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SQL Server 2008 Certification Guide

Mike Rodriguez — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:00:56 +0000

SQL Server 2008 is used in many fields and has opened up many certification opportunities. If you choose to become certified in SQL Server 2008, you have a few career choices.

The SQL Server 2008 certification paths allow you to become:

• Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist,
• Microsoft Certified IT Professional,
• Microsoft Certified Architect, or
• Microsoft Certified Master.

The MCITP and MCTS certifications each come in three flavors. I’ll quickly go over each of these paths to help you decide which route is right for you.

Keep an eye out for my next few articles where I will go over each path in detail, to help you better prepare for the exams.

Before going into the exam paths, it is important to note, if you wish to become a Microsoft Certified Master or Microsoft Certified Architect, you will need to take two full specific certification paths. You will need to become a MCITP Database Administrator, and a MCITP Database Developer.

If you choose to take the MCITP Business Intelligence Developer path, you will not be able to use that towards becoming a Microsoft Certified Master and will need to take the other two paths in full.

Why Become a SQL Server Professional?

Database Administration and Development Professionals, especially those with SQL Server 2008 experience are in high demand. CareerBuilder and CNN listed DBAs as the second most promising job for 2010. And SimplyHired listed SQL Server 2008 DBA salaries at $82,000 this month. So if you’re looking for a career change or a direction, this might just be the right path for you.

SQL Server 2008 Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist

In the case of SQL Server 2008 certifications, the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist is an important, but entry level certification.

You will need to demonstrate your skills and abilities in using, implementing, building upon, troubleshooting, and debugging SQL Server 2008.

Microsoft recommends you have at least one or more years of experience using SQL Server 2008.

There are three routes to becoming a MCTS on SQL Server 2008:

SQL Server 2008 Administration
SQL Server Database Development
SQL Server Business Intelligence

SQL Server 2008 Administration Track

The SQL Server Administration route requires you to take Exam 70-432 TS: SQL Server 2008, Implementation and Maintenance. By completing this exam, you will have earned the title of Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: SQL Server 2008, Implementation and Maintenance.

SQL Server 2008 Database Development Track

The next route is specializing in SQL Server Database Development and requires you to take Exam 70-433 TS: SQL Server 2008 Database Development. By completing this exam, you will have earned the title of Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: SQL Server 2008, Database Development.

SQL Server 2008 Business Intelligence Track

The final route allows you to specialize in Business Intelligence. This route requires you to take Exam 70-448 TS: SQL Server 2008 Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance. By completing this exam, you will have earned the title of Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: SQL Server 2008, Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance.

SQL Server 2008 Microsoft Certified IT Professional

To become a Microsoft Certified IT Professional, you first must become a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist.

You must demonstrate your range of skills and ability to use SQL Server 2008 in a particular job role.

Microsoft recommends you have at least two or more years of experience as an IT Professional and working with SQL Server.

Depending on which Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist exam you decide to take, you will have a corresponding MCITP exam for that track.

MCITP SQL Server 2008 Administration Track

So for example, if you took the MCTS 70-432 Implementation and Maintenance exam, you will want to continue in the Administration path by taking Exam 70-450 Pro: Designing, Optimizing and Maintaining a Database Server Infrastructure using Microsoft SQL Server 2008.

Only by successfully completing both the 70-432 MCTS and 70-450 MCITP exams, you will earn the title of Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Database Administrator 2008.

MCITP SQL Server 2008 Database Development Track

If you took the 70-433 Database Development exam, you will need to take Exam 70-451 Pro: Designing Database Solutions and Data Access Using Microsoft SQL Server 2008.

By successfully passing these two exams, you will have earned the title of Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Database Developer 2008.

MCITP SQL Server 2008 Business Intelligence Track

Finally, if you took the 70-448 Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance exam, you will need to take Exam 70-452 Pro: Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance.

And by passing these two exams, you will have earned the title of Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Business Intelligence Developer 2008.

SQL Server 2008 Microsoft Certified Master

As I noted in the beginning of this article, only two of the paths above will allow you to become a Microsoft Certified Master for SQL Server 2008. Unfortunately, while the Business Intelligence track is well sought after, it is not included in Microsoft’s Masters Program.

After completing both the MCITP Database Developer and MCITP Database Administrator exams, you must apply, attend, and successfully complete a three week training program, pass three computer based tests during the training, and successfully complete the final qualification lab exam. This is a long and tough process, but becoming a Microsoft Certified Master is a rare and extremely valuable addition to anyone’s resume.

