Top 12 Best SQL Certifications and Programs in 2024

The database is the center of all data transactions, and SQL is the most popular language for interacting with the database. Learning SQL will help you in many ways throughout your career, and if you are learning on your own or along with projects, you may leave some concepts which are not used in your particular project but are important otherwise. 

Some certifications give you a robust method to learn and later award you with the certificate while others test your knowledge and award you for excellence. Since you learn from experts, you will get practical knowledge and tricks to effectively use SQL for the best performance and less execution time.

Learn about the best SQL certifications here, starting with a summarized view of these.

Best SQL Certifications in 2024

Is an SQL Certification Worth it in 2024?

SQL certifications give you an edge over other candidates who have the same skills and experience as yours. 

Of course, experience and technical knowledge are important, but certifications become the deciding factor when candidates with similar profiles have to be filtered. 

There are different certifications, and based on the position you are applying for and the experience you have, you should take up certifications as required. 

Certifications can also help you get better projects and roles in your company. If you have changed teams in the same company, certifications help your new team understand your specialization and core skills. Being certified indicates that you are knowledgeable in that particular technology.

Best SQL Professional Certifications

1. Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals

This Microsoft certified Azure Data Fundamentals certification has a strong focus on data in the cloud. It teaches relational data, non-relational data, big data, and analytics, among other things. It’s a good course if you plan to use Azure a lot.

The course also prepares you well for other Azure certifications, like Azure Database Administrator Associate, Azure Data Engineer Associate, and Azure Developer Associate. 

Additionally, you can also sign up for an instructor-led training event.

Sign Up Here

2. Database Foundation (1Z0-006)

This Oracle Academy SQL foundation course is an excellent foundation and very career-focused, using industry-relevant technologies. The database curriculum consists of 4 specializations that give you a broad understanding of how to use SQL. You can also take the certification exam without taking the courses.

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3. IBM Certified Database Associate

This IBM Certified Database Associate Certification is the first of three, and is the most fundamental one. You’ll learn about Db2 relational database management systems for the LUW family of products. The course covers basic SQL knowledge, database creation, database security, and transaction isolation. 

Finishing this course means you can move on to the next. You’ll have to take an exam for each of the database certifications that IBM offers.

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4. Oracle Certified Professional, MySQL 5.7 Database Administrator Certification

Oracle’s MySQL 5.7 Database Administrator certification will focus on a basic understanding of MySQL. If you pass the exam, you will prove that you can install, configure, and monitor database management systems.

This is a very well-known test and is a good gateway into the MySQL world. Besides the basics, you’ll also learn how to manage users and identify security risks.

Sign Up Here

Best SQL Certification Programs

1. SQL - MySQL for Data Analytics and Business Intelligence

This Udemy SQL course is suitable if you want to become an expert on data and business analytics. The course covers MySQL in detail and starts from the basics before moving to more advanced SQL topics. It also has a lot of exercises to perfect your knowledge.

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2. Learn SQL Basics for Data Science Specialization

This SQL course by UC Davis teaches you to apply SQL concepts to practical data science projects. It focuses on concepts such as data wrangling, distributed computing with Spark SQL, and AB testing, among other things. 

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3. Excel to MySQL: Analytic Techniques for Business Specialization

This specialization Coursera on SQL and Excel aims to touch upon SQL from a business point of view. This is a good course if you aim to get into data science or related fields. Along with SQL, you will also learn Microsoft Excel, Business Analytics, some data science tools, and algorithms.

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4. Learning SQL Programming

This LinkedIn course on SQL programming is for beginners and covers the basics of SQL. It is a popular course, and common doubts and problems are addressed by the wide and active forum. 

After completion, you will also be able to understand how to carry out performance tuning and the best approaches for database querying, along with all the core concepts like joins, aggregates, and select.

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5. Modern Big data analysis with SQL specialization

This is a beginner level SQL course where you can learn SQL and apply it to big data analytics. It is best suited for big data analysis, and you’ll also learn how to manage big data in clusters and cloud storage. The course is also free. 

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6. Analyze Data with SQL

This Codecademy SQL course is useful for everyone, whether you’re a marketer or analyst. If you have no prior programming knowledge and want to step into technical roles and work with data, this is a good course to start. There are also several hands-on projects. 

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7. Advanced SQL for Data Scientists

This advanced SQL course for data scientists teaches both basic and advanced aspects of SQL filtering and data manipulation. The course is designed to focus on SQL's demands for data scientists and covers SQL's essentials from a data scientist's perspective.

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8. Ultimate MySQL Bootcamp: Udemy

This Udemy SQL course is an excellent bootcamp that takes you through all the theory of the subject. It starts with the basics and goes all the way up to some advanced concepts. It also has a lot of exercises to test your knowledge. By the time you’re done with it, you should be well-equipped to try some really serious projects.

Sign Up Here

Conclusion

MySQL and Microsoft SQL are the most popular database platforms. SQL is easy to learn and extremely important, both for web applications and data science projects. 

There are many NoSQL databases, but SQL has wide acceptance and is used in most big projects. With certifications in hand, you can gain exposure to many practical projects and add the same to your profile, which will help you in the long run. 

Most of the listed certifications are for basic and intermediate-level developers, covering most of the SQL skills you will need for most practical purposes.

Learn SQL Fast With This Bootcamp

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I get SQL certified?

You can get certified by taking the top SQL certifications online. The list in this article covers many of those courses.

2. How much time will it take to learn SQL?

It shouldn’t take too long to earn an SQL certificate. Expect to take anywhere between a few weeks and a few months to get a strong grounding in the subject.

3. Can SQL be self-taught?

SQL can be self-taught, meaning you learn by yourself through SQL certification online courses. You’ll need a course to guide you through the basics and some theory. 

4. Which certificate is best for SQL?

There’s no one certificate that’s best for learning SQL. Some SQL certifications focus on specific fields, like SQL certifications for data analysts. For beginners, there are several that qualify as the best; check the list above.

5. How much does a SQL certificate cost?

SQL certification courses can vary in price quite a bit. Some courses are free, including a few on the list above. Others may cost anywhere between $50 to $100.

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