Firstand foremost, Kyle is a blessed husband of a magnificent woman and a father of5. In an effort to support this beautiful family, he has been working withcomputers since 1995 in both a development and administrative capacity.
For over 10 of those years, SQL Server has been the focus of both a professionaland personal passion. Kyle has worked in online retail, manufacturing, EMRsoftware, and pharmaceutical industries. He continues to chase his passion ofautomating DBA processes and doing everything humanly possible to prevent the0200 page working as a Sr. Microsoft Consultant for Perpetual Technologies(PTI) in Indianapolis.
Kyle currently serves as the Vice-President of the Indianapolis chapter of PASS (www.indypass.org) and has been part of an excellent team ofvolunteers over the past two years to bring SQL Saturday to Indianapolis.Family, SQL Server, and #SQLFamily seem to consume most waking hours - so he considerssleeping to be his favorite hobby for which there seems to be little time.
Robert Hartskeerl is working as a Premier Field Engineer at Microsoft Services. Priorto joining Microsoft in 2011 he worked as an architect, dba, system engineerand software programmer. His first encounter with SQL Server dates back to 2001and SQL Server 2000. Nowadays he is helping Microsoft customers to get the mostout of SQL Server.
Aside from working at Microsoft he is a regular within the Dutch PASS community and one of the people behind SqlZaterdag, the Dutch edition of SQL Saturday.
Feel free to follow Robert on twitter; http://twitter.com/rhartskeerl
You can follow Robert's blog at http://blogs.technet.com/b/rhartskeerl
Dmitri is the Director of Development in Actsoft, Inc
Dmitri is SQL Server MVP and works with SQL Server for more than 11years. He specializes in architecture, development and performance tuning of OLTP systems.
Dmitri is a regular speaker at SQL Server user groups, PASS events, TechEd and other conferences.
He blogs at: http://aboutsqlserver.com
The Microsoft Learning and Advanced Certification team is excited to begin offering testing for the MCM and MCSM Knowledge and Qualification Lab exams at upcoming Microsoft events*.
Hosted Events:
To register for an exam or to request additional details, please email advcert@microsoft.com. *Dates/times are subject to change and are dependent on meeting a minimum number of registered candidates. Existing program prerequisites must be met prior to registration.
The Microsoft Advanced Certification Portal will be offline December 18 – 21, 2012 as part of a scheduled upgrade to provide enhanced services to our community. The upgrade will include new password management features, user profile changes, access to social content, and additional reporting capabilities.
During the upgrade users will be unable to register or access their account via the online portal; however, the Advanced Certification team will be available to assist users with manual registration or account access. If you would like to register for one of our courses, exams or need access to your account, please email advcert@microsoft.com.
Tim Chapman is a Dedicated Premier Field Engineer with Microsoft where he specializes in training andworking with large customers on performance tuning, high availability,and disaster recovery.
Tim has been working with SQL Server since the SQL 2000 days as a database administrator, database engineer, and data architect.
Before coming to Microsoft, Tim was a SQL Server MVP for 3 years for his contributions to the SQL Servercommunity. Tim is a regular speaker at SQL Server user group meetings, SQL Saturday events, and the PASS Summit.
Tim contributed chapters in the most recent SQL Server MVP Deep Dives 2 book as well as the SQLServer 2012 Bible.
Thomas LaRock is a seasoned IT professional with over a decade of technical and management experience. Currently serving as a TechnicalEvangelist for Confio Software, Thomas has progressed through several roles in his career including programmer, analyst, and DBA. Thomas holds a MS degree inMathematics from Washington State University and is a member of the Usability Professional’s Association.
Thomas currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS), and is also a SQLServer MVP.
Thomas can also be found blogging at http://thomaslarock.com and is the author ofDBA Survivor: Become a Rock Star DBA (http://dbasurvivor.com).
Blog link: http://thomaslarock.com
Individuals who currently hold or achieve the Microsoft Certified Master credential by December 31, 2013 for Exchange Server 2010, Lync Server 2010, SharePoint Server 2010, SQL Server 2008, or Windows Active Directory 2008R2 will automatically receive the Microsoft Certified Solutions Master Charter credential. The Charter certification will be awarded for the same technology as the Microsoft Certified Master and will be active until January 1, 2014.
Individuals interested in retaining the Microsoft Certified Solutions Master certification beyond the Charter expiration will need to recertify based on the program requirements at the time of recertification. Once achieved, the recertification will remain active for three years.
For additional details visit the Microsoft Certified Solutions Master website. If you have specific questions regarding the charter certification, please email advcert@microsoft.com.
