Transitioning to the latest Microsoft database certification is simple. The certification track is made clear for all individuals looking to upgrade their certification. In database technology, Microsoft has enhanced the certification program with the knowledge and skills included, but they have limited the number of certifications you can earn to just one, in order to get all IT professionals in this field on the same track. With one certification, employers will have an easier time setting a standard of competence, and employees will have a program that is better tailored to the jobs and tasks at hand.
The 2008 Microsoft certifications in database technology, MCITP: Developer 2008 and MCITP: Database Administrator 2008, can be upgraded to the MCSE: Data Platform 2012 certification by completing three exams. A lot of the knowledge accumulated in these exams is new, but much of it is enhanced from the general concepts and features that accompanied the 2008 certifications. IT professionals who have built a solid career with these certifications can certainly continue to find success within the field, as long as they can prove their comprehension of the updated material and its application in the workplace. Training resources and practice exams (offered through TestsLive) are helpful in making this happen.
The first two exams, Microsoft 457 and Microsoft 458, go hand-in-hand. They consist of general primary knowledge regarding the SQL Server 2012 and its transition and differences from the 2008 server. These are also required exams in upgrades to other SQL technologies and cannot be avoided when upgrading your certification. The third exam, Microsoft 459, mainly discusses the transition to Data Platform from the previous certifications. Because this is the exam that will relate directly to the job, hands-on skills and knowledge application will be the focal point.