SQL Server 2012: Certification Upgrade Info
As a follow-up to my SQL Server 2012: New Certification Info, Microsoft Learning has announced the certification tracks for the SQL Server 2012 exams. There are new names for the certifications:
Your first step is to achieve Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA).
If you are new to certification you must take the following three exams:
- Exam 70-461: Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012
- Exam 70-462: Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Databases
- Exam 70-463: Implementing a Data Warehouse with Microsoft SQL Server 2012
If you have an MCTS in SQL Server 2008 already you can take the following path
- A pass in any SQL Server 2008 Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) exam (70-448, 70-433, 70-432)
- Exam 70-457: Transition your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012 – Part 1
- Exam 70-458: Transition your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012 – Part 2
Once you have achieved you MCSA status you can then start for your Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) certification.
You have a choice to do the MCSE: Data Platform or the MCSE: Business Intelligence, or of course you could do both.
MCSE: Data Platform involves
- Obtain your SQL Server 2012 MCSA
- Exam 70-464: Developing Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Databases
- Exam 70-465: Designing Database Solutions for Microsoft SQL Server 2012
There is also an upgrade path
- A pass in Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) Database Administrator 2008 or Database Developer 2008 (70-450 or 70-451)
- Exam 70-457: Transition your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012 – Part 1
- Exam 70-458: Transition your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012 – Part 2
- Exam 70-459: Transition your MCITP: Database Administrator 2008 or MCITP: Database Developer 2008 to MCSE:Data Platform
MCSE: Business Intelligence involves
- Obtain your SQL Server 2012 MCSA
- Exam 70-466: Implementing Data Models and Reports with Microsoft SQL Server 2012
- Exam 70-467: Designing Business Intelligence Solutions with Microsoft SQL Server 2012
The upgrade path involves:
- A pass in Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) Business Intelligence 2008 (70-452)
- Exam 70-457: Transition your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012 – Part 1
- Exam 70-458: Transition your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012 – Part 2
- Exam 70-460: Transition your MCITP: Business Intelligence Developer 2008 to MCSE: Business Intelligence
As a result if you want to achieve the MCSE in either Data Platform or Business Intelligence and you are starting from scratch there will be 5 exams to take. If you have the ability to upgrade your certification because you have an MCITP already then it will be three upgrade exams.
Notice that these new certifications don’t have “SQL Server 2012” in their names. The certifications are not versioned. Instead, certifications may cover multiple versions of the product.
There is also now two Microsoft Certified Solutions Master (MCSM) certifications: MCSM: SQL Server and MCSM: Intelligence. It is good to see BI get its own MSCM. And there is still the Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA). Details for these have not been released yet.
Full details and questions can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/cert-sql-server.aspx
More info:
A New Era in Microsoft Certification
Microsoft’s Certifications Reinvented for the Cloud
Breaking News: Changes to Microsoft SQL Server Certifications
Microsoft Is Updating Their Certification Program–For the Better
Video Changes to the Microsoft Certification program interview
Video Behind the scenes: Designing Microsoft’s reinvented certifications
Video SQL Server 2012 Certification Changes Video
SQL Server 2012 Certification Path
SQL Server 2012 Certification Paths
A Visual Guide to SQL Server Training & Certification
How I prepared myself for the MCSE certification
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Microsoft are offered MCSA,MCSM,MCSE and many other courses to achieve the career advancement. This blog provides relevant information about these courses which is necessary to choose one of the best certification programs.
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Thanks for sharing that useful information James. I would like to ask for your advice on something though, i have cerfitied on the following certifications :
70-453 MCITP SQL Server 2005 to MCITP SQL Server 2008
70-630 Configuring Microsoft SharePoint Server 2007
MB3-528 Certified in GP 10.0 Financials (MB3-528)
MB3-529 Certified in GP 10.0 Inventory and Order Processing (MB3-529)
MB3-527 Certified in GP 10.0 Installation and Configuration (MB3-527)
70-447 UPGRADE: MCDBA skills to MCITP Database Administrator by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
70-431 Microsoft 2005 Implementation and Maintenance
70-290 Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 20003 Environment
70-229 Designing and Implementing Databases with SQL Server 2000
70-228 Installing, Configuring and Administering SQL Server 2000
Initailly i wanted to certify on MCDBA but that did’nt happen as a got side tracked career wise and got hooked onto Dynamics GP. I would like to continue with the SQL path but im not sure if i should continue with SQL Server 2008 exams like 70-451,70-452 etc or if i shoilf focus on the 2012 track. Please advice.
Hi Kagiso…I would focus on SQL Server 2012. I’m not sure if they are even testing for 2008 still.
Thanks for the information !!!
James,
Do you know of any training companies that offer the upgrade path as a boothcamp to certification for SQL Server 2012 MCSE Data platform?
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