Invest in Your Future with a Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Certification
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Make sure you are ready for the new features and capabilities in Microsoft SQL Server 2008—with a Microsoft Certification. Combined with hands-on experience, a Microsoft Certification demonstrates your understanding of new features and technologies and inspires confidence in managers, prospective employers, and co-workers.
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Introducing SQL Server 2008 certification
We are pleased to introduce a new suite of Microsoft SQL Server 2008 certifications, offering you more choice and simpler paths to follow to achieve your certification goals. These certifications differentiate technology skills and job-role skills, and validate actual IT functions.
Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist certification
When you earn a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification, you validate your deep technical knowledge and skill using the features and functionality of key technology areas in Microsoft SQL Server 2008.
You can demonstrate your depth of knowledge in one specific area, earn multiple MCTS certifications to show breadth across different areas, or build on the MCTS to earn a Professional Series credential.
Three MCTS certifications on Microsoft SQL Server 2008 are available:
| • | MCTS: SQL Server 2008, Implementation and Maintenance |
| • | MCTS: SQL Server 2008, Database Development |
| • | MCTS: SQL Server 2008, Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance |
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Microsoft Certified IT Professional certification
When you earn the Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) credential, you demonstrate your professional expertise in using Microsoft SQL Server 2008 to excel in a specific, actual job role.
Three professional certification paths build on Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) prerequisites.
MCITP certifications on SQL Server 2008
| Certification title | Certification description |
MCITP: Database Administrator 2008 | Validates your ability to design, deploy, optimize, and maintain SQL Server 2008 databases in your organization. |
MCITP: Database Developer 2008 | Validates your ability to design, develop, deploy, and maintain database solutions by using SQL Server 2008. |
MCITP: Business Intelligence Developer 2008 | Validates your ability to design, develop, deploy, and maintain business intelligence solutions by using SQL Server Integration Services, Reporting Services, and Analysis Services in SQL Server 2008. |
The MCITP certification paths offer upgrade exams to help you upgrade smoothly from your MCITP certification on SQL Server 2005 to SQL Server 2008.
| • | Learn more about SQL Server 2008 MCITP certifications |
Register for the First to Know offer
When you register to be among the First to Know, you receive immediate notification when SQL Server 2008 Microsoft Certification exams are available and you save 40 percent off the price of select exams!
| • | Register for the First to Know offer for SQL Server 2008 exams |
Take the next step in your career and get certified
No matter what your SQL Server certification history or technology background might be, one of the certification paths makes sense for you. A practical strategy is to select a certification that is relevant to your job role today, or one that prepares you for your next career step.
The best way to prepare for exams is to spend time with the technology. Review the preparation guides and work with SQL Server 2008 and related tools as much as you can.
The general recommendations in the following table are intended to help guide you through the next steps toward your SQL Server 2008 certification.
| My profile | Consider earning this certification | ||||||
I am new to Microsoft Certification | Use the following links to learn more about the MCTS and MCITP certifications and to determine which paths make the best sense for you.
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I am currently working toward my MCTS or MCITP on SQL Server 2005 | Continue your learning track on SQL Server 2005 so that you are ready to upgrade to SQL Server 2008 when the time is right.
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I have my MCTS or MCITP certification on SQL Server 2005 and plan to work with SQL Server 2008 | If you have earned your MCTS in SQL Server 2005, review your certification options in SQL Server 2008 and map out a Learning Plan. If you have earned an MCITP on SQL Server 2005 you can take advantage of our single-exam upgrade paths to SQL Server 2008.
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I currently have an MCDBA certification | There is not an upgrade path from MCDBA to the new generation of certifications on SQL Server 2008. We recommend that you upgrade your skills to SQL Server 2005 first or start your SQL Server 2008 certification. | ||||||
I have partially completed my MCDBA certification | If you need only a few exams to complete your MCDBA credential, we recommend that you complete the requirements. The MCDBA credential does not expire. If you have just begun, or have not yet started the MCDBA track, consider changing your focus to SQL Server 2005 or SQL Server 2008. |