Microsoft SQL Server Certifications
Introduction
PASS encourages our members to pursue Microsoft SQL Server certifications as a way to demonstrate an understanding of core skills and concepts, and to show ongoing career development and involvement. It is important to understand that they have to be combined with real world experience to be an effective part of your career plan. Obtaining a certification by itself does not prove competency or guarantee employment. Our goal here is to give you and your employer some independent thoughts on the certification process.
Certifications for SQL Server Professionals
Microsoft offers a range of certifications. Most SQL Server professionals will work towards obtaining the MCTS (MS Certified Technology Specialist) which requires a good deal of knowledge in a specific area of SQL Server (Business Intelligence Developer, Database Developer, Database Administrator). Moving to the Microsoft Certified Master or MS Certified Architect requires substantially more experience as well as a significant investment of time and money for the training and testing; for that reason only a very small number of professionals will pursue these certifications.
Before you decide on an certification we encourage you to visit the MS Learning site and read their certification overview, certification options, and information about exams that are scheduled for retirement. They also provide learning plans.
How To Prepare for An Exam/Certification
We can't stress enough that you should have experience with the technology before taking the exam. Not only does having the hands on experience make it more likely that you'll pass the exam, it also make sure that you're learning the skills that employers will value. Now, let's look briefly at your options for getting ready for the exam:
- Self Study. This is the most common and is usually done with a combination of a good exam preparation book (SQL 2005 / SQL 2008), the printed list of exam goals, and supplemented with reading from one of the popular online SQL Server communities that focus on technical content. It is also common to invest in training videos and/or practice exams to help speed learning and to chart progress.
- Classroom Study. For each exam Microsoft publishes one or more courses that will teach the skills needed for the exam. This is an effective way to learn, but the time and expense are often beyond the reach of the individual, but it is a great option for employers who have the ability to send employees to training. Even with classroom training some self study and practice is typically required.
- Bootcamp. There are several training providers that provide an intense 4-5 day indoctrination that leads up to talking some or all of the needed exams to obtain the certification. We see these as a more cost effective option than pure classroom training as listed above, but only if you can sustain the pace needed to absorb all the knowledge within in a very short period of time.
Before choosing you should consider the time and money required for each, and then also consider how you learn best. Some of us can learn very easily from books, most of us do much better in a classroom where we can ask questions and get immediate assistance. Regardless of the approach you choose, review the exam goals carefully and make sure that you feel very comfortable with the concepts before taking the exam.
How NOT to Prepare for An Exam/Certification
There exists a category of web sites called 'brain dumps' that specialize in publishing answers for many Microsoft exams. Obviously these are unethical, but they are also self defeating as earning a certification without having the skills will do nothing to further your career and in fact over time will decrease the perceived value of the certification across the industry.
Tips for Employers
Whether you currently support certification or are thinking about doing so, we've put together some recommendations to help you make the most of it:
- Don't make hiring decisions based solely on certifications, consider them a positive indication that the candidate is willing to invest in their own career, and factor that into what you learn from your interview process
- We recommend offering to pay the exam fee for up to four exams per year, and limiting that to the first attempt per exam ($125 per exam), and also giving them time during the work day to take the exam
- We also recommend that as a minimum you provide one study book per exam ($40-$50)
- Please understand that once a employee becomes certified it can seem daunting to them to stay certified due to the quick changing nature of our profession. When setting professional development goals it's important to help your team member set a sustainable pace with regards to certification, and that may include skipping one version of the exam (testing on SQL 2000, skipping SQL 2005, testing on SQL 2008)
Tips for Employees
- Look for opportunities to use the product at work in ways that coincide with the exam you want to take. For example, build an SSIS package that does database maintenance instead of using the wizard to strengthen your knowledge of SSIS and maintenance plan options.
- Be sure to let your manager about skills you've learned or just new capabilities that you see as they apply to your environment - this helps them understand the value of studying for and completing the certification
- Not all employers will be interested in certifications at hiring or during your tenure with them. Work to educate them on the value, but if you've decided that certifications are an important part of your career plan then keep going on your own.
What Other People Are Saying About Certification
Those who have experienced the certification process typically have thoughts and stories to share. These experiences will help you get a better picture of what to expect.