Oracle PeopleSoft is an Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) software platform consisting of multiple business applications that work with a number of key internal business functions:
- Human capital management
- Financial management
- Customer and supplier relationship management
- Enterprise services automation
- Asset lifecycle management
- Supply chain management
- Portal solutions
- Campus solutions for colleges and universities
PeopleSoft was first released in 1988 and went on to acquire a large user base as it evolved through the 1990s. In 2005, PeopleSoft was purchased by Oracle and became part of the Oracle product portfolio. The most recent version of PeopleSoft (9.2) was released in 2013.
Software developers can customize existing PeopleSoft applications or create new add-on programs, using the PeopleTools solutions development product.
PeopleSoft training
PeopleSoft is a very large software platform that’s been in the marketplace for more than twenty-five years. As with any large software suite that’s existed for such a long time, there are many different versions of PeopleSoft being used concurrently in the business world. Additionally, there are literally dozens (if not hundreds) of different PeopleSoft courses available, covering different versions of related applications.
Candidates who want to take PeopleSoft training should first decide which group of PeopleSoft applications they want to focus on (e.g., Financial Management) and which PeopleSoft version they intend to become proficient with.
The logical assumption is that it’s always best to get trained on the most- recent version of any software. However, this may not always be advantageous based on where industry adoption of said version is at. The best way to determine which version of PeopleSoft is prevalent in your field is to search for PeopleSoft jobs in your area, and see which versions appear most frequently in the job listings.
Note that candidates looking to get certified in PeopleSoft should consult the following “About the exams” section to discover which PeopleSoft applications have related certifications.
The Oracle University is one of the best starting points for PeopleSoft training. Oracle University offers PeopleSoft courses in the following formats:
- Instructor-led classroom training
- Training-on-demand (online streaming content)
- Live virtual classes (real-time online instruction)
- Self-study courses (downloaded self-paced content)
PeopleSoft training is also available (in the above formats) through many technical schools, career colleges and university extension faculties. Candidates who are confident in their ability to teach themselves may be better with self-study or training-on-demand options, while students who learn more effectively from a live instructor should look at the live virtual classes, or consider taking full-on instructor-led training.
About the exams
All certification exams for Oracle products are booked through the Oracle University website. Exams are taken at participating Pearson VUE test centers worldwide. If a candidate doesn’t pass a PeopleSoft exam on their first attempt, there’s no waiting period to retake the exam.
Here are all of the active PeopleSoft certification exams currently available, as of March 2015, listed by title and exam number:
- PeopleSoft Human Resources 9 Fundamentals (1Z0-218)
- PeopleSoft 9.2 Human Resources Essentials (beta exam: 1Z0-416)
- PeopleSoft General Ledger 9 (1Z0-228)
- PeopleSoft Payables 9.1 Essentials (1Z0-573)
- PeopleSoft Receivables 9.1 Essentials (1Z0-575)
- PeopleSoft Campus Solutions 9 Student Enrollment Implementation Essentials (beta exam: 1Z0-494)
- PeopleSoft Application Development I: PeopleTools & PeopleCode (1Z0-241)
- PeopleSoft Application Development II: Application Engine and Integration (1Z0-242)
Here’s a brief summary for each of the PeopleSoft exams listed above, which can help candidates to know what to expect when they enter the examination room. For the most current information for PeopleSoft exams, candidates should visit the Oracle Education website.
PeopleSoft Human Resources 9 Fundamentals (1Z0-218)
- Duration: 120 minutes
- Number of questions: 70
- Passing score: 66 percent
- Format: multiple choice
- Certification earned: PeopleSoft Human Resources 9 Consultant Certified Expert
PeopleSoft 9.2 Human Resources Essentials (beta exam: 1Z0-416)
- Duration: 150 minutes
- Number of questions: 150-225
- Passing score: TBD (exam still in beta)
- Format: multiple choice
- Certification earned: PeopleSoft 9.2 Human Resources Certified Implementation Specialist
PeopleSoft General Ledger 9 (1Z0-228)
- Duration: 120 minutes
- Number of questions: 80
- Passing score: 60 percent
- Format: multiple choice
- Certification earned: PeopleSoft General Ledger 9 Consultant Certified Expert
PeopleSoft Payables 9.1 Essentials (1Z0-573)
- Duration: 120 minutes
- Number of questions: 72
- Passing score: 69 percent
- Format: multiple choice
- Certification earned: PeopleSoft 9.1 Financial Management: Payables Certified Implementation Specialist
PeopleSoft Receivables 9.1 Essentials (1Z0-575)
- Duration: 120 minutes
- Number of questions: 74
- Passing score: 64 percent
- Format: multiple choice
- Certification earned: PeopleSoft 9.1 Financial Management: Receivables Certified Implementation Specialist
PeopleSoft Campus Solutions 9 Student Enrollment Implementation Essentials (beta exam: 1Z0-494)
- Duration: 150-180 minutes
- Number of questions: 120-150
- Passing score: TBD (exam still in beta)
- Format: multiple choice
- Certification earned: PeopleSoft Campus Solutions 9 Student Enrollment Certified Implementation Specialist
PeopleSoft Application Development I: PeopleTools & PeopleCode (1Z0-241)
- Duration: 105 minutes
- Number of questions: 80
- Passing score: 64 percent
- Format: multiple choice
- Certification earned: PeopleTools 8 Application Developer Certified Expert
PeopleSoft Application Development II: Application Engine and Integration (1Z0-242)
- Duration: 120 minutes
- Number of questions: 85
- Passing score: 65 percent
- Format: multiple choice
- Certification earned: PeopleTools 8 Advanced Developer Certified Expert
- Prerequisites: must have PeopleTools 8 Application Developer certification
PeopleSoft in the workplace
Oracle PeopleSoft certifications don’t have an expiry date associated with them. Each certification remains as valid and relevant as the industry determines by its adoption of newer versions of PeopleSoft products.
Some of the job roles associated with PeopleSoft certification includes the following:
- PeopleSoft Applications Administrator
- PeopleSoft Support Specialist
- PeopleSoft Applications Developer
- PeopleSoft Programmer
- PeopleSoft Consultant
Sources
Oracle University, March 26, 2015, http://education.oracle.com
PeopleSoft Applications Overview, Oracle, March 26, 2015, http://www.oracle.com/us/products/applications/peoplesoft-enterprise/overview/index.html
