Certification

MCTS Exam

So Like I said before I did take the MCTS Exam and I did pass. I can not go into any detail about the test as you have to agree to an NDA before you take it. The test was, in my opinion, not as hard as the study material. I think that MS did a great job with the study material for this test. I was not sure if I was really ready for the test but it turns out I was more than ready.
I finished the test very early. I had about 40 minutes left when I completed the question portion and still over 1 hour left when I completed the simulation portion of the Exam. To study I purchased the following kit and I am about to start on the second book to prepare for the second of the three tests required for the MCITP:DBA certification. Think I will start hitting that hard when I return from Hawaii.

 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0735623…

Read the book and spend time doing the practices and questions in the book and definitely take the practice tests. You will do well if you do all that.

MS Certification Test

I have scheduled my first certification test for late October. I think that by putting the date on the calendar it will push me to finish my study more quickly. I have not been as vigilent as I would have liked to be so I am lighting the fire so to speak. Also with my new position I think that I will have some big SQL Server Projects down the road pretty quickly. That is a bigger fire for me but all the extra motivation is good for me. I have learned a lot over the last 8 months or so that I have been doing DBA work with Sybase, Oracle, and SQL Server but I still feel like I have so much to learn. Now I will be focusing more on SQL Server so I am really going to start getting my hands dirty on some fun big national projects. I am very excited to be in the mix more than I have been to this point. I am sure that I will have some good stories for you very soon.
Anyway I do not have much time now to get ready for that first test. I think that I am pretty much ready but I want to study more and play in SQL Server more before taking the test. I just do better once the pressure is on. Wish me luck and I will keep you in the loop.

Still working towards Cert.

Sorry that I have not posted in so long. I have had some family things come up and I have ben very busy. I think that I have all that worked out, except for being busy, and I should be back to posting at more regular intervals.

I am still working on getting my MCITP DBA. I, and the guys I work with, are still working on the first book. I must say that I really do still have a lot to learn but I love that. That is why I chose to get into IT, the education never ends. I just never have enough time to do all that I want and to read all that I want. I am still working with Powershell alot and trying to do things with SQL Server and Poweshell combined. I am working on some small scripts that will gather important information from SQL Server for us and I will share them as I complete them. Anyway, I still have about 5 chapters to go in the first study guide book and then I think that I will read it again and this time I will do all the practices and examples as I go. I am not this time around because I am just attempting to absorb as much as I can and get a basic understanding. Once I have that then I will be able to go though it again and dig deeper and do the stuff and really understand what it is all about and how it works.

Anyone have any thoughts on how I can better prepare myself for the MCITP exams I am all ears.

Thanks and I will be posting again soon.