What is the most highly respected and accepted DBA certification?

Question

I heard from a good source not to get the Microsoft cert. What about Oracle?

Answer 1

Depends on whether you want to work in a Microsoft shop or an Oracle shop. Both can potentially pay well. You should learn the software that interests you most, and then learn the others if possible.

Certifications are not as important as the certification sellers might want you to think, though. They are a "nice to have" on some resumes but won't get you any job by themselves. And a lack of certification is not going to prevent you from getting a DBA job either, unless it is very close between you and another applicant on many other fronts and they have a certification you don't. Working at one of the largest banks in the world, I know some of the best DBAs never wasted a minute getting certifications.

Answer 2

You will find it easier to get employed in a company that uses SQL Server if you have the Microsoft certification, and vice-versa.

Most companies, especially larger companies, have a mix of RDBMS: A few SQL Server licenses, maybe Oracle, maybe SAP, and depending on the industry, other specific database platforms -- almost all will have unique interfaces. Therefore, any certification is a plus.

It is easiest to get hired as a DBA if you have a certification, but you generally will find that working in a given industry will give you the skills you need to work at other shops in the same industry.

Answer 3

You have been misinformed. A DBA should always have certification. And if you want to work in an environment that uses MS products, get Microsoft certification. If you want to work in an Oracle environment, get OCP (or better OCM, I think it is). Most vendors have their own certification route.