In the digital age, data is everywhere, and all data must be managed. IT workers can choose to learn how to make sense of this data through certifications, which can allow them to play important roles in companies and organizations that need database administrators. The past few years have only cemented the usefulness of database technology, and how complicated it can be without the right data professionals.
Database administrators take charge of establishing and maintaining a database management system of a certain kind, whether that be a platform like MySQL or Oracle. Other database roles, such as those of data warehousing specialists and data analysts, may be responsible for other aspects of data, but the platform in which all data is stored remains a crucial part of any data-related certification. The platform may also depend on vendor-specific technologies, which is why many of the best certifications are offered by vendors like Microsoft.
IT professionals certified in database management can earn upwards of $100,000, so it isn’t a surprise that certifications for database administrators are popular. The trouble is with choosing which to pursue.
1. Oracle Database 12c Administrator
The Oracle Database 12c Administrator certification is open to candidates at many levels: associate, professional, and master. With over a million certificate holders, Oracle knows how to train students into professionals. While most of their database management certifications require applicants to first attend training classes or earn the previous level’s credentials, this certification is offered to all. It also offers several specializations and expert-level credentials.
Training isn’t required for candidates to enroll in the associate-level certification, but training and certifications in the previous courses are required for the professional- and master-level certifications. Oracle training normally lasts two to five days and costs between $1,000 to $5,000. While Oracle11g is forward compatible with Oracle 12c, the latter is not backward-compatible, so those with Oracle11g certifications may want to invest in an upgrade.
2. Microsoft SQL Server
Microsoft SQL Server is a software product used for data warehousing and other data-driven applications. The certification Microsoft offers for this product focuses on the different roles one might play in the tech industry through four tracks: Functional Consultants, Solution Architects, Developers, and Administrators. The MTA: Database Fundamentals certification targets entry-level database professionals, Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) certification targets associate-level candidates, and Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) certification is for experts. The MCSA is offered in five forms: SQL Server 2012/2014, BI Reporting, SQL 2016 BI Development, SQL 2016 Database Administration, and SQL 2016 Database Development.
While the MTA and MCSA certifications have no prerequisites, the MCSE requires candidates to have completed at least one MCSA credential. To pass the MTA and MCSE programs, candidates must pass just one exam. The MCSA programs, however, require the passing of two exams each, except for the MCSA: SQL Server, which requires the passing of three. The MTA exam also costs around $120, lower than the MCSA/MCSE’s $185 per exam.
3. IBM Certified Database Administrator
IBM is known for offering various certificates for almost every aspect of IBM technology. IBM offers two database administrator certifications, but the IBM Certified Database Administrator certification involves lessons on the essentials and is great for intermediate learners. The Advanced Database Administrator certification caters to experts who plan on performing more advanced tasks such as system administration or performance tuning.
The IBM Certified Database Administrator – DB2 certification allows candidates to learn how to manage databases on Linux, Unix, and Windows. Students enrolled in the program learn everything from the creation of databases and database objects to server availability and security. It has no prerequisites, but candidates must pass two exams that cost around $200 each.
4. Oracle Certified Professional, MySQL 5.7 Database Administrator
All of Oracle’s certifications are available through Oracle University, the corporation’s platform for in-classroom and online training, and certifications. This program caters to professionals who want to be certified as database administrators for MySQL, one of the leading open-source relational database management systems out there. Candidates pursuing MySQL certification can enroll in the program for either MySQL Developer or MySQL Database Administration. The latter teaches students to manage the MySQL server, and schedule and validate database backups, among others.
While it has no prerequisites, Oracle recommends that candidates complete a five-day course titled ‘MySQL for Database Administrators’, which costs upwards of $2,000 in the classroom or live online. The single exam candidates are required to complete and pass is composed of 75 multiple choice questions and costs around $245. According to Oracle, the exam is more technical than others and centers around practitioner-level skills, evaluating applicants’ knowledge of MySQL and database security, replication, optimization, and backup. They recommend that candidates gather on-the-job experience and extensive training before taking the exam.
5. SAP Certified Technology Associate — SAP HANA
SAP HANA is a high-performance in-memory database developed and marketed by German multinational software corporation SAP SE. IT professionals can enroll in the many certification programs SAP offers, which even extend to other platforms. This certification, however, is a popular choice for employers whose workplaces use SAP HANA. Those who complete the program know not only how to install SAP HANA systems but manage and troubleshoot them when necessary. Some of the topics covered by the program are SAP HANA operations, monitoring, security, system architecture, backup and recovery, database migration, and users and authorization.
The certification has no prerequisites, but SAP Training recommends that candidates complete the SAP HANA Installation & Operations SPS12 (HA200) course beforehand. The program requires only one exam, which costs around $500. Users can subscribe to the SAP Learning Hub’s professional certification track for upwards of $3,000 a year. It may be costly, but it’s designed to get anyone SAP-certified. SAP professionals with expiring certifications can maintain their credentials upon the instruction of SAP.
Vendor-specific and vendor-neutral certifications
These are not the only database certification programs available to IT professionals, but they are some of the best known. Students are now able to learn about database management in universities, but in terms of certification, only a handful are marketed as vendor-neutral. Still, it helps to master a specific system and find prospective employers in that niche.