Microsoft offers certification choices for working professionals. This session provides an overview of certification options for SQL Server 2014 including associated business intelligence options. This interactive presentation will include a) when certification helps, b) what types of exams are possible, and c) how certification can be part of your personal professional strategy. Along the way, we will have some sample test questions, and provide tips for best paid and free learning options. [The deck includes YouTube and low-cost ways to learn speed reading.]

1. Earning SQL Server 2014 Certification
Mark Tabladillo, PhD, MVP, MCAD, MCP, MCITP
Consultant SolidQ
SQL Saturday Oregon
November 1, 2014

2. Networking
Say hello

3. Mark Tab
SQL Server MVP; SAS Expert
Consulting
Training
Teaching
Presenting
Linked In
@MarkTabNet

4. Goal: Discuss the two major SQL Server 2014 Certification Paths

5. MCSE

6. Detour: Speed Reading
100-200 wpm
200-400 wpm
500+ wpm

7. Microsoft Learning
https://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/default.aspx
Microsoft Official Courseware
Microsoft Press

8. Why might someone certify?
Makes you look like you know it
Forces you to learn things
Employer requirement
Fill in knowledge gaps
Self-rewarding
Add to you bio or resume
Benefits from Microsoft
Justify a pay raise
Get a new job/career change

9. Microsoft’s Reasons
Makes a great commitment
Shows drive and initiative
Tangible way to demonstrate mastery of a product
Sets you apart from your peers at review time
Recognition inside and outside of Microsoft

10. When Certification Helps
When you want a new career
When you want to maintain your Gold Partner Status

11. What Types of Exams are Possible
https://www.microsoft.com/learning/ en-us/certification-overview.aspx

12. MTA Exam: Database Fundamentals

14. MCP Exams

16. 70-461: Querying Microsoft SQL Server

17. 70-462 Administering Microsoft SQL Server Databases

18. 70-463 Implementing a Data Warehouse with Microsoft SQL Server

22. Exam Tips
•Set a date
•Sleep well
•Review the logistics
Before the Exam
•Monitor the time
•Don’t spend too long on one question
•Keep calm
During the Exam
•Mark tough questions for review
•Guess if you have to
•Eliminate wrong answers
Tough Question

23. Preparation Vendors
Boson http://www.boson.com/
MeasureUphttp://www.measureup.com/
Transcenderhttp://www.transcender.com/
Self-Test Software http://www.selftestsoftware.com/
uCertifyhttp://www.ucertify.com/
Pluralsighthttp://www.pluralsight.com/
http://blog.pluralsight.com/top-5-it-courses-for-devs

24. Core Online Community: Born to Learn
http://borntolearn.mslearn.net/

26. Abstract
Microsoft offers certification choices for working professionals. This session provides an overview of certification options for SQL Server 2014 including associated business intelligence options. This interactive presentation will include a) when certification helps, b) what types of exams are possible, and c) how certification can be part of your personal professional strategy. Along the way, we will have some sample test questions, and provide tips for best paid and free learning options.

27. Appendix
Motivation (optional): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkO6ln0hmcg
More Motivation (optional): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_ygu4qWlmw
One: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPOIZ6DGXWE
Two: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEd136qSuD8(good content, music distracts me: focus means removing distractions)
Book: Breakthrough Rapid Reading by Peter Kump