Top 11 SQL Developer Certifications

Certifications are important for SQL developers in the job market because they demonstrate a level of expertise and provide employers with an assurance that the developer is qualified to do the job. Certifications also give employers confidence that the developer is knowledgeable about the latest trends and technologies related to SQL development. Additionally, certifications are often required for certain positions or promotions, so having them can make a candidate more competitive in the job market. Finally, obtaining certifications shows employers that an individual has taken initiative to advance their skills and stay up-to-date with industry standards.

The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the most beneficial certifications for SQL Developers and discuss how they can help advance a developer's career.

What are SQL Developer Certifications?

SQL Developer Certification is a professional certification that demonstrates an individual’s expertise in the use of Structured Query Language (SQL) and other related database technologies. It is designed to demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to design, develop, implement, and maintain SQL-based applications. With this certification, employers can be assured that the certified individual has a comprehensive understanding of the fundamentals of database systems and is capable of developing complex databases and queries.

SQL Developer Certification can help individuals demonstrate their expertise in SQL development to employers. It can also provide an opportunity for career advancement as it demonstrates a commitment to learning new technologies and staying current with industry trends. Additionally, it may help individuals stand out from other job applicants who lack such qualifications. Certified professionals may also be able to command higher salaries due to their demonstrated experience and expertise in this area.

Pro tip: Make sure to research the different types of SQL Developer certifications available and find one that is specific to your job role or the particular type of database you are working with. Also, look for a certification program that offers hands-on practice as well as a comprehensive exam to ensure you have a thorough understanding of the material.

Related: What does an SQL Developer do?

Top 11 SQL Developer Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to SQL Developers today.

1. Oracle Certified Professional, MySQL 5.6 Database Administrator

Oracle Certified Professional, MySQL 5.6 Database Administrator is a certification program offered by Oracle to demonstrate proficiency in the administration of MySQL databases. This certification validates an individual’s ability to install, configure and manage MySQL databases as well as troubleshoot and optimize performance.

The Oracle Certified Professional, MySQL 5.6 Database Administrator certification requires passing a single exam (1Z0-883). This exam covers topics such as installation and configuration, security, backup and recovery, tuning and optimization, replication, user management and more. The exam consists of 75 multiple choice questions with a passing score of 65%. The exam takes approximately 2 hours to complete.

To become certified as an Oracle Certified Professional, MySQL 5.6 Database Administrator you must first purchase the exam voucher from Oracle (cost varies depending on country). Once the voucher has been purchased you can register for the exam at Pearson VUE or Prometric testing centers worldwide.

The cost of the exam voucher varies depending on country but typically ranges between $150-$200 USD.

2. Oracle Certified Expert, MySQL 5.7 Database Administrator

Oracle Certified Expert, MySQL 5.7 Database Administrator (OCE MySQL 5.7 DBA) is a certification program offered by Oracle to recognize professionals who have demonstrated the knowledge and skills necessary to administer and maintain MySQL databases. It is an intermediate-level certification that requires candidates to demonstrate their ability to install, configure, upgrade, monitor, secure, backup/recover, troubleshoot and optimize MySQL databases.

The OCE MySQL 5.7 DBA certification exam consists of multiple-choice questions that assess the candidate's knowledge of database administration tasks in the context of real-world scenarios. The exam takes approximately two hours to complete and is available in English only.

To become an Oracle Certified Expert, MySQL 5.7 Database Administrator (OCE MySQL 5.7 DBA), you must first pass the Oracle Database 12c: Advanced Administration (1Z0-063) exam with a score of at least 80%. After passing this exam, you will then need to take the Oracle Certified Professional, MySQL 5.7 Database Administrator (OCP MySQL 5.7 DBA) exam with a score of at least 75%. Once both exams have been passed successfully, you will be awarded the OCE MySQL 5.7 DBA certification from Oracle University.

The cost for taking the OCP and OCE exams varies depending on your country or region; however, it typically ranges from $245 USD - $295 USD per exam session plus applicable taxes and fees

3. Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA): SQL Server 2016 Database Development

Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA): SQL Server 2016 Database Development is a certification that validates an individual’s expertise in developing and maintaining databases using Microsoft SQL Server 2016. It is designed to help individuals demonstrate their knowledge of the core database concepts, tools, and technologies used to develop and maintain databases.

