Exams are back on the table
A few months ago, I found two SQL certification exams to take - 70-764 Administering a SQL Database Infrastructure and 70-765 Provisioning SQL Databases to get the MSCA in Database Administration.
I started studying, scheduled the first one to be done in April, then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and I cancelled my exam. When I looked in May to reschedule it in mid June, I learned that the exams would retire June 30th, and I knew I couldn't get both exams studied for and passed in a matter of weeks, so I stopped studying, trying to figure out what I wanted to do for certification.
When I looked in mid-June to see what certifications that Microsoft had, I noticed that 70-764 and 70-765 had new a new retirement date of January 31, 2021 due to the pandemic. I have time! I can still study for these exams!
I spoke with my friend Tim, and he suggested I study for a different certification that is likely easier - MSCA Database Developer - because I've spent the last 7 years writing reports and likely know a lot more there. Part of my overwhelming fear, and procrastination, came from not only feeling uncomfortable with the material, but also unfamiliarity with sitting for a certification exam.
I found 70-761 Querying Data with Transact SQL and 70-762 Developing SQL Databases. I found an EDx course yesterday that goes through material for the 70-761 exam topics, and I'm half way through it already - it's all a review of the things I've been doing every day. I also found that many of the topics already exist from 70-461 Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012, that I was going to study for 5 or 6 years ago, and bought the book for. I'll use this course, the book and I'll buy a test dump and take the exam either late July or early August.
I'll do a repeat of 70-762, 70-764 and 70-765 each month, with the goal of being certified in both Database Development and Database Administration by the end of the year. I mean, it's not like I'm going anywhere until next year at least.
I started studying, scheduled the first one to be done in April, then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and I cancelled my exam. When I looked in May to reschedule it in mid June, I learned that the exams would retire June 30th, and I knew I couldn't get both exams studied for and passed in a matter of weeks, so I stopped studying, trying to figure out what I wanted to do for certification.
When I looked in mid-June to see what certifications that Microsoft had, I noticed that 70-764 and 70-765 had new a new retirement date of January 31, 2021 due to the pandemic. I have time! I can still study for these exams!
I spoke with my friend Tim, and he suggested I study for a different certification that is likely easier - MSCA Database Developer - because I've spent the last 7 years writing reports and likely know a lot more there. Part of my overwhelming fear, and procrastination, came from not only feeling uncomfortable with the material, but also unfamiliarity with sitting for a certification exam.
I found 70-761 Querying Data with Transact SQL and 70-762 Developing SQL Databases. I found an EDx course yesterday that goes through material for the 70-761 exam topics, and I'm half way through it already - it's all a review of the things I've been doing every day. I also found that many of the topics already exist from 70-461 Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012, that I was going to study for 5 or 6 years ago, and bought the book for. I'll use this course, the book and I'll buy a test dump and take the exam either late July or early August.
I'll do a repeat of 70-762, 70-764 and 70-765 each month, with the goal of being certified in both Database Development and Database Administration by the end of the year. I mean, it's not like I'm going anywhere until next year at least.
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