DBA Diaries

Thoughts and experiences of a DBA working with SQL Server and MySQL

SQL Server Certification – 2 for 1 exam offer

Posted on April 29, 2012 Written by Andy Hayes Leave a Comment

I came across this today and wanted to share it with you. If you are interested in SQL Server certification then for a limited time, Microsoft are offering “2 for 1” on SQL Server exams.

Between April 11 2012 and June 30 2012, you can purchase a SQL Server exam at full price and then once you have taken it you will be emailed a voucher for the second exam at no additional cost.

Please note that the voucher is for the exam in the next version of your chosen technology.

So for example, you can purchase an exam in SQL Server 2008 and once you have sat the exam, you will be emailed a voucher for an exam in SQL Server 2012 once the new exams have been released.

MCSE SQL Server 2012

The voucher code will be valid for 90 days after the availability of the next version certification.

If you sign up and sit one of the following exams, then the voucher will be available to you.

Exam 70-432 : TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Installation and Maintenance
Exam 70-433 : TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Database Development
Exam 70-448 : TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance
Exam 70-450 : PRO: Designing, Optimizing and Maintaining a Database Server Infrastructure using Microsoft SQL Server 2008
Exam 70-451 : PRO: Designing Database Solutions and Data Access Using Microsoft SQL Server 2008
Exam 70-452 : PRO: Designing a Business Intelligence Infrastructure Using Microsoft SQL Server 2008

You can purchase up to five “2 for 1” exam vouchers per technology path and on the sign up page, there are other technologies to choose from.

The link to the sign up page is here

Filed Under: All Articles, Career Development Tagged With: certification, mcitp, mcsa, mcse, mcts, sql server 2008, sql server 2012

SQL Server 2012 certification – part 2

Posted on April 14, 2012 Written by Andy Hayes 8 Comments

sql server 2012 certificationI previously wrote about SQL Server 2012 certification in March and at the time of writing the post, the information on the Microsoft website about the SQL Server certification paths that you could take spoke of “Professional Level Certifications”.

I also wrote that there did not appear to be a comparative MCTS to MCITP achievement path and that in order to be qualified, you had to take five exams. Thankfully Microsoft has changed things since and now there is a similar structure of accreditation which is comparable to the SQL Server 2008 certification path.

There is a little surprise here also. A previously used acronym for a qualification has been re-used but at the same time, renamed into something new.

SQL Server 2012 certification exams and qualifications

The qualifications you can attain are as follows:

  • MCSA – Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate
  • MCSE – Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (previously this stood for Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer)

So how does this compare to the SQL Server 2008 path? If you were comparing with SQL Server 2008 qualifications then the two are now aligned in terms of the number of achievements you can attain.

Previously in SQL Server 2008 in order to get your MCITP, you had to first pass an exam and attain the MCTS, followed by another for the MCITP. With SQL Server 2012, you have to become a MCSA before you can attain the MCSE.

I wrote before that there were five exams to take before you can achieve a SQL Server 2012 certification. That is still the case and the split is three exams for the MCSA and two exams for either the “Data Platform” or “Business Intelligence” MCSE.

MCSA

  • Exam 70-461: Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012
  • Exam 70-462: Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Databases
  • Exam 70-463: Implementing a Data Warehouse with Microsoft SQL Server 2012

MCSE – Data Platform

  • Exam 70-464: Developing Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Databases
  • Exam 70-465: Designing Database Solutions for Microsoft SQL Server 2012

MCSE – Business Intelligence

  • Exam 70-466: Implementing Data Models and Reports with Microsoft SQL Server 2012
  • Exam 70-467: Designing Business Intelligence Solutions with Microsoft SQL Server 2012

SQL Server 2012 certification – upgrading from SQL Server 2008

Upgrading from any MCTS to MCSA involves taking 2 exams:

  • Exam 457:  Transition your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012 – Part 1
  • Exam 458:  Transition your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012 – Part 2

Upgrading your MCITP to MCSE involves taking 3 exams with the last one differing depending on the MCITP qualification which was previously attained.

Upgrading from Database Administrator or Database Developer in SQL Server 2008

  • Exam 457: Transition your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012 – Part 1
  • Exam 458: Transition your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012 – Part 2
  • Exam 459: Transition your MCITP: Database Administrator 2008 or MCITP: Database Developer 2008 to MCSE: Data Platform

Upgrading from Business Intelligence Developer in SQL Server 2008

  • Exam 457: Transition your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012 – Part 1
  • Exam 458: Transition your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012 – Part 2
  • Exam 460: Transition your MCITP Business Intelligence Developer 2008 to MCSE: Business Intelligence

I’m really pleased that Microsoft has now clarified this information on their website, you can get more information on it here – SQL Server 2012 certification. It is now clear that you can attain something part way through your exams, albeit because of the new types of qualifications, you have to take three exams for an MCSA instead of previously just one before you attained an MCTS.

Finally, at the very top of the SQL Server 2012 certification ladder is the MCSM (Microsoft Certified Solutions Master) and for more information on that, you can visit this link.

It’s worth noting that SQL Server 2012 qualifications require re-certification every three years.

So there are now more exams and there is more cross over in the SQL Server 2012 certifications.

For a DBA who does not do a lot of development or a SQL developer who does not do a lot of administration, there is a lot to learn and subsequently, if you are not regularly doing what you have learned for your SQL Server 2012 certification because you are production DBA for example, then you will in time be forgetting some of what you have studied.

On the flip side, if you want to get a SQL Server 2012 certification, you have to broaden your skill sets. That may open new opportunities for you in your career as a SQL Server professional.

Filed Under: All Articles, Career Development Tagged With: certification, mcitp, mcsa, mcse, sql server 2012

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