam, you’ll have an opportunity to choose a location near you.

How much time do I have to take the exam?

The exam is 60 multiple-choice questions. You are allowed 1.5 hours to take the exam.

Once I take the exam, how long will it take to get the results?

Upon completion of the exam, you will be given a pass or fail score at the time of the exam.

If I fail the exam, how soon can I take it again?

FileMaker has a 14-day re-testing policy. This means that if you take an exam, fail it, and need to retake the “same” exam again, you will be required to wait 14 days before taking the exam again. Why the policy?

Within the Certification industry, it is common for certification programs to impose a waiting period—sometimes up to a month wait—FileMaker is only requiring 14 days.
The wait period assists with test security. Increased security means that the credential is even more valuable once earned.
Requiring a wait period provides a consistent basis for measuring skills and abilities. It has been proven that people who retake exams earlier than two weeks acquire an unfair advantage based upon short-term memory. Again this helps to protect the value of your credentials.
We want customers to succeed, so the wait allows additional time for customers to study in order to pass the next time.

How many times can a developer take the test should he/she fail?

There is no limit to the number of times a developer can take the test; however, each testing session will incur the standard testing fee.

FileMaker 7 Certification

What credential will I receive when I take the exam?

Candidates who are successful in passing the “Developer Essentials for FileMaker 7” exam will receive the “FileMaker 7 Certified Developer” credential.

FileMaker 8 Certification

Will FileMaker, Inc. offer certification for FileMaker 8?

Yes. Coming this Fall will be a new exam “Developer Essentials for FileMaker 8” and those that pass will receive the “FileMaker 8 Certified Developer” credential.

What does this mean for my current FileMaker 7 Certification?

Your FileMaker 7 certification will remain an important credential. Customers and employers will still be asking for it if they own this v7 version at their company.

Are there any advantages to have a FileMaker 7 Certification and a FileMaker 8 Certification?

Absolutely. Although, we encourage FileMaker users to upgrade and keep current with the latest versions, FileMaker 7 will continue to have presence in the market.

My customers are asking me about FileMaker 7 Certification, will that test still be available?

Yes, FileMaker will continue to offer one version back for certification.

Highlighting certified developers

Who gets recognition as a FileMaker Certified Developer on the FileMaker website?

FileMaker Solution Alliance Associate and Partner level members are eligible to receive special recognition for their organization. The company by whom the certified individual is employed must have an active FSA membership, and the individual must be a full-time employee of that company. The primary contact for the organizations FSA membership must inform FileMaker when an employee is no longer working at the company or organization. [Non-members and Subscriber-level members are not eligible for a listing on the FileMaker website.]

How does FileMaker establish eligibility?

To establish your eligibility, the primary contact for the FSA membership must inform the FSA Manager of his/her employee’s certification in writing by email at: fsa_manager@filemaker.com. FileMaker will verify the certification. FSA staff will record the name of the certified developer in the member’s record and activate the certification profiling pre-programmed in the FSA database in the following weekly update. This will apply respectively in the various regions.

It is the responsibility of the FSA member to notify FileMaker immediately if the certified developer is no longer employed at the company. FileMaker reserves the right to audit employment at any time. In the event, an FSA organization no long employs individuals who have passed the test and been certified, the FSA staff will update the FSA records and the certification logo will be removed from the website.

Are FSA members required to take the FileMaker certification exam?

Only FSA Partner level members are REQUIRED to take and pass the exam to maintain Partner level status. Certification is optional for FSA Subscribers and Associates.

Please note that all current FSA Partner level members will be required to take and pass the exam by March 1, 2005 for FileMaker 8 certification. New applicants for Partner level membership must pass the exam as one of the requirements for consideration. FSA Partner level members need only pass that version once. They do not need to take the same exam annually. FSA Partners may be required to take new versions of the exam.

FSA Associates are not required to take the exam and become certified for membership of the FSA, although, they have an opportunity to increase the profile their company or the company they are working for on the FileMaker website, if they successfully pass the certification examination.

How will FileMaker showcase certified FSA members on its website?

Each FSA organization that has a certified developer on staff will be noted with this special symbol next to their company name—in the consultants and training listing of the FSA Directory. Companies with a certified developer(s) on staff will be listed in alpha order and appear at the top level of customer search results.

If we have multiple developers on staff who have achieved FileMaker Certification—how will this be noted?

For organizations that have more than one certified developer on staff, FileMaker will highlight the organization with a symbol that signifies the number of certified staff.

My company has multiple branch offices. Will my certification count for all locations for my company?

Currently, FSA Associate and Partner level members are eligible to combine the total number of certified developers from their additional branches under their PRIMARY membership. Your FileMaker certification will only count towards your additional branch offices if they each have a FileMaker certified developer on-site. For example, if a PRIMARY membership has 2 additional branches with a FileMaker developer in each, both developers must be certified in order to display the "certified developer" listing.

Will you continue to offer the FileMaker Proficiency Exam as you did in previous years at the annual FileMaker Developer Conference?

No. The exam is conveniently offered in over 3000 locations worldwide.

Logos

How do I receive the logo after I have successfully completed the certification exam?

Each candidate who successfully passes the exam will receive a certificate and a letter. The letter will contain a special URL to download the logo from the website. You will be required to agree to abide by the terms and conditions of the FileMaker Certification logo agreement at the time of the download.

Are there guidelines for the use of the FileMaker Certified Developer logo?

Yes. To review the FileMaker Certified Developer logo agreement, download here.

Can certification holders use the certification title on their business cards or resume?

Yes, individual certification holders can use the certified title on their business cards and resume. The certification holder, however, must include the certified version number whenever one is available.