1. Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Certifications
As you may know, Microsoft have introduced a new suite of certifications and SQL Server 2008 is included in this new suite. The changes made, should make it simpler follow your path of choice as they now differentiate technology skills and job role skills.

2. Overview Why get certified? Certification paths
Brief look at path content
Courses & Exams
Special offers
Quick overview of the paths now available. To upgrade or not.
Brief overview of some of the content covered in various paths.
Courses available – paid & free – local training providers, online courses to get an overview.
Reading List – amalgamated list from the Microsoft recommended reading lists.
Special offers currently available.
Additional Resources

3. Why Get Certified? Expert recognition Increased confidence
Increased job opportunities
Earn more money
Advantages for your employer
Being recognized as an expert in your field, whether it is internally at work, amongst your peers or out in the wider IT community, can give you a great feeling of achievement and self-confidence. Becoming certified helps you prove to your peers and yourself that you are committed to improving your skills.
Certification can increase job opportunities either within your current role, your employer may trust you with more complex tasks or with mentoring junior members of staff, or if you’re looking for a new role then certification can be a foot in the door for some companies with strict hiring policies. The certification may also be the difference between an intermediate pay scale and a senior pay scale which can, in some cases, be quite significant.
As well the potential personal benefits, companies who meet the Microsoft Partner Program requirements who have at least two exclusive Microsoft Certified Professional can apply to be MS Partners. The partner company needs to retain at least 2 MCPs to keep their certification, so if an MCP leaves then it is well worth an already partnered company providing certification training for non-certified staff. Microsoft Partners have access to a large number of resources, tools and content including: Partner Learning Centre, Virtual Labs, Online Tutorials, Microsoft Solution Selling for Partners Online, Partner Marketing Training to name but a few.

4. Certification Paths
With the new certification structure it is possible to become certified early on in your certification journey.
All paths start out at Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist, for this qualification you need to pass a single exam, but nothing is stopping you from passing multiple MCTS exams in order to gain and demonstrate breadth of knowledge. MCTS qualifications are designed to highlight your areas of specialty and will also give you access to the MCP community and its benefits, such as a personal profile on Microsoft.com and access to the Microsoft Knowledge Base.
The next step up the rung we have two option, the Microsoft Certified IT Professional certification and the Microsoft Certified Professional Developer. The Technology Series offers specialist certifications in implementation, building , troubleshooting and deployment of specific Microsoft technologies. The Professional Series validates the skill sets required for a particular job.
The Master Series at the top offers individuals the chance to show they have deep technical skills for a particular product. This program offers advanced, experience-based training and testing on Microsoft technologies.
So how does this look from a SQL Server 2008 perspective?

5. SQL Server 2008 Certification Paths
Business Intelligence
Developer
Administrator
MCTS: SQL Server Pass 1 exam in your chosen path to achieve MCTS
BI Development and Maintenance
Database Development
Implementation & Maintenance
Exam:
Exam:
Exam:
MCITP - Pass 1 additional exam in your chosen path to achieve MCITP
BI Developer 2008
Database Developer 2008
Database Administrator 2008
Exam:
Exam:
Exam:
MCM - 3 week training session + 3 exams + qualification lab - held in Redmond - cost $18,500
If you meet all the following criteria you can apply to take part in the MCA program
Must be certified as both MCITP Database Developer AND MCITP Database Administrator (4 exams)
+ 5 years experience with SQL Server 7.0 or later: installing, configuring, troubleshooting
+ minimum 1 year of experience with SQL Server 2005 or later: installing, configuring, troubleshooting
+ a thorough understanding of SQL Server design and architecture
+ a thorough understanding of SQL Server core components and dependencies
Special MCM offers
Save US $3550 if program completed by 31 Dec 2010
MCM – additional costs – transport, three weeks off work, accommodation costs, food, expenses – average cost will be around US$25k per person minimum. You get 2 extra chances to sit the exam from home if you fail, after that you can re-sit the course for 50% discount. Initial pass rate is 25-30% of people pass, re-sit pass rate for people is around 80%. Course runs 4 times a year.
Once qualified as an MCM you are eligible to join the Microsoft Certified Architect program, though this is generally by invite only. The application fee for the MCA program is US$125, the fee to appear before the MCA review board is US$5,000.