It's just two days before the start of a huge SharePoint Conference in Las Vegas, and we have great news to share from the Advanced Certifcations team. The first MCSM: SharePoint rotations are scheduled to start in early 2013, and registration is now open!
Program Basics
What it is:
MCSM: SharePoint includes over 100 hours of instructor-led training delivered by top SharePoint experts from inside and outside Microsoft, including members of the SharePoint & Office 365 product teams, Microsoft Consulting Services, and the MCM, MCA, and MVP communities.
We're doing a complete refresh of the course content, labs, and exams based on SharePoint Server 2013. We'll continue to offer hands-on training with complex, large-scale, hybrid on-premise & cloud environments; validate deep product knowledge and practical skills with our knowledge and lab exams; and provide you with access to an exclusive community of experts inside and outside Microsoft.
For a detailed inventory of the skills we develop and validate, see the "Skills Being Measured" section of the attached document.
Who it's for:
Candidates are a mix of experienced SharePoint professionals from inside & outside Microsoft, and typically hold job roles like Senior-level Consultants, Technology Architects, Deployment Professionals, Senior Engineers, and Enterprise-Scale Administrators.
Prerequisites are detailed on our program home page.
For a detailed overview of typical candidate backgrounds, see the "Audience Profile" section of the attached document.
When it's happening:
We're doing a closed Beta with current SharePoint 2010 MCMs in December & January, and have scheduled the first rotations open to qualified candidates to start in March 2013.
The Masters journey is a rewarding one, but it is long - prospective candidates should start preparing now by working towards their MCSA: Windows Server 2012, MCSE: SharePoint, and MCSD: SharePoint Applications certifications.
For our program schedule, see our registration portal.
How and Where we do it:
We have two different training formats:
The first two public deliveries (one starting in March, the next starting in June) will be using the hybrid format.
Why do it?
I could recite secondhand (and firsthand) testimonials all day long, but for the most open and unbiased perspectives - ask a current SharePoint MCM. You can find them on our blog roll (on the right side of this page) and are sure to see many of us presenting and attending SPC 2012 next week.
Presence at SharePoint Conference
I'll be at SharePoint Conference all next week, heavily caffeinated and ready to talk about SharePoint training & certification as long as my voice and feet hold out. Come by the readiness booth at the Product Pavilion to learn from me and my colleagues at Microsoft Learning about MCSA/MCSE/MCSD/MCSM/MCA certifications, training, and general SharePoint readiness.
You can also visit us at the readiness/certification/training table at Ask the Experts on Wednesday night.
Upcoming Program Overview Webcast
Want to learn more but won't be at SPC? I'll be hosting a webcast on Tuesday, November 27 at 8AM Pacific Time. I'll provide a detailed program overview and set aside plenty of time for live Q&A. If you want to learn more about our program from the folks who run them (and are all MCMs themselves), sign up today!
You can register for the webcast here.
Links to webcasts for all upcoming MCM program webcasts are always available at this search-driven link.
As always, if you have additional questions, feel free to reach out to our team at advcert@microsoft.com .
As Jimmy May (@aspiringgeek) alluded to yesterday there is big news in the MCM / MCSM world for SQL Server.
In the early days (i.e. when I went through the SQL Ranger program) there was on campus, required training in order to obtain the MCM certification.
At some point in the distant past, the training was no longer required.
And to be fair, it is still not required.
However, in May of next year we will be debuting our MCSM training option.
It will consist of one week of insructor led training on campus in Redmond (as opposed to 5 weeks on campus for SQL Ranger).
During this week in addition to obtaining world class instruction, you will get to network and build the community that was a large part of the older programs.
We will get as many SQL Server Product Group PMs in during this week to the meet the members of the rotation.
After that, what would normally have been weeks two and three of the training will be delivered by Virtual Instructor Led Training (VILT). Currently envisioned as 10 weeks of twice a week VILT for two to three hours per session.
Watch this space for more announcements, details etc.
As always if you have questions, would like to participate etc. please reach out to me.
When the rotation dates are firmed up, you will be able to register for the training via our Advanced Certification Portal .
Please look me up if you are at #sqlpass #summit2012
Shiyang Qiu is currently a Premier Field Engineer in Microsoft Hong Kong.
Shiyang works with SQL Server since SQL Server 2000 in Greater China region, focusing on high performance database programming, database tuning and t-shooting, database HA solution design and DBA tasks.
He also works for SQL BI project and SharePoint related capability planning, deployment and DR design.