As reported by Microsoft, businesses show a 60% annual increase in revenue generated from Microsoft Certified Masters; double the number of successful interactions during the presale cycle; triple the number of requests for advice and/or project participation; job offers at 30% increase in salary; 90+% success rate where 60% is the norm; eligibility for partnership at a boutique consultancy; 95% customer return rates; and up to 50% increase in billable rates.

As you can tell by these statistics, most businesses and corporations put a lot of value and show extreme benefit from Microsoft Certified Masters, and an average of 30% increase in pay backs up that fact.

SQL Server 2008 Microsoft Certified Architect

There are only a handful of Microsoft Certified Architects in the world today. Most of them are quickly hired by Microsoft and put to work on their own products.

Consider this certification the best of the best. This program enables you to prove your expertise is among the highest-achieving professionals in IT architecture and puts you on a level of advanced proficiency accomplished only by few.

Microsoft notes that successful candidates generally have ten or more years of IT experience and five or more years of specific architectural experience.

In order to become a Microsoft Certified Architect, you must first become a Microsoft Certified Master. Once you have obtained this title, you will need to successfully pass the Microsoft Certified Architect Review Board interview conducted by Microsoft and industry experts.

More SQL Server Certification Info To Come

In my next few articles, I will cover the details of what you will need to know from start to finish in working your way up the ranks and earning these valuable SQL Server 2008 certifications.

It is important to note, that most career professionals can and do make a very good living as Microsoft Certified Technology Specialists and Microsoft Certified IT Professionals. While very few choose to work their way all the way up to becoming a Master or Architect, it is attainable.

Also keep an eye out for my articles on Microsoft Certified IT Professional upgrade paths from SQL Server 2005.

Learn Advanced SQL Server 2008 Database Administration

Mel Haynes — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 16:00:54 +0000

Hello Train Signal blog readers! This is Mel, and I just finished my Advanced SQL Server 2008 Database Administration Training and wanted to take a minute here to tell you a little bit about it.

I will also give you a brief outline of the different SQL Server certification paths and levels and point you to some SQL Server certification resources that you might find useful.

What is SQL Server 2008?

Let’s start from the basics — what is Microsoft SQL Server?

Well, it’s not Microsoft Excel or Access, although these two simple data management tools do have some similarities.

Excel offers some great tools for managing and manipulating data. Access on the other hand is more focused on the desktop or workgroup level, but it’s still not the right solution for managing large scale database projects.

This is where SQL Server comes in. Microsoft SQL Server is focused on managing enterprise level data and also includes tools for business intelligence to help you make smart decisions based on your large amounts of data.

SQL Server 2008 Certification Paths

There are three certification tracks for SQL Server 2008:

SQL Server Database Administration
SQL Server Database Development
SQL Server Business Intelligence

As far as certification levels are concerned, there are three certification/exam levels for for SQL Server 2008 that map to the above mentioned certification tracks:

MCTS: Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist
MCITP: Microsoft Certified IT Professional
MCM: Microsoft Certified Master

SQL Server 2008 Database Administration Certification

If you’re interested in becoming a certified SQL Server database administrator, the MCTS Exam 70-643 (Implementation and Maintenance) is your starting point. This is an entry level certification that will allow you to work with SQL Server performing database administrator tasks such as installing, configuring and maintaining SQL Server 2008.

The 70-643 exam is covered in detail in my SQL Server 2008 Administration Training.

One level up is the MCITP Exam 70-450 which focuses on designing, optimizing and maintaining a database server infrastructure using SQL Server 2008. This is an advanced certification for which you need to have at least two to three years of experience with SQL and have earned your MCTS in SQL Server 2008 that’s mentioned above.

And this is the exam that my new Advanced SQL Server 2008 Administration Training will prepare you for.

Here’s a quick visual overview of the exams and certifications for the SQL Server 2008 Database Administration track.

You can learn more about each of the individual SQL certification paths and exams at microsoft.com/learning:

MCTS SQL Server 2008 Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist:

Exam 70-432: SQL Server 2008, Implementation and Maintenance
Exam 70-433: SQL Server 2008, Database Development
Exam 70-448: SQL Server 2008, Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance

MCITP SQL Server 2008 Microsoft Certified IT Professional:

Exam 70-450: Designing, Optimizing and Maintaining a Database Administrative Solution Using SQL Server 2008
Exam 70-451: Designing Database Solutions and Data Access Using SQL Server 2008
Exam 70-452: Designing a Business Intelligence Infrastructure Using SQL Server 2008

SQL Server 2008 Training

If you’re brand new to database administration or SQL, then I would strongly suggest starting out with my free introductory SQL 101 training that’s available on this site. I put together 10 lessons that will provide you with all of the basics you’ll need to get started with SQL training.

