Here's what recently worked for me...

I also held various IT jobs and most recently was a software developer/administrator for a very specialized software application that only a handful of companies in my area use, which made it hard to find anything that I didn't need to relocate for. I do not have a degree and the only certification I held (other than with the specialized software) was an MCP cert from waaaay back. BUT: After I was blind-sided with being outsourced, I was determined to find a new mid-life career path that would allow me to "take my skills anywhere" if need be. I had very limited experience with SQL...only when I needed to troubleshoot the SQL back-end of the application did I get in and mess with it (but I *enjoyed* it).

I contacted a local recruiting agency and was very honest with the limited amount of skills I posessed, but asked them to submit my resume for any local Jr. DBA opportunities they came across. In the mean time, I installed SQL on my laptop and began reading and digging into it as much as I could so that I could at least know the basics and some of the lingo. I got the first SQL job I interviewed for!

My new boss said that the reason he chose me, is that he liked the fact that in every position I had ever held before - I was basically self-taught!

I'm assuming (although he did not say) that my most valuable assets were also:

- that I had held various IT jobs (service desk, web development, local support, software dev/admin) which resulted in a wide range of experience in IT

- my enthusiasum!

- that I had been working on my own at home prior to the interview, which brought me from 0 to at lease base knowledge

- that I made it clear I did not want to remain a Jr. DBA, that I wanted to work toward my certification(s) and wanted to kick SQL-@ss in general! 😀

I find that in IT, typically years of experience in IT goes much farther than a degree. You might consider trying to getting your foot in the door as a Jr. DBA and then ask your employer what path they would like for you to take (I would bet certification...but some companies do try to get a "quota" of degrees).

I've been here almost 4 months and so far, I don't think my boss regrets his decision. 😉 I've since signed up with PASS and I'm looking forward to my first SQL Saturday! Now that I've got my foot in the door, I will be working hard towards my first certification and "networking" at every opportunity with local SQL DBAs!