It typically takes around three months to complete the necessary training and exams required for this certification. The training consists of two courses: Querying Data with Transact-SQL and Developing a Microsoft SQL Server 2016 Database. The exams associated with this certification are Exam 70-761: Querying Data with Transact-SQL, Exam 70-762: Developing SQL Databases, and Exam 70-764: Administering a Microsoft SQL Database Infrastructure.

In order to get certified, you must register for the exam through Pearson VUE or Prometric testing centers. You will then be able to take the exam at one of these locations after paying the associated fee. The cost of each exam varies depending on location but is typically around $150 USD per exam.

Once you have successfully passed all three exams, you will receive your MCSA: SQL Server 2016 Database Development certification from Microsoft.

4. Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): Data Management and Analytics

Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): Data Management and Analytics is a certification designed to demonstrate expertise in designing, building, and maintaining data solutions. It covers topics such as data warehousing, data modeling, data mining, big data analytics, business intelligence, and cloud computing. This certification requires two exams: one on Microsoft SQL Server and another on Microsoft Azure Data Services.

It typically takes around three months of study to prepare for the MCSE: Data Management and Analytics certification. The best way to get started is to take a course or attend a boot camp that covers the material you’ll need to know for the exams. You can find online courses or in-person classes offered by Microsoft or third-party providers. Additionally, there are self-study materials available from Microsoft’s website and other sources.

The cost of the MCSE: Data Management and Analytics certification varies depending on the type of training you choose. Generally speaking, you can expect to pay anywhere from $500-$3000 for an online course or boot camp. There may also be additional costs associated with taking the actual exams.

5. IBM Certified Database Administrator – DB2 10 for Linux, UNIX and Windows

IBM Certified Database Administrator – DB2 10 for Linux, UNIX and Windows is a professional certification for database administrators who want to demonstrate their expertise in the installation, configuration, and administration of IBM's DB2 10 database software. It is designed to validate an individual’s knowledge and skills in the areas of system management, security, performance tuning and data analysis.

It typically takes between 3-6 months to prepare for the exam depending on your experience level. To get certified you must pass two exams: Exam 730 (DB2 10 DBA for Linux, UNIX and Windows) and Exam 731 (Advanced Database Administration). The cost of each exam is $200 USD.

To prepare for the exams you can use self-study materials such as books or online courses. You can also attend instructor-led training classes offered by IBM or its authorized training partners.

6. Oracle Database 11g: Administration I

Oracle Database 11g: Administration I is an Oracle-certified course designed to provide a comprehensive introduction to the Oracle Database 11g. It covers topics such as database architecture, installation, configuration, and administration of the Oracle Database 11g. The course also covers security, backup and recovery, performance tuning, and troubleshooting.

The duration of the course is 5 days and it can be taken either in-person or online. To get the certification you will have to pass the 1Z0-052 exam which consists of 75 multiple choice questions that must be completed in 90 minutes.

The cost for the Oracle Database 11g: Administration I course varies depending on where you take it from but typically ranges from $2,000 - $3,000 USD.

7. Oracle Database 12c: Administration Workshop I

Oracle Database 12c Administration Workshop I is an instructor-led course designed to provide a firm foundation in the administration of Oracle Database 12c. This course covers topics such as installation, configuration, managing database storage structures, user security, database backup and recovery techniques, and performance monitoring and tuning. It also covers the use of the Oracle Enterprise Manager Cloud Control for managing databases.

This course takes approximately 5 days to complete. To get this course you can either purchase it from Oracle University or you can attend an instructor-led training session at a local training center. The cost of this course varies depending on where you purchase it from.

8. Microsoft 70-461: Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014

Microsoft 70-461: Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014 is a certification exam that tests the skills of an individual in writing queries using Transact-SQL to manage and query data stored in Microsoft SQL Server 2012 or 2014. It is designed for individuals who have experience with database design, implementation, maintenance, and querying.

The exam takes approximately 2 hours to complete and consists of 40-60 questions. To get the certification, you must pass the exam with a score of 700 or higher on a scale of 1000.

To get the certification, you must first register for the exam at Pearson VUE and pay the registration fee which varies depending on your country. The current cost of the exam is $165 USD in the United States. After registering for the exam, you will receive an email confirmation with instructions on how to schedule your test date and time.

Once you have passed the exam, you will receive an email from Microsoft confirming your success and providing access to digital badges and certificates that can be shared online or printed out as proof of your achievement.

