10 Top Database Certifications

These are 10 of the top database certifications you can earn right now, along with the different skills they signal to a recruiter or interviewer:

1. Microsoft DP-300 Exam: Administering Relational Databases On Microsoft Azure: Best For Cloud

The Microsoft DP-300 exam is a baseline accreditation designed to teach the fundamentals of database knowledge. This course is intended to train students in using Microsoft’s cloud computing service Azure, ending in the Microsoft DP-300 exam.

Check out this practice exam!

Skills Acquired

The Microsoft DP-300 Exam: Administering Relational Databases On Microsoft Azure will not only teach about Microsoft Azure. It will also include how to:

Plan and implement resources.
Implement a safe database environment.
Monitor, configure, and optimize database resources.
Configure and manage automation of tasks.
Plan and configure a high availability and disaster recovery (HA/DR) environment.

Requirements

There are no prerequisites for the DP-300 exam, but the Azure Fundamentals certification does recommend a user have baseline knowledge that will make the exam easier.

Duration, Location, And Cost

Length of exam: Two hours, 40-60 questions.

Location: The exam can be taken at a remote location or a testing center.

Cost: $165.

Practice tests are also available on Microsoft’s website.

2. Google Cloud’s Professional Data Engineer: Best For Machine Learning

Google Cloud’s Professional Data Engineers allow users to make data-driven decisions by collecting, transforming, and publishing data. With Google Cloud’s Professional Data Engineer certification, a user should be able to leverage, deploy, and continuously train pre-existing machine learning models.

Skills Acquired

The Google Cloud’s certification will teach many skills to whoever completes it, including:

Design data processing systems.
Ensure solution quality.
Operationalize machine learning models.
Build and operationalize data processing systems.

Requirements

There are no prerequisites, but Google Cloud recommends experience: three years of industry experience and one year of using Google Cloud.

Duration, Location, And Cost

Length of exam: Two hours.

Location: A user can take the online-proctored exam from a remote location or take the onsite-proctored exam at a testing center.

Cost: $200.

Google Cloud’s Professional Data Engineer has a certification guide as well.

3. MongoDB Database Administrator: Best For Beginners

MongoDB is often the go-to database choice for teams that need a NoSQL or non-relational database. It’s not the most commonly used database, but it’s employed frequently enough that database administrators may want a MongoDB certification at some point in their careers.

MongoDB offers two platform-specific certifications, MongoDB Developer and MongoDB Database Administrator, which will be the most relevant for database professionals.

Skills Acquired

The certification will teach many skills to beginners in the field. This includes:

Covering fundamentals in server and database administration.
Basic JavaScript.
Data system programming.
Database software development.
Shows the unique advantages of MongoDB.

Requirements

The Database Administrator course has no prerequisites.

Duration, Location, And Cost

Length of exam: 90 minutes, 60 questions.

Location: A user can take the online-proctored exam.

Cost: $150.

Check out this practice exam!

4. Meta Database Engineer Professional Certificate: Best For Applications

Meta Database Engineer Professional Certification will give students the key skills required to create and manage databases, as well as industry-standard programming languages and software such as SQL, Python, and Django used for supporting outstanding websites and apps like Facebook, Instagram, and more.

Skills Acquired

The Meta certification will teach many skills to whoever completes it, including:

Demonstrating proficiency in SQL syntax.
Learn to interact with a database.
Create databases.
Learn how to add, manage, and optimize databases.
Write database-driven applications in Python.
Develop knowledge of advanced data modeling concepts.

Requirements

There are no requirements.

Duration, Location, And Cost

Length of exam: Self-paced.

Location: A user can take the exam online.

Cost: From $39.99 a month.

5. Oracle Certified Professional, Oracle Database 19c: Data Guard Administrator Certification: Best For Administrators

The Oracle Certified Professional, Oracle Database 19c: Data Guard Administrator certification is for database systems administrators with responsibility for disaster recovery. The certification challenges students on their knowledge and pushes their limits of database skills and increases value in the marketplace.

Skills Acquired

The certification will teach many skills to database administrators. This includes:

Knowledge of Oracle Data Guard concepts.
Database configuration.
Database management.
Database optimization and monitoring.
Data protection.
Disaster recovery.

Requirements

The student will need to complete one of several Oracle Database courses. 4 to 5 years of Database Administration with 2 to 3 years of Data Guard.

Duration, Location, And Cost

Length of exam: Two hours.

Location: The exam can be taken online or at a Pearson VUE testing center.

Cost: $245.

Check out this practice exam!

