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BananaFury

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DBA Qualifications

Hi,

I have a couple of years experience with our company SQL data warehouse, and am creating and archiving tables and routines mostly with stored procedures. I understand there is a lot more to being a DBA than some exposure to a SQL MS, but I would like to venture down that path.

So my question, somebody in my situation who would like to become a DBA, how would you recommend I tackle the task? I could study - I have some time and money for studies, and access to a SQL warehouse so can accumulate the experience required. Are certain qualifications required? Whenever I look at DBA jobs they often require SSIS and SSRS so how can I tackle these?

Thanks for your help
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BananaFury

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Thanks so much, what a helpful post!

I have access to a warehouse, so do not need to download evaluation versions. The certification courses are very helpful, I think I would like to pursue these. I know its a little bit school boy, but I would rather like to talk to a careers officer who could guide me towards what specifically I should be studying. I assume I should start with the MSCA qualification? I have looked down the course details and some of it is very familiar to me already, some of it isn't. I would like to attend such a course, but a 5 day stint is probably a little too inconvenient for me. I would really like to home study or attend an online course. Do you have an appropriate suggestion?

And on a more personal note, are you a certified professional and what do you do for work? I am curious as to the path people have taken in terms of training and qualification, and what they end up doing for a career.

Thanks so much for your help sir, its appreciated
Probably best to get the Microsoft study guides from amazon and see what level your at, a 5 day course will cost you anything upwards of £1,000 so a bit pointless if you already know most of the content.

Have you thought about discussing these aspirations with your workplace? They may give you more responsibilities of a DBA nature or someone from the DBA team may even want to mentor you...

I am a SQL Server Architect / Consultant and came from the DBA track, but landed in it more by luck than judgement. I have the MCDBA ,MCITP & MCTS certs with regard to SQL Server. Am putting some serious consideration into the MCM in the next couple of years though.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Querying-Microsoft-Server-Training-Package/dp/0735666059/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1372935034&sr=1-1&keywords=mcsa+sql+server+2012

This the first of 3 books which are about £35 each, and look to get me through the first of these three exams

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/mcsa-sql-certification.aspx#fbid=nVRzIHQ2P3i

The question is, are these an appropriate series of exams to undertake?

Unfortunately, at work there is not currently anybody to guide or advise me with regards to this vocation. We are a small company and much of this sort of work is outsourced, I just pick up what I can with my current limited knowledge.

Thanks so much for your help, EE is the place for guidance and advise I am finding!
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Also, if you're studying and need to ask a 'Why the h*ll would you do this? / How the heck does this work' type question, go ahead and ask it here on EE.  As long as you're upfront and say that you're studying for an exam, experts will cheerfully explain things for you.
Dont forget SQLbits if your in the UK. Absolutely brilliant event!
Thanks all, what a super helpful bunch of people you are, its appreciated.

I do rather like the look of these SQL Saturdays and will see if I can find such a thing in the UK, where I reside.
Take a look at this which is in the UK.

http://www.sqlbits.com/