Microsoft SQL Server Database Certifications

According to Gartner's piece, Microsoft's SQL Server platform bumped Oracle this year to earn
the top place in DBMS market share, and it ranks third in overall database engine popularity as
of August 2018.
SQL Server offers a broad range of tools and add-ons for business intelligence, data
warehousing and data-driven applications of all kinds. That probably explains why Microsoft
offers database-related credentials at every level of its certification program, from the Microsoft
Technology Associate (MTA) all the way to the Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE)
program.

In September 2016, Microsoft announced significant changes to its certification program, adding
five new certifications to the MCSE and Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD)
programs alone. These certifications are designed to support Windows Server 2016 and
Microsoft SQL Server 2016, among other technologies. For database administrators, the new
MCSE: Data Management and Analytics may be of most interest, which you'll learn about later
in this section.

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MTA

The MTA program includes a single database-related exam: Database Fundamentals (98-
364). This credential is ideal for students or as an entry-level cert for professionals looking to
segue into database support.

MCSA

Microsoft offers several SQL-related credentials at the Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate
(MCSA) level:
 MCSA: SQL Server 2012/2014 (three exams)

 MCSA: SQL 2016 BI Development (two exams)

 MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration (two exams)

 MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Development (two exams)

MCSE

At the Microsoft MCSE level, there is one SQL database credential: Data Management and
Analytics. This certification requires an MCSA as a prerequisite (list of valid items follows in
table) and then passing one elective exam.
Microsoft SQL Server Database Certification Facts & Figures

MTA Database
MCSA: SQL Server 2012/2014
Certification MCSA: SQL 2016 BI Development
Name MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration
MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Development
MCSE: Data Management and Analytics
No prerequisites for:
MTA Database
MCSA: SQL Server 2012/2014
MCSA: SQL 2016 BI Development
MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration
MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Development
MCSE Data Management and Analytics prerequisite
Prerequisites & (only one required):
MCSA: SQL Server 2012/2014
Required MCSA: SQL 2016 BI Development
Courses   MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration
MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Development
MCSA: Machine Learning
MCSA: BI Reporting
MCSA: Data Engineering with Azure

Training courses available and recommended for all certifications but not
required.

Number of Exams MTA: One exam, Database Fundamentals (98-364)

MCSA: SQL Server: Three exams:

Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014 (70-461)
Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014 Databases ( 70-462)  
Implementing a Data Warehouse with Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014 ( 70-
463)
MCSA: SQL 2016 BI Development: Two exams:
Implementing a SQL Data Warehouse (70-767)
Developing SQL Data Models (70-768)
MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration: Two exams:
Administering a SQL Database Infrastructure (70-764)
Provisioning SQL Databases (70-765)
MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Development: Two exams:
Querying Data with Transact-SQL (70-761)
Developing SQL Databases (70-762)
 MCSE: Data Management and Analytics: One exam:
Designing and Implementing Cloud Data Platform Solutions (70-473)
Designing and Implementing Big Data Analytics Solutions (70-475)
Developing Microsoft SQL Server Databases (70-464)
Designing Database Solutions for Microsoft SQL Server (70-465)
Implementing Data Models and Reports with Microsoft SQL Server ( 70-466)
Designing Business Intelligence Solutions with Microsoft SQL Server ( 70-
467)
Developing SQL Databases (70-762)
Implementing a Data Warehouse Using SQL (70-767)
Developing SQL Data Models (70-768)
Analyzing Big Data with Microsoft R (70-773)
Perform Cloud Data Science with Azure Machine Learning ( 70-774)
Perform Data Engineering on Microsoft Azure HDInsight ( 70-775)
Implementing Microsoft Azure Cosmos DB Solutions (Beta) ( 70-777)
All exams administered by Pearson VUE.

MTA: $127 (or equivalent in local currency outside the USA)

Cost per Exam MCSA/MCSE: $165 (or equivalent) per exam

www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/certification-
URL
overview.aspx

Microsoft offers one of the world's largest and best-known IT certification

Self-Study programs, so the MTA, MCSA and MCSE certs are well-supported with books,
Materials study guides, study groups, practice tests and other materials.

More: Microsoft Certifications & Career Paths