December 10, 2007 at 3:53 am
Hello all,
I am a programmer with some experience in SQL server 2000, and some in 2005. Most of what I know I've learned from internet sources whenever I wanted to do something I haven't done before. Mostly I have been working on using more and more SQL functionality in our software, in particular for altering data, tables, etc. and working around the security issues that might prevent the software from doing so. Accumulating this knowledge has given me the confidence that I know quite a lot about SQL server, but I want to have that in print, and what better way there is than to get certified!
What I want is to climb the ranks to SQL masterhood the fair way, and since I have no certifications at all at the moment, I want to start at something like basic SQL developer and then reach all the way to SQL wizard. What I don't have however, is an idea on where to start, or a roadmap for what I want to achieve. For that I want to ask you if you could direct me to something, someone, or some place where I can get that information. I'd really appreciate your input. Thanks in advance!
Best regards,
Oscar Janson
Modest Automatisering B.V.
December 10, 2007 at 4:14 am
You can pretty much start anywhere. Here's a link to all the SQL Server certs: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcitp/default.mspx
Only three of the certs on that page are relevant to SQL Server. Business Intellegence Developer, Database Developer and Database Administrator.
Here's the way it works. Exam 70-431 is an "all over" kind of SQL Server cert. You have to know a little bit about everything. Passing it will get you certified as an MCTS (Technical Specialist) in SQL Server. I'm not sure if passing one of the other SQL Server exams will get you certified as an MCTS also or not, though.
If you decide to go for the 431 test first (and you'll need it eventually for the Developer cert anyway), you've got a steep learning curve ahead of you. I usually go with the more difficult exams first, myself. Makes it easier to pass the other ones if I know I've passed the hard one first. And 431 is hard if you don't know all your stuff.
But if you're fairly comfortable with the developer stuff, you might want to take one of those exams to get used to the exam process. It's all a matter of preference on your part. There is no prescribed methodology for taking exams. Just make sure you know all the stuff they talk about on the exam points.
December 10, 2007 at 6:59 am
The way it looks, I want to do the 70-431 first. It looks pretty allround, and as it seems to be a prerequisite for later certifications, I can't help but feel it's the logical direction to go. The offered self-paced training kit looks like a promising aid which might pay off in the field as I go along, and I think I'll really give it a good consideration to have my employer order it for me.
Thank you!
December 10, 2007 at 7:07 am
You're welcome.
Let us know if you have any other questions.
December 10, 2007 at 8:12 am
I have mailed my employer with a request to buy me the training kit, and where to find information on the exam. Browsing a bit further on this however, I stumbled upon the following article:
http://blogs.msdn.com/trika/archive/2007/10/04/exam-simulations-nectar-of-the-gods.aspx
And this gives me some reason to worry. I don't know if you've encountered the same problem, but I see among the replies a very concerned person with his exam about a week away not knowing about the PBT part. Seeing as you require both a good score in the PBT part and the (mostly?) multiple choice part, I'd better make sure I don't get any unpleasant surprises. Have you had a PBT part somewhere yet, and if so, do you have any recommendation on preparing myself for it?
Thanks again!
December 10, 2007 at 8:37 am
The PBT for exam 431 is totally SSMS based. Essentially, you need to open up Management Studio, going through the Object Explorer bit by bit and figure out how to do everything via the GUI tools. Once you know that, the PBT is fairly easy. And it does tell you if options aren't available in the simulation.
You can still mess things up in the sims, though. Just remember, there is a reset button that you can hit as many times as you need to until you're ready to submit your answer.
December 10, 2007 at 8:49 am
I've worked in management studio for so long I have a hard time remembering how things went in the enterprise manager. So.. basically stuff like creating databases, dropping them, copying them to another server via vpn, and about everything else you can do with GUI options in SSMS without having to resort to system stored procs (which I could if I have to, but I always have to look up the syntax)
Sounds easy enough, and the reset option is a nice way to backtrack your mistakes, but isn't there a time limit or something?
December 10, 2007 at 10:45 am
There is a time limit, but if you know your way around, this isn't an issue.
The questions aren't terribly complicated. You don't have to do 50 things before the timer goes off. But if you don't know your way around SSMS to begin with, the limit could be a problem.
December 11, 2007 at 10:02 am
Sounds like I'll be having a good chance then.. Thanks again!
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