I am very new to SQL

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I am very new to SQL

Ryan-gee

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December 21, 2016 at 12:32 pm

#147827

I just started working with SQL about 4-5 months ago and I am very new to it. I've been in IT for several years but as far as certifications go, I know nothing about the DBA or SQL ones. Can someone please explain which certifications are good and in what order to obtain them?

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Jeff Moden SSC Guru Points: 1004406 More actions · Answer 1

Whether you go for certifications or not, I'd definitely go for being an expert in T-SQL, Table Design, and Index Design before anything else.

--Jeff Moden

RBAR is pronounced "ree-bar" and is a "Modenism" for Row-By-Agonizing-Row.
First step towards the paradigm shift of writing Set Based code:
________Stop thinking about what you want to do to a ROW... think, instead, of what you want to do to a COLUMN.

Change is inevitable... Change for the better is not.

Helpful Links:
How to post code problems
How to Post Performance Problems
Create a Tally Function (fnTally)

Alan Burstein SSC Guru Points: 61141 More actions · Answer 2

I'm with Jeff, there is no substitute for T-SQL expertise and database design. SQL Server Developer edition (2014 and 2016) is identical to SQL Server Enterprise except that you can't use Developer edition for business purposes. Get a copy and begin playing around with them. I'd recommend a computer with 2-4 CPUs (4 preferably) which you can get cheap if you don't already have one.

I have done quite well in my SQL career without any certs; certs are not essential but there's nothing wrong with them either. If you feel compelled to get a cert I'd start with Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014 (Exam 70-461). I haven't taken the test but I've read the training book which is excellent:

Training Kit (Exam 70-461) Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012 (MCSA) (Microsoft Press Training Kit)

"I cant stress enough the importance of switching from a sequential files mindset to set-based thinking. After you make the switch, you can spend your time tuning and optimizing your queries instead of maintaining lengthy, poor-performing code."

-- Itzik Ben-Gan 2001

Chris Harshman SSC-Forever Points: 42192 More actions · Answer 3

Certification or not, one thing is to never stop learning. Hanging out around here is a good start, I learn new things every day from the articles, editorials, stairways, forums, etc. It doesn't matter if it's learning a completely different way of thinking about a problem, or just a little technique that helps contribute to your regular patterns and practices. I've worked at places where the database person before me was certified, but I could tell pretty quickly they made some big errors. I've always held that certification is neither necessary nor sufficient to prove mastery of a computer technology.;-)

Sreejith! SSCrazy Points: 2401 More actions · Answer 4

Here you go and Good luck for your exam:-)

https://www.microsoft.com/en-in/learning/mcsa-sql-certification.aspx