As I mentioned above, both my entry level SQL Server 2008 Administration Training for the MCTS 70-643 exam and the Advanced SQL Server 2008 Administration Training for the MCITP 70-450 exam are now available.

And you can purchase them separately or as a package — all the details are below.

SQL Server 2008 Administration Training

Get complete exam coverage for the MCTS 70-643 exam PLUS a free full version Transcender Practice Exam.

Develop hands-on experience as a SQL Server 2008 Administrator as you learn how to configure and maintain your own enterprise data management system.

Get into the in-demand DBA field with this entry level certification training

Watch a Demo & Learn More

New! Advanced SQL Server 2008 Database Administration Training

Learn how to design, optimize and maintain an enterprise level database server infrastructure.

Master SQL Server 2008 Backup and Recovery, High Availability, Failover Clustering, Data Encryption, PowerShell and a whole lot more.

Prepare for your MCITP70-450 exam with this in depth training that includes a full version Transcender Practice Exam.

Advance your career with this in-demand certification training.

Watch a Demo & Learn More

New! SQL Server Database Administration Training Package

I hope you enjoy my SQL Server Administration training and if you have any comments or suggestions please leave me a comment or send me a message — I would love to hear what you think about my training.

Free SQL 101 Training — Part 10: Database Setup

Mel Haynes — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 16:28:55 +0000

Welcome to the final part of my free SQL 101 training series.

Today I’ll walk you through creating your SQL Server database. Using SQL Server management studio, I’ll show you how to setup your database and populate it with data using some scripts that are included in this download.

After you watch the last video take a minute to let me know what you think. I’d love to hear your opinion and what you thought about this free SQL 101 training series.

Free SQL 101 Training Part 10: Database Setup

Free SQL 101 Training: Learn the Basics of Structured Query Language

SQL 101 Part 1: Intro to SQL Server • What is SQL? • Flat Files • Relational Databases • Vender Variations

SQL 101 Part 2: Database Concepts • Key Terms and Concepts • Multiple Values Per Field • Repeating Fields • The Ultimate Solution • Primary Keys • Foreign Keys • Our Database Schema • Table Relationships

SQL 101 Part 3: Introduction to Structured Query Language • SELECT Statement • SELECT WHERE Statement • SELECT ORDER BY Statement • SELECT – Multi Table Statement

SQL 101 Part 4: The INSERT Statement • INSERT Statement Definition • INSERT Statement Demo

SQL 101 Part 5: The UPDATE Statement • UPDATE Statement Definition • Updates Based on a Value • Nested Statements • Updating All Rows

SQL 101 Part 6: The DELETE Statement • DELETE – With Job Security • DELETE Statement Demo

SQL 101 Part 7: Basic Programming Logic • Conditional Expressions • Nested Statement • CASE Statement • Adjusting Results Column Names

SQL 101 Part 8: Data Definition Language • DML vs. DDL • CREATE and DROP Statements • Creating a New Table in a Database

SQL 101 Part 9: Data Control Language • CREATE LOGIN Statement • CREATE USER Statement • Creating a Login • Creating a User • Deleting Login Account

SQL 101 Part 10: Database Backup • Setup your own database

Go Beyond the Basics — Master SQL Server Administration and Development

SQL Server 2008 Administration Training

This training is designed to help you develop hands-on experience and in-depth knowledge of Server 2008 Administration.

In over 10 hours of video training, Mel shares his years of database experience while getting you on the road to becoming a DBA yourself.

As you learn about SQL, you will also be preparing for the 70-432 exam so you can earn your MCTS Certification.

Learn More about SQL Server 2008 Administration Training

SQL Server 2008 Database Development Training

Learn how to design SQL databases, applications and build functionality that will best support users and businesses in a customized and unique way.

Get over 10 hours of in-depth video training and complete 70-432 exam coverage.

Database development is one of the few jobs that is in constant demand — as you prepare for an interesting career in development you will also be ensuing job security for your future.

Learn More about SQL Server 2008 Database Development Training

Vote For The Next Free Computer Training Video!

Kasia Grabowska — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:13:38 +0000

You’ve seen our free computer training videos … well, here’s your chance to decide what the next free video series will be!

We’ve put together a few ideas for a new mini-course and want you to decide whether it should cover Java, MySQL and MyPHPadmin, SQL and SQL Server, or XML.

So take a moment now and cast your vote!

[poll id="1"]

This poll is closed — Thanks for voting!

Remember, voting is important. And to help you get inspired and motivated, here are a few vote designs from the AIGA Get Out the Vote design contest.