Wow, Oracle DBAs must be making a lot of dough; one usually gets straightforward answer from engineering forums.

But hell , if that is not the only reason for all this splashing, what is? I have already indicated I don't pretend to know, willing to take an expensive course, haven't mention the 8 x 3.5" books memorized for OCA and of course still don't pretend to know, not to mention did not mention I am going for DBA job straightaway even after (big) if I get expert certification, instead of jobbing first as junior DBA, PLSQL programmer, helpdesk, data entry for maybe 20 years (how did you guys get started, anyway?)

Or if that Oracle requires above average character and brain, and wannabes have to know it? From a M&E enginnering perspective, compared to say DSP and computational fluid mechanics, technically Oracle is hard but really ain't that hard. Or if to know a li-ttle bit of Oracle requires 20 years of courage and commitment....? Mmm...compared to say 5000 different control systems of a power plant which can blow up a town if something goes wrong, among other fields, it aint warrant that much of a ego exaltation.

Oracle DBAs must be making a lot of money.

I think I am going to the real Oracle forum to ask the career question in a less ego offensive flavor.