9. Microsoft 70-462: Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014 Databases

Microsoft 70-462 is a certification exam that tests the skills and knowledge of an individual in administering Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014 databases. It is designed for IT professionals who are responsible for the installation, configuration, maintenance, and troubleshooting of Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014 databases.

The exam consists of 40-60 questions and takes approximately two hours to complete. The topics covered include installation and configuration, security, performance tuning, backup and recovery, high availability, replication, data management and troubleshooting.

To get this certification you will need to pass the 70-462 exam. You can register for the exam at Pearson VUE or Prometric Testing Centers. The cost of the exam varies depending on your location but typically ranges from $150-$200 USD.

10. IBM DB2 9 Fundamentals Certification Exam 730

IBM DB2 9 Fundamentals Certification Exam 730 is a certification exam that tests the knowledge and skills of IT professionals who work with IBM's DB2 9 database management system. This exam is designed to assess the candidate's ability to install, configure, and manage DB2 9 databases. It also covers topics such as data modeling, SQL query language, table space management, backup and recovery, security, and performance tuning.

The exam takes approximately 90 minutes to complete and consists of multiple-choice questions. The exam can be taken at any Pearson VUE testing center or online via the IBM website.

The cost of taking the exam varies depending on location but typically ranges from $150-$200 USD.

11. Zend PHP 5 Certification

Zend PHP 5 Certification is a professional certification program designed to validate an individual's knowledge and expertise in the popular PHP programming language. It is administered by Zend, the company behind the widely-used open source web development framework, Zend Framework.

The certification consists of a single exam that tests an individual's knowledge of core PHP 5 features and functions, as well as their ability to create applications using the Zend Framework. The exam takes approximately 90 minutes to complete and is available in both online and paper formats.

To get certified, individuals must register for the exam through the Zend website and pay a fee of $195 USD. After registering, they can take the exam at any authorized testing center around the world or take it online from home. To pass the exam, individuals must score 70% or higher.

Once they have successfully passed the exam, they will receive their official Zend PHP 5 Certification certificate within 2-3 weeks. This certificate is valid for life and shows employers that an individual has demonstrated their proficiency in developing applications with PHP 5 and the Zend Framework.

Do You Really Need a SQL Developer Certificate?

No, an SQL developer certificate is not necessary to become a successful SQL developer. While having a certificate can help demonstrate your knowledge to potential employers and make you more competitive in the job market, there are many other ways to prove your proficiency in SQL.

You can start by taking online courses or tutorials on the basics of SQL. You can then build up your skills by working on projects that involve using SQL databases or writing scripts for data analysis. As you gain more experience, you can participate in hackathons or coding competitions for additional practice and recognition of your skillset.

Additionally, you can earn certifications from companies such as Microsoft or Oracle. These will provide evidence of your proficiency with specific software and technologies while also allowing you to stay ahead of the curve with new technology releases.

Overall, having an SQL developer certificate is not necessary if you want to become a successful SQL developer, but it can be beneficial in some cases. Ultimately, what matters most is gaining experience and honing your skills through practice and self-education.

Related: SQL Developer Resume Examples

FAQs About SQL Developer Certifications

1. What is a SQL Developer Certification?

Answer: A SQL Developer Certification is a professional certification that demonstrates an individual's expertise in working with Structured Query Language (SQL) and related database technologies.

2. How do I earn a SQL Developer Certification?

Answer: To earn a SQL Developer Certification, individuals must pass a series of exams that test their knowledge and skills in the areas of database design, data manipulation, query optimization, stored procedure development, and more.

3. What are the benefits of getting certified as a SQL Developer?

Answer: Benefits of getting certified as a SQL Developer include improved job prospects, greater credibility among peers and employers, and the ability to stay up-to-date on industry trends and best practices.

4. How much does it cost to get certified as a SQL Developer?

Answer: The cost of getting certified as a SQL Developer can vary depending on the type of certification sought after. Generally speaking, costs will include exam fees, course materials or study guides, and any other necessary resources for successful completion of the certification process.

5. How long does it take to become certified as a SQL Developer?

Answer: The length of time required to become certified as a SQL Developer can vary depending on an individual's experience level and the type of certification sought after. Generally speaking, those with adequate experience may be able to complete the process in 6-12 months; however those without any prior experience may require more time due to additional study requirements.