Best SQL Certifications for Leveling up Your Career

If you want to build and strengthen your position in the IT industry, you should look into these SQL certifications.

We always encourage you to learn, to gather new skills and experience. Training is really important; without it, you will not make much progress if you want to advance in IT or specifically in the SQL industry. That said, you also need something that can validate your competencies, like SQL certifications.

You may have already experienced requests for proof of certification by your potential employer. You may have also seen interesting job postings with SQL or other database certification required.

This is the reality. This is why it is a good idea to consider certification at each step of your development. The time and the effort will pay off.

But not all SQL certifications are equally recognized. We have prepared for you a list of well-known and well-recognized certifications. We have some for beginners as well as some for more advanced specialists.

1.  Oracle Certification

Oracle speaks for itself. This is a brand that the IT industry knows very well. Getting a certificate with the Oracle logo can help improve your skills and experience. It can also be a ticket to a higher position.

To get one of these certifications, you need to have strong basic knowledge, then you will need to pass an exam. Each path has a specific role for which the certification applies, so you can choose what suits you the best.

If you are a beginner, you will probably start with a certification from the database administration area, like the Oracle Database Administration 2019 Certified Professional path. It will confirm your knowledge of Oracle solutions.

You will know, for example, how to install, patch, and upgrade an Oracle database and an Oracle Grid Infrastructure for a standalone server, how to create and manage a backup-and-recovery strategy, how to use RMAN for database duplication and transportation, how to manage all aspects of multitenant container databases, and more.

The certification for Oracle administration has two parts: Oracle Database Administration I and Oracle Database Administration II. If you want to be a certified professional, you need to pass two exams; you can take them online. An important thing to consider is that you don’t need to have a separate SQL certification to get this one. However, you do need to demonstrate previous experience in the field, so SQL practice is a must.

2.  EDB PostgreSQL Certification

If you are interested in developing skills in PostgreSQL, you might want to consider completing the EDB certification.

The prerequisites to pass this certification include an associate-level certification and the completion of an advanced PostgreSQL course. If you are not sure that you remember everything, take some time to review key topics on PostgreSQL. Then, build your confidence by practicing as much as you can. This is the best and the only way to level up your skills. I wrote an article about how to practice PostgreSQL online a while ago, which you might find useful.

A PostgreSQL certification exam assesses a professional's knowledge of databases. Advanced responsibilities are required for maintaining and managing Postgres servers and applications successfully.

The access to the exam is valid for 6 weeks after purchase. However, you get just one attempt to access the exam. It is a one-hour multiple-choice test, and you need to score 80% or higher to pass.

When you pass the certification exam, you get a digital badge which you can display, for example, on your LinkedIn profile.

3.  Microsoft Certification

Microsoft is another recognizable brand, perfect for anyone who wants to validate their skills and experience.

Their certification offering is very extensive. You can search the website by the role of your interest or by your level of experience. Or you can simply search in the browser to find the skill for which you want to be certified, such as SQL Server, Power BI, or Azure.

All certifications require exams. Again, you need to ensure you have sufficient knowledge. You are paying for tests, so be sure to spend it wisely!

To prepare for the Azure or the SQL Server certification, you need to demonstrate solid knowledge in the data basics. To get an Azure certification, you need to know how to work with relational and nonrelational databases and be able to describe an analytics workload on Azure. This exam is for candidates who work with data in the cloud.

To get the SQL Server certification, you also need to understand core database concepts. In addition, you need to be able to create data objects, manipulate data, understand data storage, and understand how to administer data. You should check your skills in detail and remember that there is no such thing as too much practice. Prepare for the exam even if you feel you have a solid understanding of the basic material.

In the description of each Microsoft certification, you can find specific information about the corresponding learning path. One certification may be a prerequisite for another certification.

When you earn the certification, you can get a badge to display on your LinkedIn profile. Let people know what you are good at!

4.  IBM Certification

And now, something for data engineers. This IBM professional certification is for Big Data engineers who work with data architects and developers, with deep technical knowledge and experience in a wide variety of technologies and products.

Data engineering is a field that has been gaining in popularity in recent years. Trends show that data engineering is now almost as popular as data science. If you are considering a serious engineering career, check out how much you can earn as a data engineer.

To obtain an IBM Big Data certification, you need to pass one test. However, it has a lot of requirements, with an entire list of skills a candidate needs to demonstrate. Just to highlight some of them:

• Understand the data layer and particular areas of potential challenge/risk in the data layer.
• Understand network requirements.
• Understand important interfaces, data modeling, data replication, and synchronization.
• Translate functional requirements into technical specifications.
• Propose recommended and/or best practices regarding the movement, manipulation, and storage of data in a Big Data solution.
• Identify/support non-functional requirements for the solution.

It is also recommended that you know software like BigInsights, BigSQL, Hadoop, and more.

The test consists of single-response and multiple-choice questions. You can check the detailed scope of the test and sample questions on this website.

IBM encourages promoting yourself with an official Transcript of Certification Credentials authenticated by IBM. You can also post the digital badge on social media or print the “IBM Certified” logo marks on your business cards.

5.  Google Certification

Our well-known uncle Google has recently advertised a lot of their training and certification offerings. Let’s take a look at what we can find there for SQL certifications.

Google provides an entire training program with a certification at the end. The materials are powered by Coursera with a wide range of online courses. As it says on its website, Google works with Coursera to make their Career Certificates available on the Coursera platform.

You don’t need to have relevant experience to get started with Google Data Analytics Certification. You can learn online, studying 10 hours a week. The certification is at the entry level, and the program provides the knowledge and the skills to get your first job in data analytics. You will get to know data types and structures and understand how to use data to solve problems as well as how to analyze data.

The training path ends with exams and a certification. Google also encourages you with an option to access job postings relevant to your certification: “After you’ve graduated from the program, you’ll have access to career resources and be connected directly with employers hiring for open entry-level roles in data analytics.”

6.  Learn SQL.com Certifications

With online interactive courses on Learn SQL.com, you can prepare for each professional certification you need. You can start as a beginner with SQL basics and become an expert with more advanced training.

Though maybe not as recognizable as Oracle, you can benefit from getting a certification after each online course on Learn SQL.com. It validates your experience, knowledge, and practice you gain from learning.

You can also display your SQL certificate in your LinkedIn profile. You will immediately see how recruiters looking for emerging database talents react to it. Expect job leads. Our certificates show that you actually completed the course, which is not as simple as people might think. Believe me, not everyone gets to the end.

Why choose LearnSQL.com certifications? I will say one thing – several thousand UBER employees have already benefited from the courses on the platform. Yes, this is the global giant in rideshare! The fact that they chose LearnSQL.com for their employees says something. If you want to know more, take a look at our UBER case study.

Share Your Experience, Post Your Certificates

As you can see, an SQL certification can assist you tremendously in your career development. Now you know which SQL certifications to choose and why.

Remember, however, that even the best certifications cannot replace real SQL knowledge and practice. You should practice your SQL skills as much as possible. Don't know where you can do this? Here are 12 Ways to Practice SQL Online.

If you have finished some courses but still have not obtained an SQL certification, do it now! You will see the value. Complete your profile on LinkedIn and on other social media platforms with your certificates. Spread the word about your level of experience and your skills. Who knows, maybe your new job is out there!

If you have already obtained an SQL certification or if you have already passed an exam to get certified, let us know in the comments. Maybe a certification has already opened the door to your new career path? We want to hear your story!