Check in here if you have a Microsoft certification

[ratherdashing]

I'm contemplating a career move, and I think I'd like to work on becoming a DBA or a Database Architect (or both). I'm already very familiar with MS SQL Server, so it seems natural that I should focus on that particular product. This means getting some Microsoft certifications.

I'm sure some of you have at least one MS cert. What was the process like for you? Did you attend a class, did you get some books, or did you just write the exam?

Specifically, I'm looking at MCTS for SQL Server 2008, followed by MCITP for SQL Server 2008.

[H8Red442]

I've got three. MCSE for NT, 2000 and 2003. I took classes for all only because I was paranoid I DIDN'T know something.

Wasn't horrible. THe first two were over a couple months, 2003 was a boot camp in Atlanta for 2 weeks.

The tests are more of an art that the knowledge itself.

[lpmarshall]

Not an MCSE, but I'm an RHCE.

I do recommend taking boot camp classes though, just to cover areas you aren't all that familiar with. In my case, I knew all my day in day out stuff well, but I had to brush up or even learn some stuff I've never touched.

[idsnowdog]

I studied for the MCSE exams but the problem I had with the entire certification tract was that the materials were derived more from Microsoft's product literature than real life application. I didn't like regurgitating Microsoft's marketing on an exam.

[lpmarshall]

I studied for the MCSE exams but the problem I had with the entire certification tract was that the materials were derived more from Microsoft's product literature than real life application. I didn't like regurgitating Microsoft's marketing on an exam.

Agreed.

While certs help, you still have to know your crap when it comes down to it. I've called many MCSE's out in interviews. Don't pimp your MCSE then tell me you have 0 years experience, have never used IIS, and you want $90k a year.

My company paid for my RHCE, or else I would have never went for it.

[ratherdashing]

Certs are mostly important when applying for a job. They show the employer you're not totally full of crap.

I'm confident I could be a pretty decent DBA right now, but without a cert my application would be trashed. My goal with the certs is to prove that I know my stuff, hone the knowledge I already have, and fill in the gaps where I don't know something.

[Jonny R]

I don't have a qualification apart from having participated in training courses etc, but I spent a few years working as a data analyst. Oh, scratch that, I guess I have one post-grad uni paper in data architecture. Good for you, the data architecture stuff was a lot of fun.