Which architect training and certificates?

TOGAF or BCS Enterprise and Solution Architecture (ESA)?

	TOGAF	BCS ICESA
Teaches	A particular management framework for architecture projects.	General architecture terms, concepts and principles.
Training length and cost	4 days: £1,000 ex VAT	4 days: £1,230 ex VAT
Exam length and cost	1 hour: £400 ex VAT (depends on dollar to pound rate)	1 hour: £145 ex VAT
Exam booking and location	Booked by you and sat after the course in a Pearson Vue centre	Booked by us and sat within the course

You can't attend one course and hope to pass the exam in the other directly afterwards.

You can however complete ICESA first (which introduces architecture frameworks) and then self-study to pass the easier TOGAF exam.

In response to enquiries, we are thinking to run a 1 day TOGAF top up course for people who have completed ICESA successfully.

The idea being to set some pre-course self-study home work, and then run a tutorial focused on exam preparation - costing another £300 or so.

The two certifications courses are compatible and overlap to a degree, but have different aims.

For a management framework - a transformation process that promotes the role of architects – choose TOGAF.

For more concrete guidance on architecture terms, concepts, principles and techniques – choose BCS ICESA.

For dates and prices, read the Training Calendar at http://avancier.website.

For other advice, call Graham Berrisford on 020 8949 8077, or mobile 07711 884412.

Click here for a selection of course comments.

One who attended TOGAF, Zachman and ESA training in that sequence commented that: “The ESA course covers the key length and breadth of solution and enterprise architecture concepts from foundation to advanced. It elaborates progressively, making it easier to comprehend architecture frameworks and methods. It suits both novices wanting progress their career and experienced professionals wanting to strengthen their skills and apply their knowledge across the architecture domains.”

TOGAF - 4 weekdays or 2 weekends TOGAF primarily a management framework for architects working to design and plan changes to business systems. The course covers all the “learning outcomes” examiners can ask you about. You pay for and sit TOGAF exams separately, after the course. The material is more abstract than the BCS course – better suited to a non-technical audience.

BCS Intermediate Certificate in Enterprise and Solution Architecture (ICESA) - 4 weekdays or 2 weekends This is a broader and more general course in the concepts, techniques, products and patterns that architects use (within or without TOGAF). The course fees and days include exams for BCS professional certificates. The material is more concrete than theTOGAF course, better suited to those working on software/IT projects.

TOGAF training TOGAF training focuses on the Architecture Development Method (ADM); this is a management framework for planning and governing a substantial transformational change to business systems. TOGAF outlines documents and artefacts to support that process. Our courses include case study work featuring some TOGAF artefacts. Audience Those wanting a management framework for architects’ work. Training can serve as an introduction to architecture-level work for people with no technical background. Almost everybody who attends the course passes the TOGAF examinations. Training course options See the Training Calendar for weekday and weekend course variations. If you have BCS certificates, you can request a shorter TOGAF course including mock examinations. This is an ad hoc arrangement, not currently scheduled in the public training calendar. Examinations for TOGAF certificates The examinations are about TOGAF-specific processes and products. Our TOGAF certification training courses prepare you for two multiple choice examinations; · the first asks 40 questions about TOGAF terms and concepts · the second asks 8 questions about the application of TOGAF to short practical scenarios. TOGAF exams and fees are not included in Avancier’s training courses. Most people purchase and sit the exams in the week after the course. You sit the TOGAF exams in a Pearson Vue examination centre. Check procedures at http://www.pearsonvue.com/theopengroup/ At the time of writing the price for the 2 exams is 495 US dollars Check prices http://certification.opengroup.org/examinations/exam-fees. Resits? As far as we know, everybody who attends out training passes the TOGAF exams. You can re-attend a training course with no additional training fee. We have never yet been asked to schedule a revision day, but could do so if asked.

Enterprise and Solution Architecture (ESA) training ESA training focuses on knowledge and skills relevant to solution and enterprise architect roles. It introduces the broad sweep of architecture terms and concepts, outlines architecture frameworks and includes practical exercises. It leads to examinations for BCS professional certificates. Audience Those in or approaching a solution/system architect role. Those who work under the governance of a strategy and architecture function. Roles: those in Solution Development and Implementation, System Development and Management, System Design, Database/repository design, or Programming/software development, who want to move into an architect role. And those already in Enterprise Architect or Solution Architect role who want more formal education. Those currently at SFIA level 4 or 5, or supervising lower level design work. Those in a more strategic role, at level 6 or 7 also benefit. Training course options See the Training Calendar for weekday and weekend course variations. If you have TOGAF certificates, you can obtain the BCS practitioner certificate in a 2 day course, but will miss a lot by skipping the intermediate level training. Examinations for BCS certificates in Enterprise & Solution Architecture Our BCS ESA certification training courses lead to and include two multiple choice examinations; · the first asks 40 questions about architecture terms and concepts · the second asks 40 questions about the application of those concepts to a BCS-provided case study. The BCS examination time and fees are included in Avancier’s training courses and revision days. Resits? Almost everybody who attends our training passes the intermediate level exams. A few fail the practitioner level exam. You can re-attend a training course with no additional training fee. We have never yet been asked to schedule a revision day, but could do so if asked.

For dates and prices, read the Training Calendar at http://avancier.website.

For advice, call Graham Berrisford on 020 8949 8077, or mobile 07711 884412