Vijay Singh Khatri | 02 Jan, 2023

Top 5 SQL Server Certifications to Boost Your Career


Business intelligence and big data continue to gain momentum in 2024, as organizations rely heavily on databases to get insights that help in shaping vital business decisions. As such, there is a demand for SQL developers and database engineers.

Strong SQL knowledge is key to designing, developing, and maintaining relational databases of gigantic sizes. One of the best ways to demonstrate your skill is to obtain an SQL certification.

That’s what we look at here, listing the 5 best SQL Server certifications online. But first, let’s look at some general questions about SQL certifications.

The Perks of Having an SQL Certification

A certification in SQL server verifies your expertise, skillset, and, most importantly, your dedication to the concerned field. Having an SQL server certification is advantageous for anyone seeking to seize the best opportunities in database administration, analysis, or development. Whether you’re aiming for a promotion or seeking a new job profile, having a certification helps.

SQL Server Certifications

1. Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA): Database Fundamentals SQL Certification

Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA): Database Fundamentals SQL Certification

Level – Entry level

Course Details

Syllabus

  • Exam ID: 98-364
  • Cost: $127
    • Number of questions: 40-60
  • Passing score: 700/1000
  • Duration: 45 minutes
  • Prerequisites: Basic IT knowledge
  • Understanding Core Database Concepts
  • Creating Database Objects
  • Manipulating Data
  • Understanding Data Storage
  • Administering a Database

The MTA: Database Fundamentals is the go-to option for anyone looking for a beginner SQL Server certification. This Microsoft SQL Server database certification is the best place to start for candidates with little to no database experience. This SQL certification verifies the rudimentary database and SQL Server knowledge and skills.

You don’t need to have prior job experience to earn this SQL certification. However, having basic IT knowledge is necessary.

View Certification

 

2. Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate

Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate

Course Details

Syllabus

  • Exam ID: DP-300
  • Cost: $165
    • Number of questions: 40-60
  • Passing score: 700/1000
  • Duration: 120 minutes
  • Prerequisites: Basic IT knowledge
  • Plan and implement data platform resources
  • Implement a secure environment
  • Monitor and optimize operational resources
  • Optimize query performance
  • Perform automation of tasks
  • Plan and implement a High Availability and Disaster Recovery (HADR) environment
  • Perform administration by using T-SQL

The Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate certification course puts you on the path to becoming an Azure database administrator. You’ll learn how to manage and implement operational aspects of cloud-native and hybrid data platform solutions built with Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Azure Data Services.

To complete this Microsoft SQL server certification, you’ll need some experience with the fundamentals of Microsoft Azure Data, but that isn’t very difficult, and it’s a great way to start working with the cloud.

View Certification

The Complete SQL Bootcamp 2024: Go from Zero to Hero

3. Oracle Database SQL Certified Associate Certification

Oracle Database SQL Certified Associate Certification

Course Details

Syllabus

  • Exam ID: 1Z0-071
  • Cost: $244
  • Number of questions: 63
  • Passing score: 63%
  • Duration: 120 minutes
  • Prerequisites: Basic IT knowledge
  • Knowledge of queries, insert, update and delete SQL statements
  • Some Data Definition Language and Data Control Language features
  • The optimizer, tales and indexes,
  • Data modeling and normalization

The Oracle Database SQL Certified Associate Certification course is the first step you will take to becoming an Oracle Certified Database expert. This is a beginners course and you’ll learn the basics of managing and updating a database. You only need some basic IT knowledge and it’s easy to get off of the ground with this course.

View Certification

 

4. IBM Certified Database Associate - DB2 11.1 Fundamentals for LUW

IBM Certified Database Associate - DB2 11.1 Fundamentals for LUW

Course Details

Syllabus

  • Exam ID: C2090-616
  • Cost: $200
    • Number of questions: 63
  • Passing score: 68%
  • Duration: 90 minutes
  • Prerequisites: Entry-level experience using DB2 11, basic knowledge of SQL
  • Planning
  • Security
  • Working with Databases and Database Objects
  • Working with DB2 Data using SQL
  • Working with DB2 Tables, Views, and Indexes
  • Data Concurrency

The IBM Certified Database Associate - DB2 11.1 Fundamentals for LUW course is also an entry-level SQL certification program, focused on the LUW family of products. You’ll need some basic to intermediate experience with DB2 11, but it’s nothing overwhelming. The course covers working with databases using SQL; tables, views, and indexes; and data concurrency, among other things.

View Certification

 

5. EDB PostgreSQL 12 Associate Certification

EDB PostgreSQL 12 Associate Certification

Course Details

Syllabus

  • Exam ID: CERT-DBA-001.12
  • Cost: $200
    • Number of questions: N/A
  • Passing score: 70%
  • Duration: 60 minutes
  • Prerequisites: Foundations of PostgreSQL course
  • Basic knowledge of PostgreSQL, including the system architecture and fundamental SQL,
  • Installation, creation and management of databases
  • Operation and maintenance of PostgreSQL database systems including how to backup/restore, and perform routine maintenance

EnterpriseDB’s PostgreSQL 12 Associate Certification focuses on PostgreSQL, a more advanced version of SQL. This is a basic level certification for PostgreSQL, and includes learning about how to install, create and manage databases using it. If you’re interested in PostgreSQL, this SQL certificate is a good choice.

View Certification

 

Pick an SQL Server Certification and Get Started!

SQL server courses are an excellent way to prove your readiness for a role in the industry. Gaining an SQL server certificate requires experience, knowledge, skill, and dedication, but it pays off by giving you an advantage over other candidates.

Practicing and constant learning are key to continuously improve your skills, so don’t think that you’re all done after just an SQL certification. You can do a lot to expand your knowledge. SQL certifications in 2024 account for some cutting-edge technology, so it’s well worth taking up to boost your career.

If you’re a complete beginner, you might want to check out the best SQL Server tutorials. You should also consider reading books, joining database communities, and browsing the rest of Hackr for SQL tutorials. Good luck!

PS, if you're looking for discounted hosting packages, we recommend checking out Namecheap for affordable domain names and hosting plans. 

FAQ

What is the Cost of an SQL Server Certification?

The cost of an SQL certification can vary greatly depending on where you get your certification from and the particular certification. Expect to pay somewhere between $100 to $250 for SQL server training. The average cost of the SQL server courses listed here is $187.

How Do You Get SQL Certified?

It’s quite easy to get SQL certified - all you need to do is visit a SQL certificate provider. In this list, we cover popular Microsoft SQL server certification programs, so you can take a look at these to get your first SQL certificate. Provided you have the knowledge and skill, it should not take more than just passing the exam to get certified.

Which SQL Certification is Best?

There is no one SQL certification that is the best. If you’re a complete beginner, then you’ll have to start with the Database fundamentals SQL certification, and that will be best for you. But each certification has a purpose, so it can’t be said that any one is better than the other.

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By Vijay Singh Khatri

With 5+ years of experience across various tech stacks such as C, C++, PHP, Python, SQL, Angular, and AWS, Vijay has a bachelor's degree in computer science and a specialty in SEO and helps a lot of ed-tech giants with their organic marketing. Also, he persists in gaining knowledge of content marketing and SEO tools. He has worked with various analytics tools for over eight years.

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