SQL Server 2008 certifications

Microsoft has released some news on SQL Server 2008 certifications. In short, they'll be releasing three MCTS certifications this year based on three roles. Each role will require one exam to earn the MCTS certification.

Database Administrator
Database Developer
Business Intelligence Developer

There will also be three MCITP tracks geared to the same three roles. The SQL 2008 MCITP tracks arent' decided yet and probably won't come out until about six months after SQL Server 2008 goes live (Q3 2008).

The three MCTS Certifications will be:

70-432
MCTS: SQL Server 2008, Implementation and Maintenance
Role: Database Administrator
Expected go live date: August 2008
Beta target: June 2008
Focused on Database Admin role, unlike the 70-431 exam which covers multiple roles
Test topics ():
- Installing and configuring
- Maintaining SQL Instances
- Managing Security
- Maintaining a database
- Data Management Tasks
- Monitoring and Troubleshooting
- Optimizing
- Implementing High Availability

70-433
MCTS: SQL Server 2008, Database Development
Role: Database Developer
Expected go live date: September 2008
Beta target: July 2008
Test topics (not complete yet):
- T-SQL (triggers, stored procedures, views)
- Connecting to Datasources

70-448
MCTS: SQL Server 2008, Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance
Role: Business Intelligence Developer
Expected go live date: August 2008
Beta target: June 2008
Test topics (not complete yet, similar to 70-445):
- Configuring, deploying, maintaining, and implementing
- SSIS
- SSRS
- SSAS

A common question is, which certification should I pursure? MCDBA (SQL Server 2000), MCITP SQL Server 2005 or MCTS SQL Server 2008?

This largely depends on what your company is using. You should pursue what your company wants you to pursue. But, if foresee your job changing in the six months or so, here's what I see:

SQL Server 2000 maintream support ends in April 8, 2008. Additionally, you can no longer take any MCDBA exams after March 2009.
SQL Server 2005 is established with SP2 currently out.
SQL Server 2008 isn't even released and many businesses don't want to give it a try until SP1 is released.

With this information, if you or your company are unsure which certification, I suggest SQL Server 2005. Additionally, if you're certifiec in SQL Server 2005, it'll only take one test to become both a MCTS and a MCITP in SQL Server 2008 (though that one test won't be out until 2009).

If you're interested in SQL Server 2005 MCITP certifications you can check out these books:

Darril Gibson
http://mcitpsuccess.com/