What is the syllabus required to be able to successfully take the ASD exam?

The syllabus is based on the 'Principles of Symbian OS' curriculum, described in more detail herehttp://www.symbian.com/developer/academy/osprinciples.html

The syllabus and pass criteria are defined by Symbian and managed on their behalf by Majinate Limited.

What are the advantages of having Accredited Symbian Developer status?

As the volume of Symbian OS devices ships, new entrants to the Symbian ecosystem need a mechanism for finding those capable of helping them deliver their solutions to Symbian OS devices. Those who pass the exam will receive an authentic certificate and will be recorded in a register of Accredited Symbian Developers held by Majinate, which can be checked by third parties wishing to validate Symbian OS competency.

How much does it cost to take the ASD exam?

The exam costs UK£100 excluding VAT, for unsupervised online exams. Please contact us at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  for other pricing.

Who are Majinate?

Majinate is the company that operates the Accredited Symbian Developer scheme on behalf of Symbian. Majinate maintains the directory of Accredited Symbian Developers, is the only company able to accredit developers, training courses, examinations and training providers and is responsible for maintaining the quality levels of the scheme.

How long does it take to sit the exam?

It takes most participants between 75 and 90 minutes. You should plan to have time do the whole exam in one sitting. Your network connection will need to remain active throughout that period.

Will I receive a certificate?

Authentic certificates will be provided within 60 days of successful completion of an exam. Please see here for more details.

How do I take the ASD exam?

Register and pay here and you will be sent the exam online joining instructions by email.

Do I need to take the exam under exam conditions, with a supervisor?

The exam may be taken with or without supervision. If a candidate is successful, their certificate will state whether the exam was conducted in a supervised environment, indicating whether the candidate was known to be taking the exam unaided. The on-line exam is licensed to be unsupervised in many regions, and local representative agreements determine the regions where they may be conducted without supervision.

Does the exam require knowledge of Symbian OS 9.1?

Not at this time. The exam is designed to test skills needed in the current market environment, based on which versions of Symbian OS can be found in the market at that time. Currently, this includes Symbian OS 6.1, 7.0 and 8.0. The question database is constantly being revised and some questions specific to Symbian OS 9.1 will be added as phones based on it are released to market.

What are the entry requirements for taking the exam?

It is not mandatory to attend formal training to take the exam, and indeed on-the-job experience can in many cases suffice to pass. See more information at http://www.symbian.com/developer/academy/lpaths.html You will also require a good standard of english to take the exam.

Is Accredited Symbian Developer an official Symbian program?

Yes. This is Symbian's scheme, operated under licence by Majinate limited on Symbian's behalf. Majinate sub-licences rights within the scheme to a network of partners, a network of which Symsource is a key member. Symbian carries further information on the ASD exam and other academic programs here: http://www.symbian.com/developer/academy/symbiandeveloper.html

Do we need to be a Symbian partner (e.g. Platinum Partner or Affiliate Partner) before going forward for the exam?

There is no requirement to be a Symbian partner in order to take the exam.

Do I need to know about device drivers or other specialist areas?

No, the exam is designed to test a general level of Symbian OS fundamentals, that every developer will encounter when programming for the Symbian OS API. There will be in a Professional level program for domain specialists that will be announced in 2006.

What is the pass mark for the ASD exam?

The pass criteria are defined by Symbian. A candidate is expected to show knowledge and understanding across the majority of the curriculum.

How often do I need to retake the exam in order to stay an Accredited Symbian Developer?

The validity of the accreditation will vary depending upon the rate of evolution of Symbian OS. Accreditations made today will be valid for a minimum of 18 months.

I am a training manager, how can I make use of the Accredited Symbian Developer program?

Symsource offers a full training needs assessment package, that uses the same exam as the ASD exam, allowing organisations to fully assess their level of Symbian OS competency, including additional information on areas of weakness and advice on appropriate training or revision that is needed for a particular project. Please contact us on  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  for more information.

I am a recruiter, how can I use the Accredited Symbian Developer program?

Organisations recruiting Symbian OS skills for themselves or on the behalf of others can use the same exam as used for the Accredited Symbian Developer exam, as a tool for identifying potential recruits with valuable Symbian OS skills, or can verify that Accredited Symbian Developer certificate holders are registered with Symbian. In the former case, organisations can save valuable time of managers and senior engineers by screening potential candidates before proceeding to interviews. Recruitment assessments are available from Symsource in volumes. Please contact  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  for more information.

Last updated: 13th October 2005