What cert would be best for moi?

[barbola]

My original personal development plan had either MCSD or MCAD or MCDBA. But now I see there is this new MCITP.

I just finished a software development program (VB6) that is now no longer offered because everything is VB.net. So learning from that experience, I don't want to take something that will be obsolete in a year.

If you know me from my whiney frustration-filled posts in the VB forum, what would you suggest I take? Preferably something fast and easy haha. I like the DB stuff but don't really like the programming stuff although I can do it okay kinda sorta.

Or should I be happy where I am and live my life?
PS - I am an over 40, single mom I hate studying, have little time for it, have little discipline or concentration, and not necessarily looking for a change, more $ would be nice but I'm doing okay.

thanks.

 

[mrdenny]

The Microsoft certs don't actually expire (they used to, Microsoft changed this a little while ago now).

While SQL 2005 has come out along with it's new certs, SQL 2000 is still alive and well, and well be for quite some time. Many people are still using SQL 7, and several are still using SQL 6.5.

In the VB releam the life of the older products probably isn't quite as lengthy as it's "usually" a smaller change to upgrade from .NET 1.1 to .NET 2.0 then to upgrade the database backend. (Granted where I currently work we still have a VB6 app running a good part of the companny.)

The new cert program is kind of nice because it's a two level program. The MCTS which shows bredth of knowledge. And the MCITP which shows depth of knowledge in your specific job function.

If databases are were you are at (or you want to get) then I would recommend either the MCDBA or MCTS/MCITP depending on where your company (or future companies) are going to be. If you are happy where you are (which you seem to be) and you are using SQL 2000 with no plans to upgrade within the next year or two then go for the MCDBA. If you are planning an upgrade in the next short while then the MCTS/MCITP may be your best bet.

Denny
MCSA (2003) / MCDBA (SQL 2000) / MCTS (SQL 2005) / MCITP Database Administrator (SQL 2005)

--Anything is possible. All it takes is a little research. (Me)

http://www.mrdenny.com

 

[barbola]

Yeah that's what I was thinking. We are on SQL2000 but I would like to upgrade to 2005 before the end of the year.

 

[Auger282]

...I don't know if they have any tests in French...

maybe