Registering for your exam

Databricks is the company that has prepared these exams and certifications. Here is the link to register for the exam: https://www.databricks.com/learn/certification/apache-spark-developer-associate.

Next, we will look at some of the prerequisites for the exam.

Prerequisites for the exam

Some prerequisites are needed before you can take the exam so that you can be successful in passing the certification. Some of the major ones are as follows:

• Grasp the fundamentals of Spark architecture, encompassing the principles of Adaptive Query Execution.
• Utilize the Spark DataFrame API proficiently for various data manipulation tasks, such as the following:
  • Performing column operations, such as selection, renaming, and manipulation
  • Executing row operations, including filtering, dropping, sorting, and aggregating data
  • Conducting DataFrame-related tasks, such as joining, reading, writing, and implementing partitioning strategies
  • Demonstrating proficiency in working with user-defined functions (UDFs) and Spark SQL functions
• While not explicitly tested, a functional understanding of either Python or Scala is expected. The examination is available in both programming languages.

Hopefully, by the end of this book, you will be able to fully grasp all these concepts and have done enough practice on your own to be prepared for the exam with full confidence.

Now, let’s discuss what to expect during the online proctored exam.

Online proctored exam

The Spark certification exam is an online proctored exam. What this means is that you will be taking the exam from the comfort of your home, but someone will be proctoring the exam online. I encourage you to understand the procedures and rules of the proctored exam in advance. This will save you a lot of trouble and anxiety at the time of the exam.

To give you an overview, throughout the exam session, the following procedures will be in place:

• Webcam monitoring will be conducted by a Webassessor proctor to ensure exam integrity
• You will need to present a valid form of identification with a photo
• You will need to conduct the exam alone
• Your desk needs to be decluttered and there should be no other electronic devices in the room except the laptop that you’ll need for the exam
• There should not be any posters or charts on the walls of the room that may aid you in the exam
• The proctor will be listening to you during the exam as well, so you’ll want to make sure that you’re sitting in a quiet and comfortable environment
• It is recommended to not use your work laptop for this exam as it requires software to be installed and your antivirus and firewall to be disabled

The proctor’s responsibilities are as follows:

• Overseeing your exam session to maintain exam integrity
• Addressing any queries related to the exam delivery process
• Offering technical assistance if needed
• It’s important to note that the proctor will not offer any form of assistance regarding the exam content

I recommend that you take sufficient time before the exam to set up the environment where you’ll be taking the exam. This will ensure a smooth online exam procedure where you can focus on the questions and not worry about anything else.

Now, let’s talk about the different types of questions that may appear in the exam.