My primary role here is as a Database Developer and being frank about it I really don’t need to know how to backup up the database or set up replication so on and so forth you get the idea, I’m not a DBA. At the start of the year I completed the SQL Server 2005 MCTS (70-431), sadly about half of the certification coursework is based around DBA tasks.
The reason for this is that 70-431 serves as a pre-requisite for both the DBA and DBD MCITP certifications, so both areas had to be covered yet only one MCTS was created for 2005. I think a lot of developers who could benefit from better SQL skills are browned off by the fact that they would be forced to learn about features they never would use and decide against this option as a result.
But wait…put down the pitch forks.
Recently in a webcast hosted by Microsoft Learning, the structure for the new certifications that will be available for SQL Server 2008 was outlined. The powers that be have decided that database developers deserve an MCTS of our own, 70-433, which should be available post September 08.
Specific details are as of yet a bit sparse but the exam is said to mainly focus around T-SQL and connecting to data sources. I expect that topics such as tables, constraints, user-defined types, spatial types, functions, stored procedures, triggers, views and indexes will all be covered. While topics like backups, replication and log shipping will be part of the newly tailored 70-432 MCTS certification for DBA’s.
So good news for us Database Developers as this was the only change in the certification structure for 2008.
On aside during the same webcast they identified that no upgrade exam will be offered for MCDBA holders but one will be offered for thos holding MCITP SQL Server 2005 certifications.
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Thanks for the news, that is good to hear.
The old SQL 2000 exam 70-229 is the most relevant for this sort of work right now. In fairness the old exam is still very useful knowledge to have, it just doesn’t fit in with Microsoft’s new exam structures. Nice to hear they’re going to plug the gap.
Cheers,
Mark.
I think you are right about developers needing different skill sets than DBAs, but most DBAs are former developers. So picking up a few DBA-like skills will make a developer better able to collaborate with DBAs, while also supporting future employment needs.
I agree, though, that the line between the two positions is real and some certifications don’t reflect the different points of view.
Karen
Does anyone know if there is another language or set of commands beside SQL for talking with databases?
I’m working on a project and am doing some research thanks