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Navigating Microsoft SQL 2012 Certifications
Abstract
The SQL world is an interesting place, part Database Admin, part Developer, and part system administrator all rolled into one neat package. However, the SQL world is a difficult place because of the different areas you must master - back up the database, write cleaner, more efficient, and secure code; come up with new queries. Here is a look at the information you need to study for the new SQL 2012 exam coming in June.
Sample
Introduction
The whole SQL world is an interesting place, part Database Admin, part Developer, and part system administratorall rolled into one neat package. Well, knowing some of them, maybe not so neat. Theirs is a difficult world because of the different areas they must master - back up the database, write cleaner and more efficient andsecure code, come up with new queries, study for the new SQL 2012 exams coming out in June (oops, didn'twant to slip that in too soon).
Why should you become certified in general and specifically, why certify on SQL Server 2012? A certification andespecially a Microsoft certification, is a worldwide industry standard that validates the skills of the certification holder. A Microsoft certification is an immediate validation of your potential when pursuing job opportunities orprofessional advancement. There are five certification levels available from Microsoft from the entry-level Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) to the prestigious Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA).
| Microsoft Certified ARCHITECT | The Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA)program recognizes and providesadvanced certification to practicing architects in an enterprise setting. |
| Microsoft Certified MASTER | The Microsoft Certified Master (MCM) program helps experienced IT professionalsdemonstrate and validate their ability to successfully design andimplement solutions that meet the most complex business requirements. |
| Microsoft Certified IT PROFESSIONAL Microsoft Certified PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPER |
A Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) certification demonstratescomprehensive skills in deploying, supporting, and optimizing IT infrastructure.A Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) certification demonstratescomprehensive skills in designing, developing, and deployingapplications for a particular job role. |
| Microsoft Certified TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST | The Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification helpsenable IT professionals to target specific technologies and to distinguishthemselves by demonstrating in-depth knowledge and expertise. |
| Microsoft Certified ASSOCIATE | A Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) certification helps students explore career options in technology, prepare for advanced studies and MCTS exams, and demonstrate fundamental knowledge of hardware or IT infrastructure or software technology |
Table 1 - Microsoft Certifications - Courtesy of Microsoft Learning
There are two distinct tracks for SQL available at the moment - One on SQL 2008 and the other on 2012. TheSQL 2005 exams were retired end of June, 2011 and upgrade exams for certifications from SQL Server 2005 toSQL Server 2008 are scheduled to retire on July 31, 2012). Pursuing a certification on SQL 2008 will place you inan excellent position to upgrade to the SQL 2012 certifications at a later date. There are three MCITP certifications available on SQL 2008: Database Administrator, Database Developer, and Business Intelligence Developer.(Each of these certifications requires two certification exams.) There are also three MCTS exams, one for eachof the MCITP tracks: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Implementation and Maintenance; Microsoft SQL Server 2008,Database Development; and Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance.
Now where do the SQL 2012 certifications fit into this scheme? SQL 2012 was recently released; in fact, thelaunch was held March 7th, 2012. There are three main editions of SQL 2012 available: Enterprise, BusinessIntelligence, and Standard, with the Business Intelligence being new to SQL 2012. In addition, the Compact,Developer, and Express editions will continue to be distributed without licensing or pricing changes. The newSQL 2012 is a cloud-ready information platform that will help you and your organization unlock breakthroughinsights across the organization and quickly build solutions to extend data across on-premises and public cloud,backed by mission-critical confidence.
You will need to wait until June 2012 to take the new SQL Server 2012 certification exams. However, you canprepare now for the SQL 2012 certifications by ensuring you have earned (or will have earned) a SQL Server 2008 Professional-level certification. Exams on SQL 2008 that you take now will help when upgrading from aProfessional-level SQL Server 2008 certification to a Professional-level SQL Server 2012 certification. If you doso, than you must successfully pass only three exams, rather than all five.
SQL Professional-level Certifications
The Professional-level SQL Server 2012 certifications will validate that you have the expertise to design, build,and maintain the next wave of cloud-ready database and information solutions. Two new Professional-level certificationswill be introduced for SQL Server 2012: the Data Platform certification and the Business Intelligencecertification. In order to earn one of the professional-level certifications, you will need to successfully pass fiveexams, and you will need to recertify every three years by taking a recertification exam
Related Courses
MCITP: Database Administrator, SQL Server 2008 Boot Camp
MCTS: SQL Server 2008, Database Development e-Camp
Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Databases
Developing Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Databases
Implementing a Data Warehouse with Microsoft SQL Server 2012
Implementing Data Models and Reports with Microsoft SQL Server 2012
Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012
