One thing that stuck out for me at the PASS Summit was the changes announced for the SQL Server Microsoft Certified Master (MCM) Program.  The MCM program is Microsoft’s upper tier database administration certification.  It is aimed at providing a validation of skills and knowledge for those with 5 or more years experience with SQL Server.

Old Ways

When the MCM program was originally created it included a three weeks of training out at Microsoft in Redmond.  During this training, which was more like 21-days versus 3-weeks, participants were locked in a room for some hardcore training on SQL Server. 

At the end of each week, the participant would take an exam that tested the participant on the subjects covered throughout the week.  Then at the end of three weeks the participants take a lab exam that covers a scenario that needs to be solved.

For more information about this process, check out Brent Ozar’s journey through the MCM.

Ever since the program was announced, I have been gearing up for it and trying to figure out how I could attend.  Of course, two things got in the way with this goal.  The first was the cost – it was $18,500 for course and testing followed by the three weeks required for the course itself.

Over coming both of these wasn’t a matter of knowledge.  They were more about bringing together the appropriate resources.  As for myself, I have been trying to coordinate when I could take three weeks off for one of rotations.  Some of the more recent conversations for this was pushing this out to 2012.  In the end, aligning this had nothing to do with what I knew only the flexibility of my schedule (and some cash).

In this case, as GI Joe used to say, “Knowing is half the battle.”

The Golden Path

In comes the PASS Summit and the announcement from Microsoft Learning.  The training requirement for the SQL Server MCM certification has been removed from the MCM program.  As a result, the MCM requirements now require two exams:

• Exam 88-970: SQL Server 2008 Microsoft Certified Master: Knowledge Exam
• Exam 88-971: SQL Server 2008 Microsoft Certified Master: Lab Exam

If you are a classroom learner, you can still take training from SQL Skills to get yourself up to the point where you are ready for the MCM certification tests.  But if you are like me, classroom learning is not my strong suit.  I would rather sit down with a book and SQL Server Management Studio and dig into it all on my own.

To start getting prepared, take a look at the links below.  One of which is a reading list.  The other is a number of videos put together by SQLSkills.

• SQL Server 2008 Microsoft Certified Master (MCM) Readiness Videos
• SQL Server 2008 Microsoft Certified Master (MCM) Pre-Reading List

For more information on the changes to the MCM program, check out the following posts.

• A New Path to Microsoft Certified Master: SQL Server 2008
• Big changes to the MCM program and how SQLskills can help you
• New Path to MCM in SQL Server 2008
• Changes to the Microsoft Certified Master of SQL Server Program
• New Path to Microsoft Certified Master: Microsoft SQL Server 2008

Now GI Joe can say, “Knowing is the whole battle.”

Related posts:

1. MCM Reading List – A New Years Resolution
2. Passed Exam 70-452
3. Free SQL Server Training