He also loves web technology, digital gadgets, decent food, Radiohead, cyberpunk and Boston Celtics.
He blogs at www.qiushiyang.com
Testing has started at SQL PASS Summit 2012 #sqlpass (yesterday in fact) and is well attended.
Between individuals taking the exam, attendees asking, and social media comments I thought it was time to clear up a few misconceptions about the MCM Qualification Lab Exam (88-971)
When I manually proctor one of these exams I give the candidate a brief intro. I will provide a facsimile of that here and hopefully clear things up for everyone.
The lab exam consists of a number of scenarios, each of which may contain from 1 to N business requirements. I have not seen any individual successfully complete all scenarios in the allotted time.
However, you do not need to do complete all scenarios in order to pass the Qualification Lab Exam. Just like any certification exam, there is a passing score that must be met.
Some scenarios are weighted more than others - i.e. a certain scenario may be worth more or less points than another scenario. We do not publish the relative weights of the scenarios.
For each scenario (in its current form) you must complete ALL requirements successfully in order to get credit for the scenario, WE DO NOT give partial credit so it is imperative that you ensure you meet all requirements for the scenario.
So what I recommend is upon starting your exam, read through all scenarios first. Find the ones that you are the most skilled at accomplishing and make sure you accomplish all stated requirements for that scenario.
Save the areas you may not have worked with, or have less experience until later in the exam.
I hope this helps and please come find me at SQL PASS!
Please stop by the Certification Testing area, Microsoft Learning area, or the #SQLFamily Birds of a Feather luncheon.
See you at the Summit!
We had a delay (too many moving parts, I'm afraid) with the scheduling process for MCM exams to be taken at SQL PASS Summit 2012.
The 88-970 (SQL Server 2008 MCM Knowledge Exam) can now be scheduled directly via Prometric websit. Please use test center MC60. This is SQL PASS Summit.
The 88-971 (SQL Server 2008 MCM Lab Exam) has started scheduling today. This is manual process... Thank you to all who have expressed interest.
I am supposed to get the list of folks who have responded today.
The 88-976 MCSM: Data Platform Knowledge Exam has not gone live yet, and you will have to wait to schedule (via Prometric) Test Center MC60.
I will post once the exam has gone live for scheduling.
Thanks again and see you at SQL PASS Summit 2012!
All current SQL 2008 MCMs to receive MCSM: Data Platform certification (Grandfathering)
The implementation of this policy will allow MCMs to hold both an MCM and an MCSM – it will be an additional certification and will not replace the current certification on their transcripts or elsewhere.
The new MCSM: Data Platform certification will appear on student transcripts. Currently this will be a manual process and we are awaiting system changes to support this policy (please be patient with us).
SQL Server 2008 MCMs will be awarded the MCSM: Data Platform with an “inactive period” (will become inactive on January 1, 2014 if not recertified) .
If the student does not do the upgrade their MCSM certification will change to inactive (similar to other programs).
This does not apply to MCM certifications – these will not expire.
I have had numerous questions regarding the process so I will try and clarify...
If you are taking MCSA or MCSE exams (70-461, 462,463, 464,465, 466,or 467) you will register at Prometric and use a special testing center... As soon as this setup has been complete by Prometric I will notify everyone.
If you are taking the MCM 2008 exams (either 88-970 Knowledge or 88-971 Qual Lab) or the new MCSM Knowledge Exam (88-986) then you should contact GetCert@microsoft.com (cc: AdvCert@microsoft.com).
The Advanced Certification team will manage the scheduling of these exams, not Prometric.
There are a limited number of discount vouchers still available, but you must have the Advanced Certification team schedule you in order to receive these discounts.
As alway if there are any questions please reach out to me at bob.taylor@microsoft.com
Thanks to everyone who tried contacting us via the GetCert@microsoft.com .There was an initial problem with the alias which should have been corrected.
We have had a lot of interest already, and will be closing the pre-registration process at the end of the day (PST) November 1st.
If you are planning on taking any of the MCM / MCSM exams, we will need your MCP ID to verify eligibility before we can lock down a spot for you.
See you at SQL PASS Summit!
We wrapped up our final SharePoint 2010 MCM rotation ("R13") at the end of August, marking a delivery hiatus until our first MCSM: SharePoint rotations (stay tuned to the MCSM page, this blog, and our program webcasts for more info on the what/where/when/how/why of that as it becomes available). It was our first "standard model" delivery (three consecutive weeks on-site in Redmond) since introducing our "hybrid model" in January, and we all "enjoyed" the conspicuously pleasant summer weather from the confines of the classrooms in Building 40, working through long hours of lectures, labs, and study. We've also been busy with lab exam proctoring since the last blog post, so I'm very pleased to announce several new members of our community from previous rotations as well:
Congratulations to everyone, and welcome to the SharePoint MCM community!
