Certification Progress
Like a lot of us, I had set myself
some goals @ the start of the year, and I did not make them all that easy
I had set myself the goal
to become Microsoft certified in SQL Server 2008 & 2012 {the details on
what exactly where the 2012 certifications where not clear when the goal was initially
set}
I duly spent the best part of the
1st half of the year, in studies for and taking the 4 exams to become an MCITP
2008 SQL Server for both Database Administrator & Developer
- Exam 70-432 This was already in the bag
from last year (Sept 24th 2011)
- Exam 70-450 Taken and passed on June 9th
So @ this point I had achieved the
1st of my MCITP certifications SQL Server 2008
Database Administrator
- Exam 70-433 Taken and passed on June 29th
- Exam 70-451 Taken and passed on July 22nd
So now I had achieved the 2nd of my
MCITP certifications SQL Server 2008 Database
Developer
Also I had the opportunity to take a
SQL 2012 Beta exam when they became available, due to my schedule I was only
able to take just one of these - so I choose the new Query based one
- Exam 70-461 After waiting for the beta
results, I found I had indeed passed it April 12th
- Exam 70-462 Taken and passed this on Aug
26th
- Exam 70-463 not as yet scheduled, I will be likely
attempt that in next few weeks
When I do pass the 70-463 I will
have the achieved the newly minted SQL Server 2012 MCSA certification as detailed in http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/cert-sql-server.aspx
Once{When} I do pass and have the MSCA
cert, I can progress onto the next level which is the MCSE: Data Platform
this requires 2 more exams
- Exam 70-464 Developing Microsoft SQL Server 2012
Databases
- Exam 70-465 Designing Database Solutions for SQL Server
2012
I will also probably look @ taking another exam, So I can get the MCSA in 2008 as well
- Exam 70-448 Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Business
Intelligence Development and Maintenance
As this would then earn me the
following certification MCSA: SQL Server 2008
This is all good progress, however
the main certification goal I had set myself was this advanced certification
one Microsoft Certified Master (MCM) in SQL Server 2008
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/master-sql-path.aspx
To achieve this difficult goal, I
first needed to gain those 2 pre-requisite MCITP Certifications SQL Server 2008 Database Administrator & SQL Server 2008 Database Developer {these was duly achieved on July 22nd}
So now I had both of the
pre-requisites, I could attempt the 2 exams for the MCM SQL 2008 certification
- Exam 88-970 SQL Server 2008 Microsoft
Certified Master: Knowledge Exam, Taken and passed on Aug 13th
- Exam 99-971 SQL Server 2008 Microsoft Certified Master:
Lab Exam, Currently awaiting a date in Sept or Oct when I can attempt this
one
I'm in final study mode now for the
Lab, I think that there are somewhere around 100-120 people certified @ this
advanced level {about 40-50% of those working @ Microsoft}
So even as my goals are
nearing completion, I do think I will likely
achieve them before the year ends, my learning will continue
into next year and well beyond
So with 3 or 4 more 90-xxx exams and
a 88-971 Lab to complete - I've no time yet to relax
Right it is time I got back to my
studies, perhaps I will see you @ one of the conferences I'll be presenting @
in the remainder of 2012
- SQL Saturday #162 - Cambridge, UK
- SQL Rally Nordic - Copenhagen, Denmark
- SQL PASS Summit - Seattle, US