Microsoft just announced that the two SQL Server 2008 exams 70-450 (and 70-451) will be extended. This extension is not a Christmas miracle, but it is definitely good news. They were supposed to retire on 31 January 2014. The vendor has moved the exam retirement date to summer. It will now be July 31, 2014.
You can still earn the certifications associated to these exams, MCITP 2008 Database Administrator and MCITP 2008 Database Developer. If you are still hesitant about earning these certifications, there is still half a year left.
We can now sense the question that many certification beginners would be tempted ask.
…Why would I look at certification exam that will be discontinued in 6 months (SQL Server 2008-related) if there is more current stuff (SQL Server 2012.)
Let’s look closer. We believe you SHOULD get your SQL Server 2008 certification before you can move on to SQL 2012.
First, the industry will continue to honor SQL Server 2008 certifications. These certifications will still look great on your resume, especially if you have relevant work experience. It’s not about the certification, but the skills that you have. The technology of SQL Server 2008 will continue to be widely used for quite some time. The experience gained with 2008 will make it much easier to transition to the SQL Server 2012 technology.
You can also benefit from a two-exam upgrade path to MCSA: SQL Server 2012 if you have a SQL Server 2008 certification. SQL Server 2008 certified individuals can upgrade to MCSA with a quick-track exam: SQL Server 2012. You must pass the 70-457 or 70-458 exams. Microsoft offers a 25% discount on these upgrade exams until 31 May 2014. You can also take advantage of their’second chance promo with no-cost retakes
This will allow you to accelerate your preparations to become SQL Server 2008 and 2012 certified before summer 2014. It seems like a tempting path doesn’t it. Let’s take a closer glance at the 2008 to2012 SQL Server upgrade exams.
70-457: Transform Your MCTS on SQL Server 2008. to MCSA: SQL Server 2012. Part 1
This exam is for candidates who have earned any of the MCTS certifications in SQL Server 2008 and wish to transfer their skills to MCSA SQL Server 2012. These topics include, but are not limited to:
Create database objects
Use data to your advantage
Modify data
Troubleshoot and optimize your queries
Install and configure SQL Server
Keep databases and instances of information
Optimize and troubleshoot SQL Server
Here are 70-457 exam dumps for VCE.
70-458: Transform Your MCTS on SQL Server 2008. to MCSA: SQL Server 2012. Part 2
The following topics are covered:
Manage data
Security is a must
High availability
Create and implement a data warehouse
Extract and transform data
Load data
Configure and configure SSIS solutions
Build Data Quality Solutions
Here are 70-458 exam dumps.
This special promotion is available from now through May 31, 2014. It includes a 25% discount on these upgrade exams and free retakes, if necessary.
If you are unsure whether to rush to get your SQL Server 2008 certification, then upgrade to 2012, and if you want to start over with SQL Server 2012, we recommend that you carefully examine the MCSA: SQL Server 2012 path, and the upgrade path above. With the current discounts offered by Microsoft, it looks absolutely worth it. SQL Server 2008 and 2012 look better on your resume than SQL Server 2012. Which path will you choose?