SharePoint 2010 MCM delivery continues through late August 2013 in the form of retakes and lab exam proctoring.
We're also hard at work on designing MCSM: SharePoint and performing a complete refresh of course material, hands-on labs, and exams for SharePoint 2013 - a huge but rewarding effort involving the efforts of dozens of SharePoint MCMs. Stay tuned!
In a colloborative effort between Microsoft Learning IT, SQL Server Marketing, SQL PASS, and Advanced Certifications we will have a testing center, exam cram, and study hall at SQL PASS 2012!
The facilities will be open for both pre-con days as well as during the entire conference.
I have a limited (i.e. first come, first served) discount vouchers for the MCSM: Data Platform Knowldge Exam, the MCM 2008 Knowledge Exam, and MCM 2008 Lab Exam.
Additionally, the Microsoft Learning team will be providing discount vouchers for all MCP exams.
If you are interested, please mail our alias to provide us with your contact information and the exams you are interested in.
GetCert@microsoft.com
Pedro Correia is currently the responsible for the Information System that supports the Portuguesee.school Program that delivered more than 1.5 million laptops to students and teachers.
He has been working with SQL Server for over 12 years, since the days of SQL Server 7.0, and hisspecialties are security and performance tuning. He is also a SQL Server trainer and teaching is one of his passions.
Currently he is aiming to became more active in the SQL Community by launching, with other members, bythe end of this year a SQL Server Portal (http://www.sql.pt) that hopefully will become a reference in the SQL Server Portuguese Panorama(with bilingual content).
Above all he is the proud father of a 4 year old princess that is starting to follow his father stepsregarding his interests on Electronic Gadgets, Robots, R/C Toys and Outdoor Sports.
Pedro blogs at http://sql.pt
If you have been trying to decide whether or not to pursue your MCM: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 certification this may help you make the decision.
The MCM: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Knowledge Exam will be retired on January 1, 2014. At that point in time, you must pusue the MCSM: Data Platform certification.
The MCM: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Lab Exam retirment date has not been set yet. So, if you are able to pass your MCM: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Knowledge Exam before the retirement date you can still take the MCM: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Lab Exam.
Approximately 12-15 months after the release of the MCSM: Data Platform Lab Exam, the MCM: Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Lab Exam will be retired.
Watch here for more exciting announcements!
Klaus Aschenbrenner is CEO & Founder of SQLpassion (http://www.SQLpassion.at) a SQL Serverconsulting company that provides SQL Server Consulting Services across Europe.Klaus works with SQL Server 2005/2008/2012 from the very beginnings. In theyears 2004 - 2005 Klaus was entitled with the MVP award from Microsoft for histremendous support in the .NET Community. Klaus has also written the book ProSQL Server 2008 Service Broker which was published by Apress in the Summer of2008. In his spare time he operates and rents a full-scale Boeing 737-800cockpit simulator in the basement of his house in Vienna/Austria. Furtherinformation about Klaus you can find on his homepage at http://www.SQLpassion.at.
He also twitters at http://twitter.com/Aschenbrenner.
Blog Link: http://www.SQLpassion.at/blog
Cris Benge has over 15 years of software development, database management and business intelligence experience primarily providingconsultation and architectural guidance on the Microsoft platform. He is passionate about data warehouse design / ETL development, database development& performance tuning, and implementing highly available solutions for the most mission-critical systems in both OLTP and OLAP/BI scenarios.
Cris is currently a senior consultant for Microsoft (federal public sector) and has been developing solutions on SQL Server since v6.5. Overhis career as a Microsoft employee, a business owner, and an agency consultant he has had the opportunity to work in a broad range of industries including:healthcare, pharmaceutical, biochemical, automotive, financial Services, consumer goods manufacturing, and state & federal government.
Cris lives in central Indiana with his wife and 4 kids and enjoys reading, weight lifting, absurdly fast cars, and constantly learning new things.
Karl is a Senior Database Administrator for Coeo, a Microsoft Gold Partner providing SQL Server services for mission critical environments, where he provides mission critical support for Coeo’s enterprise customers.
He has been working with SQL Server for over 14 years, since the days of SQL Server 6.5, and he specialises in performance tuning & benchmarking, scalability, and high availability.
Karl can be found on Twitter (@sqlrambo)