RetiredDBA.com

All things for Microsoft SQL Server

Certifications


SQL Server Certification programs and associated websites have undergone many changes!

  1. Microsoft Learn – Microsoft Certifications – Filter by Database Administator and find Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate as the only certification.
  2. Credentials Retirement – Credentials and Certifications scheduled to be retired in the next 12 months are listed here.
  3. Certification Magazine – Final issue was January 2024. We’re so thankful to everyone who has read Certification Magazine and/or visited us here at CertMag.com. The CertMag community is small (by some measures), but incredibly loyal. We appreciate all of you. It’s been a long, strange, and wonderful journey. And now it’s over.

Notes

  • Azure exams, classes and certification options have increased dramatically.
  • An Azure class has already been retired because of the fast changing nature of Azure.
  • SQL Server exams are still good for MCSA and MCSE.
  • Expect SQL Server 2012/2014 exams to be retired at some point soon (i.e. 70-461, 70-462, 70-463, 70-464).
  • Expect SQL Server 2016 exams to be retired at some point too (i.e. 70-465, 70-466, 70-467).
  • Other SQL Server exams can be used for Azure certifications (i.e. 70-761, 70-762, 70-763, 70-764, 70-765, 70-767, 70-768).

SQL Server certification is not a magic wand that makes you an awesome SQL Server DBA. However, it is a tool to guage where you actually are in your knowledge of SQL Server. Reality is that SQL Server exams will be needed to get Azure certifications. And Azure certifications will eventually replace SQL Server certifications. That is something SQL Server DBAs should have been adjusting for already.

Certification may not get you a bump in salary at your current job. And it can be a disadvantage if you just passed the certification tests and really never used the technology. But it might be the one item that helps you edge out another candidate for that dream job in the future. Right? It worked for me and I eventually retired from that dream job!