Inspire customer and employer confidence in your skills by earning an industry-recognized Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) or Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) certification.
Earning a Microsoft Certification helps validate your proven experience and knowledge in using Microsoft products and solutions. Designed to be relevant in today’s rapidly changing IT marketplace, Microsoft Certifications help you use evolving technologies, fine-tune your troubleshooting skills, and improve your job satisfaction.
Whether you are new to technology, changing jobs, or a seasoned IT professional, earning a certification demonstrates to customers, peers, and employers that you are committed to advancing your skills and taking on greater challenges. In addition, certification provides you with access to exclusive Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) resources and benefits, including opportunities to connect with a vast, global network of MCPs.
Microsoft SQL Server 2012 exams are currently in development. Candidates who earn the new Professional-level certifications for SQL Server will be required to recertify every three years.
Certification exams specific to SQL Server 2005 were retired on June 30, 2011. Upgrade exams to transition your skills and certifications from SQL Server 2005 to SQL Server 2008 are scheduled to retire on July 31, 2012.
Not sure which certification path to take? View the following certification paths to get started:
SQL Server certification path roadmap
Download XPS file (460 KB)
Download PDF file (1.20 MB)
Use the following table to identify the certification that best fits your current role and career goals.
Your profile
Recommendations
You currently work with or plan to work with SQL Server 2008.
You already hold a certification on SQL Server 2005, and you plan to transition your skills to the next version.
Read about upgrade options for SQL Server 2008*
*Note Upgrade exams to transition your skills and certifications from SQL Server 2005 to SQL Server 2008 are scheduled to retire on July 31, 2012.
Consult the following table for training resources available for each exam. Visit the Microsoft Training Catalog to find a list of the skills measured for each exam, a Learning Plan for each exam, and additional training resources for each technology.
Exam
Classroom Training
E-Learning
Microsoft Press Books
None available
General
There are several Microsoft certifications available for SQL. To learn more about each one, expand the section below:
We offer three MCTS certifications on Microsoft SQL Server 2008—each aligning with market-relevant job roles. Determine which one best fits your current role and career goals.
Your goal
Certification
Requirements
Working with SQL Server 2008 and performing database administrator tasks: installing, configuring, and maintaining
MCTS: SQL Server 2008, Implementation and Maintenance
Exam 70-432: TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Installation and Maintenance
Note This exam is also required for the MCITP: Database Administrator 2008 certification.
Working with SQL Server 2008 and writing application code against systems that run SQL Server 2008, writing T-SQL or Microsoft .NET CLR code that runs inside SQL Server 2008, or developing solutions in SQL Server 2008
MCTS: SQL Server 2008, Database Development
Exam 70-433: TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Database Development
Note This exam is also required for the MCITP: Database Developer 2008 certification.
Working with SQL Server 2008 and working with the business intelligence technologies, including Reporting Services, Analysis Services, and Integration Services
MCTS: SQL Server 2008, Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance
Exam 70-448: TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance
Note This exam is also required for the MCITP: Business Intelligence Developer 2008 certification.
Choose from the following three MCITP certifications on SQL Server 2008, based on your background, your goals, and the type of MCTS certification you have previously earned.
MCITP certification
Prerequisite MCTS certification
MCITP: Database Administrator 2008
Exam 70-450: PRO: Designing, Optimizing and Maintaining a Database Server Infrastructure using Microsoft SQL Server 2008
MCITP: Database Developer 2008
Exam 70-451: PRO: Designing Database Solutions and Data Access Using Microsoft SQL Server 2008
MCITP: Business Intelligence Developer 2008
Exam 70-452: PRO: Designing a Business Intelligence Infrastructure Using Microsoft SQL Server 2008
If you already have an MCITP on Microsoft SQL Server 2005 certification, you only need to pass one upgrade exam to earn both an MCITP on SQL Server 2008 certification and an associated MCTS certification.
Current certification
Certification goals
MCITP: Database Administrator (on SQL Server 2005)
and
Exam 70-453: Upgrade: Transition Your MCITP SQL Server 2005 DBA to MCITP SQL Server 2008 DBA*
MCITP: Database Developer (on SQL Server 2005)
Exam 70-454: Upgrade: Transition Your MCITP SQL Server 2005 Database Developer to MCITP SQL Server 2008 Database Developer*
MCITP: Business Intelligence Developer (on SQL Server 2005)
Exam 70-455: Upgrade: Transition Your MCITP SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence Developer to MCITP SQL Server 2008 Business Intelligence Developer*
*Note This exam is scheduled to retire on July 31, 2012.
There are two advanced certifications for Microsoft SQL Server: Microsoft Certified Master and Microsoft Certified Architect. Review the following details to determine which is right for you.
The MCM program for Microsoft SQL Server 2008 is designed to help provide the most experienced and talented IT professionals worldwide with validation and recognition of their in-depth technical expertise in Microsoft SQL Server.
A Microsoft Certified Master for SQL Server 2008 is the highest level of SQL Server technical certification offered by Microsoft and can be achieved by passing these two exams in the following sequence:
Exam 88 970: SQL Server 2008 Microsoft Certified Master: Knowledge Exam
Exam 88 971: SQL Server 2008 Microsoft Certified Master: Lab Exam
Candidates must hold the following two prerequisite Microsoft Certifications in order to be awarded an MCM: Microsoft SQL Server 2008:
MCITP: Database Administrator SQL Server 2008
MCITP: Database Developer SQL Server 2008
See Microsoft Certified IT Professional section above.
If you have proven experience designing and delivering IT solutions for enterprise customers, and technical and leadership skills that surpass those of your peers, and have achieved a Microsoft Certified Master certification, consider earning the Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA) certification.
The MCA: Microsoft SQL Server certification is designed for architects who specialize in using Microsoft technologies to provide expert solutions and is the highest level of professional certification on Microsoft server products.
