SAS Base Certification vs SAS Base Certification Performance, Delta

[cosmid]

A few minutes ago, I was about to schedule an exam for SAS Base Certification and learned that SAS now has 3 version of  SAS Base certification.

1. SAS Base Certification , no longer available after June, 2019

2. SAS Base Certification Performance

3. SAS Base Certification Performance Delta

Questions:

1. Does this mean SAS Base Certification will lose its value compared to Performance and Delta?

2. What's the difference between Performance and Performance Delta?

3. I bought the SAS Certification Prep Guide, Fifth Edition few weeks ago. Will this book be sufficient for Performance or Delta?

Thanks!

[Norman21]

From your list, (1) will soon cease to exist, and will be replaced by (2). For those of us who already have (1), we can move to (2) simply by taking the shorter delta exam, (3).

If I were in your shoes, I would sit the exam (1).

[cosmid]

If it will cease to exist, wouldn't it be a waste of money to take the original Base exam? But I guess it has to be the one to take, I already bought the wrong book. Thanks for your input!

[ballardw]

"Delta" is sometimes used to refer to "change". "Delta-v"=> change in velocity for example

Or if you remember a calculus class "change in x" ring a bell.

So the Performance Delta = The difference in the Performance Test change from the previous base certification test.

[cosmid]

Hello ballardw, thanks for replying to my posts again:)

I know what delta means but I was trying to figure out if there they are two different exams, the Performance and the Performance Delta, like if the Performance Delta is much harder than the Performance exam. Looks like no one has taken either yet.

[ballardw]

As @Norman21 indicated, no one really should take both. If you have completed the previous Certification the next would be the Performance Delta to add the changes not in the previous base. OR take Performance.

[cosmid]

I didn't want to take both. I just wanted to know the difference between Performance and Performance Delta. I know how they are different from the original Base, but I want to know the difference between themselves.

[Mark2010 · Accepted solution]

There are 2 ways to earn the new "SAS Certified Specialist:Base Programming Using SAS 9.4" credential.

Take the "SAS®9.4 Base Programming — Performance-based exam."

OR

Hold the current "SAS Base Programmer for SAS 9" credential AND take the "SAS®9.4 Base Programming — Performance-based DELTA exam".

Update: The Delta exam was retired Dec 31, 2021, therefore the path using this exam is no longer available. 

The full exam is 2 hours and costs $190 USD. The Delta exam is 1 hour and $75. Because current base programmers have already taken an exam that tested a significant portion of the new credential's content, they have the opportunity to take the Delta to earn the new credential for a reduced investment. Both exams will have performance-based programming projects that will need to be completed successfully during the exam. If a person does not hold the current Base Programmer credential, taking the DELTA exam would be very disappointing as they would not earn the new credential. 

[cosmid]

Thank you so much Mark! That really helped me clarify things!

[William_Anthem]

Hi Mark…I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve failed the SAS 9 Base Programmer exam 5 times, I just missed the one today by 4 points.  SAS testing requirements state that I’m not allowed to retake the exam for another 12 months, but this exam will no longer be offered after this month anyhow.  So…does the new exam, the SAS 9.4 Base Programming Performance-based exam, count as a different exam or am I still technically constrained from taking this as well until June of 2020?

Thanks, 

Bill

[Mark2010]

Because it is a different exam and tied to a different credential, it has an independent retake tracking. So you are eligible to take it.