Jump to 2008 or stick with 2005 (partially done)?
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Hi folks
I am currently studying for my MCITP Database Administrator. I understand that this can be done for either SQL 2005 or SQL 2008, but when I started on the road to certification SQL 2005 was the only one available. So the path to MCITP 2005 is 3 exams:
70-431 - Implementation and Maintenance (MCTS)
70-443 - Designing a Database Server Infrastructure
70-444 - Optimizing and Maintaining a Database Administration Solution
I have already done the 70-431, and I am probably 75% ready to do the 70-444. I (stupidly) assumed it would be the same for the SQL 2008 exams before I got stuck into the 70-444, but today I have been reading How to Become an Exceptional DBA (from here http://sql-server-performance.com/Community/blogs/brad/archive/2008/05/28/are-you-an-exceptional-dba.aspx) and I find out you only have to do 2 exams for the MCITP 2008! These are:
70-432 - SQL Server 2008, Implementation and Maintenance (MCTS) (presumably this is just a 2008 version of the 70-431)
70-450 - Designing, Optimizing and Maintaining a Database Server Infrastructure
Now this has got me thinking.. Do I continue with the 2005 exams or jump ship to the 2008 ones? Whichever route I take I need to pass two exams, but I have invested quite a lot of time into the 70-444 which I don't want to waste (although I'm guessing most of it will come up in the 2008 exams anyway).
Ultimately this comes down to how much more beneficial 2008 exams are vs the 2005 ones, and I don't really know how quick they go out of fashion 🙂
I'm wondering if anybody out there has any advice on which route I should go down. Maybe it might not really make much difference, I'm not sure? Any help or advice would be very much appreciated!
Best wishes to everyone
Andy
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As you said, either way you still end up preping for and taking two exams. Why not take the latest and greatest?
--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) -
Jeff Moden (12/24/2010)
As you said, either way you still end up preping for and taking two exams. Why not take the latest and greatest?Absolutely! (Also... almost everything you learn for 2008 will also apply to 2005.)
Wayne
Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server 2008
Author - SQL Server T-SQL Recipes
If you can't explain to another person how the code that you're copying from the internet works, then DON'T USE IT on a production system! After all, you will be the one supporting it!
Links:
For better assistance in answering your questions
Performance Problems
Common date/time routines
Understanding and Using APPLY Part 1 & Part 2 -
Many thanks for the replies both - you can take pleasure in knowing that you've convinced me to change to 2008. SQL Developer 2008 + study books ordered...
Cheers again
Andy
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The 2008 certifications will have greater longevity, I believe that the certifications are only valid as long as the product is still supported.
in fact, this is from the MS site:
Q. Will the associated credentials retire when these exams are retired or suspended?
A.
For our newest credentials, such as Microsoft Certified Technical Specialist (MCTS), Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP), and Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD), the credential retires along with the product support for the technology being tested. The credential will still appear on your transcript but will be listed as retired. In most cases, an upgrade path (usually one exam) will be available for individuals who have that credential so that they can demonstrate their skills on the newest version of the technology without completing all exams associated with the new credential.
The legacy Microsoft credentials (such as Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) and Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator [MCSA]) do not expire, but as Microsoft releases new versions of the associated technology, these credentials are likely to be valued less by the industry.
Mainstream support for SQL 2005 ends next year:
http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/search/?sort=PN&alpha=SQL
So even if you take it next month it will only be valid for a few months, go for the 2008 set!
Hope this helps,
Rich[p]
[/p] -
I've interviewed more than my fair share of both DBA's and SQL Developers with and without certs. My question would be, has MS finally made it so that you actually have to have a bit of skill and actual understanding to pass the certs or is rote memorization still enough? Have they made it so you can rely on the "badge" in pre-filtering resumes?
And, goodness, NO! I'm not saying that everyone who attains a cert falls into the negative category. What I am saying is that I've interviewed a whole lot of people with certs that just flat out don't get it and don't have what it takes in either skill or understanding (and, yes, that also includes a good number of non-cert folks, as well). Finding good DBA's and SQL Developers, whether certified or not, has become a whole lot like finding chicken's teeth. I've even interviewed folks with supposedly 10 years of experience that can't do a simple restore or do a lousy 3 table join. 😉
--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)
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