For more information: Guide to Database Management

6. EnterpriseDB’s Postgres Certification Program: Best For Postgres

Since Postgres is open source, there are no certificates available directly from the PostgreSQL development team. If a user wants a Postgres certificate, the only option will be a third-party certification program offered by EnterpriseDB.

Skills Acquired

The certification will teach many Postgres skills to whoever completes it. This includes:

Basics of database administration.
The specifics of working with Postgres.
Benchmarking and replication.
Management of high-availability systems.

Requirements

There are no prerequisites for the associate certificate. The professional certification requires the completion of the associate exam.

Duration, Location, And Cost

Length of exam: One hour.

Location: The exam is conducted online.

Cost: $200.

7. IBM Certified Administrator – Db2 12 for z/OS: Best For Advanced Users

An IBM Certified Administrator on IBM Db2 12 for z/OS is the lead database administrator for the Db2 product on the z/OS operating system. When a user completes the certification, this individual is capable of performing intermediate to advanced tasks related to database design and implementation.

Skills Acquired

The certification will teach many skills to advanced users. This includes:

Database design and implementation.
Operation and recovery.
Security and auditing.
Installation and migration.
Additional database functionality.

Requirements

It is required for a user to have passed Exam C1000-078: IBM Db2 12 for z/OS Administrator.

Duration, Location, And Cost

Length of exam: 90 minutes, 60 questions.

Location: The exam is conducted online.

Cost: ~$200.

For more: 5 Trends in the Database Job Market

8. SAP Certified Application Associate, Reporting, Modeling, And Data Acquisition With SAP BW/4HANA 2.X: Best For SAP HANA

Certification from SAP can be valuable for professionals working with SAP HANA. The company offers a wide variety of credentials, but only two are directly relevant to SAP HANA.

Skills Acquired

The SAP Certified Application Associate certification will teach the following skills to whoever completes it:

Database modeling.
Data acquisition.
Query design with SAP HANA.

Requirements

There are no prerequisites for the exam.

Duration, Location, And Cost

Length of exam: 180 minutes, 80 questions.

Location: The exam is conducted online.

Cost: $227 for one attempt; $568 for six attempts.

Check out this practice exam!

9. Teradata Vantage Administrator Exam: Best For SQL

Do you want to learn more about Teradata Vantage and its features, like its advanced SQL engine? Teradata offers a course and exam for DBAs that will teach a user more about Vantage and measure their knowledge.

Skills Acquired

The certification will teach many skills to whoever completes it, including advanced skills in SQL, and the following:

Advanced SQL Engine.
Database administration.
Performance management.
Security and system logging.
Workload management.

Requirements

There are no prerequisites for the course or exam. However, Teradata recommends one to three years of hands-on experience with Vantage.

Duration, Location, And Cost

Length of exam: 130 minutes.

Location: The test can be taken remotely or at a Pearson VUE testing location.

Cost: $249.

Check out this practice exam!

10. Certified Data Professional (CDP): Best For Variety

The CDP is an update of the Certified Data Management Professional (CDMP). This applicable credential from The Institute for the Certification of Computing Professionals (ICCP) allows you to specialize in an area of interest within the data field.

Skills Acquired

The CDP certification will teach many skills to whoever completes it, including:

Business analytics.
Data governance.
Data integration.
Data management.
Data and information quality.
Data warehousing.
IT management.

Requirements

Depending on the level of certification a user wants, a user may need to have from 0-5 years of experience in the field.

Duration, Location, And Cost

Length of exam: ~90 minutes.

Location: The test can be taken remotely or at a Pearson VUE testing location.

Cost: From $250-4,500, for more information see here.

For more information: Database Trends

Why Should You Get A DBA Certification?

Database professionals are in high demand right now, particularly those who are familiar with multiple databases. One or more certifications can help database administrators (DBAs) or students demonstrate their experience and stand out from other candidates.

When employers see a DBA certification, the employer might consider a candidate for the following job titles:

Database manager.
Data analyst.
Data scientist.
Information security analyst.
Database administrator.
Data modeler.
Software engineer.
Data specialist.
Computer programmer.
Computer systems analyst.
SQL developer.
Information systems manager.
Database developer.
Computer network architect.

Getting a DBA certification can help a candidate’s resume and the experience they have had. With any job above, an employee can also help a company with their expertise in their field.

For more on job opportunities: Top Companies Hiring for Database Jobs

Bottom Line: Database Certifications

A database certification will show both current and future employers that a worker possesses specific skills, knowledge, and experience. A DBA certification is a great add-on to a resume, and the database skills will help employers find the right candidate.

With a DBA certification, a user can learn more and increase their database skills for a future or current employer.

10 Top Database Certifications

Top 10 Database Certifications: Table of Contents