6. SQL Server 2005 Upgrade Paths
SQL Server 2005: MCITP +
Exam =
MCITP
MCTS
Database Administrator
70-453
Database Administrator 2008
SQL Server 2008 Implementation and Maintenance
Database Developer
70-454
Database Developer 2008
SQL Server 2008 Database Development
Business Intelligence Developer
70-455
Business Intelligence Developer 2008
SQL Server 2008 Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance
If you hold an Microsoft Certified IT Professional on SQL Server 2005, you will be able to take advantage of a one-exam upgrade path to transition your skills to SQL Server Each upgrade path will earn you multiple certifications.

7. Brief Path Content Overview
Business Intelligence
SSIS
SSAS
SSRS
Database Developer
Design Tables, Views & Programming Objects
Write T-SQL Queries
Work with XML data
Database Administrator
Install, Configure and Maintain the database
Define & Manage Security
Troubleshoot & Performance Tune
For each of the specialist areas shown, there are multiple skill areas tested, for example:
BI = Implementing, configuring, deploying and maintaining a SQL Server Integration Services Solution, a SQL Server Analysis Services Solution and a SQL Server Reporting Services Solution, Designing both relational and multi-dimensional database schemas, collecting and interpreting business requirements
DD = Designing & Implementing tables and views, Implementing programing objects, Writing T-SQL queries, Working with additional SQL Server components – for example Database Mail integration, Working with XML data, Gathering performance information, Gathering business requirements
Database Administrator: Installing & Configuring, Maintaining Instances, Defining and Managing Security, Maintaining A Database, Perform Data Management Tasks, Monitoring & Troubleshooting, Optimize Performance, Implementing High Availability, Automation of admin tasks, deployments & migration, Defining infrastructure

8. Courses Business Intelligence MCTS MCITP 6236 – Classroom based
6233AE – E-Learning
– Self Paced Training Kit
MCITP
6314 – Classroom based
New Zealand Microsoft Certified Partners for training in New Zealand are: ACE, Auldhouse, Excom. Classroom training is available via one of the certified partners in Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland.
The cost of the classroom training courses is around $1700 for the 3 day courses and $2900 for the 5 day courses.
An alternative suggestion for your company is for the price of a course, instead buy a really good machine for you to use at home + a self paced training kit, this means you can train at your own pace, plus you have a great machine to do the training on that you can keep with all the set up afterwards for refreshing any areas of knowledge.

9. Courses DBA MCTS MCITP 6231 – Classroom based 6232 – Classroom based
6369AE – E-Learning
2778BE – E-Learning
– Self Paced Training Kit
MCITP
6315 – Classroom based
New Zealand Microsoft Certified Partners for training in New Zealand are: ACE, Auldhouse, Excom. Classroom training is available via one of the certified partners in Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland.
The cost of the classroom training courses is around $1700 for the 3 day courses and $2900 for the 5 day courses.

10. Courses Developer MCTS MCITP 6231 – Classroom based
6370AE – E-Learning
2778BE – E-Learning
– Self Paced Training Kit
MCITP
6316 – Classroom based
New Zealand Microsoft Certified Partners for training in New Zealand are: ACE, Auldhouse, Excom. Classroom training is available via one of the certified partners in Wellington, Christchurch and Auckland.
The cost of the classroom training courses is around $1700 for the 3 day courses and $2900 for the 5 day courses.

11. Microsoft E-Learning Prices from Free to $383.99
14 free clinics and courses
17 two hour courses
3 collections
All the free courses can be accessed via the Microsoft Learning portal.
Quick search of e-learning library flagged up 34 SQL 2008 & 2008 R2 courses ranging in price from FREE to $383.99
Two hour courses = $39.99
Collections range from $ to $383.99

12. Special Offers 25% off select SQL Server 2008 books
25% off all Microsoft E-Learning courses
40% to 50% off MS E-Reference Library Subs
Free 10 trial of complete E-Reference Library
US$3550 discount on MCM program
All of the special offers listed can be found on the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Learning Portal Page – details at the end.
2nd shot is available until June
25% off e-learning until 31 May 2010
40-50% off available until 30 June 2010.
MCM program complete before 31 Dec 2010.
Amazon is also a great place to look to see if anyone is selling 2nd hand books at cheaper prices.

13. Resources
Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Learning Portal:
Microsoft E-Learning Portal:
My blog &
Auckland SQL User Group
Learning Portal has information on:
Special Offers
Books
E-Learning
Classroom training
Certification