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WOW Certified Professional Web Developer (CPWDV)

Program Overview

Based on research of industry needs and competencies and skill sets identified as essential for Web technology workers, WOW has designed the following guidelines and learning objectives as a foundation for those pursuing knowledge, experience, and/or careers as Web Developers. The guidelines and objectives are designed to make the learning experience comparable to one experienced in college-level courses by providing exam descriptions and learning objectives.

Introduction

The WOW Certified Professional Web Developer (CPWDV) examination measures essential competencies for practicing Web Developers. Examinees know most, if not all, of the information found within the following described domains. Typically, they have at least two years of professional experience. Examinees may be asked to provide a portfolio (examples) of their work as a web developer. The examinee must demonstrate basic knowledge of Internet Basics, audio and video, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, server scripting, security, databases, Web Project Management, and legal and business issues at the standard defined by this test specification. The skills and knowledge measured by this examination are derived from an industry-wide and worldwide job task analysis which was validated through a survey of hundreds of developers. The results of the survey were used in weighting the domains and ensuring that the weighting is representative of the relative importance of that content to the job requirements of a WOW Certified Professional Web Developer. The intent is to certify individuals in a body of knowledge that is identified and accepted for a Professional Web Developer.

NOTE: The exam contains 70 questions. Examinees have 60 minutes to complete the exam. The exam is currently only available in English and available online.

The table below lists the domains measured by this examination and the extent to which they are represented in the examination.

Topics of the exam include:

Domain % Of Examination
Internet Basics 5%
Web audio and video 5%
HTML 12%
CSS 12%
JavaScript 18%
Server Scripting 18%
Security 10%
Databases 10%
Web Project Management 5%
Legal and Business Issues 5%
TOTAL 100%

Examination Description

The examinee selects, from four (4) or more response options, the option(s) that best complete(s) the statement or answer(s) the question. Distractors or wrong answers are response options that examinees with incomplete knowledge or skill would likely choose, but are generally plausible responses fitting into the content area. Test item formats used in this examination are:

Multiple-choice: The examinee selects one option that best answers the question or completes a statement.

Multiple-response: The examinee selects more than one option that best answers the question or completes a statement.

Sample Directions: Read the statement or question and, from the response options, select only the option(s) that represent(s) the most correct or best answer(s).

Essay: There is increasing interest in designing and developing performance-based assessments as alternatives to the conventional multiple-choice tests. These performance assessments require demonstrations of what the person “KNOWS and can DO.” These performance tasks provide information on the person’s learning and thinking processes, particularly y analysis, synthesis, problem solving, and troubleshooting; types of performance errors encountered; and overall performance quality and competence.

Below is a list of topics for each exam objective.

Examination Domains and Topics

  1. Internet Basics
    Content may include the following:

    • eMail fundamentals
    • IP addressing (IPv4 and V6)
    • Browser layout engine differences
    • Search Engine Optimization
    • How to use search engines
    • Absolute vs. relative URL
    • Domain registration and DNS
    • Site hosting
    • File naming conventions (including case sensitive names)
    • Protocols (TCP/IP, FTP/ sFTP, http/ htps)
    • Sitemap
    • Code validaton
    • Captcha
  2. Web Audio and Video
    Content may include the following:

    • Streaming server concepts
    • Creating and optimizing audio and video
    • Podcasting
  3. HTML
    Content may include the following:

    • HTML elements and attributes (including comments and proper coding techniques)
    • Deprecated HTML elements and attributes
    • HTML coding fundamentals (paragraphs, headings, quotes, entities and related)
    • Differences between head and body tags
    • Links and anchors
    • Data tables
    • iFrames
    • Forms (including Get vs. Post) and data validation
    • Lists
    • Semantic markup
    • History of HTML
    • Presentation vs. content
    • Images
    • File Paths
    • Information architecture
  4. CSS
    Content may include the following:

    • CSS syntax
    • Selectors, properties, values
    • CSS transitions
    • CSS transforms
    • CSS animation
    • Pseudo-classes
    • Pseudo-behaviors
    • Media queries and breakpoints
    • Responsive design techniques
    • Box model
    • Colors, backgrounds, borders
    • Specificity
    • Cascade
    • CSS units
    • Fonts and font families
    • Positioning
    • Gradients
    • Flexbox and Grid
    • CSS variables and mix-ins
    • CSS Post-Processors (LESS, SASS)
    • Advanced CSS concepts (blends, shapes, exclusions)
  5. JavaScript
    Content may include the following:

    • Variables and naming conventions
    • Data types
    • Operators
    • Comparisons
    • Loops
    • Functions
    • Form interactions
    • Sanitizing input data
  6. Servers Scripting
    Content may include the following:

    • Variables and naming conventions
    • Data types
    • Operators
    • Comparisons
    • Loops
    • Functions
    • File handling
    • Sessions, cookies and state menagement
    • Sanitizing input data
  7. Web Security
    Content may include the following:

    • Preventing injection attacks
    • Avoiding broken authorization
    • Avoiding sensitive data exposure
    • Avoiding broken access controls
    • Preventing security mis-configuration
    • Avoiding cross site scripting attacks
    • Providing sufficient logging and monitoring
    • Providing backup and recovery
  8. Databases
    Content may include the following:

    • Tables and data types
    • Selecting data
    • Manipulating data
    • Stored procedures
    • Normalization
    • Security
    • Indexes
    • Backup and restore
    • NoSQL vs Relational Databases
    • User rights management
  9. Web Project Management
    Content may include the following:

    • Project management, program management, portfolio management
    • Code commenting and documentation
    • Scope (and scope creep)
    • Time management
    • Cost management
    • Risk management
    • Communication management
    • Version control and change management (including Git)
    • Backups
    • Website planning
    • Site goals and target audience
    • Communicating expected outcomes (site maps, wireframes, style tiles, mood boards)
    • Releases (model, location, media)
    • Requirements
    • Local vs. remote vs. testing servers
    • Deliverables and supporting materials
    • Post-mortem/ retrospectives after project completed
  10. Legal and Business Issues
    Content may include the following:

    • Basic elements of a contract
    • Copyright, fair use, trademarks
    • ROI
    • Social media
    • Creative commons
    • Intellectual property
    • Licenses
    • Attribution