As a follow-up to my SQL Server 2012: New Certification Info, Microsoft Learning has announced the certification tracks for the SQL Server 2012 exams.  There are new names for the certifications:

Your first step is to achieve Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA).

If you are new to certification you must take the following three exams:

• Exam 70-461: Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012
• Exam 70-462: Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Databases
• Exam 70-463: Implementing a Data Warehouse with Microsoft SQL Server 2012

If you have an MCTS in SQL Server 2008 already you can take the following path

• A pass in any SQL Server 2008 Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) exam (70-448, 70-433, 70-432)
• Exam 70-457: Transition your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012 – Part 1
• Exam 70-458: Transition your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012 – Part 2

Once you have achieved you MCSA status you can then start for your Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) certification.

You have a choice to do the MCSE: Data Platform or the MCSE: Business Intelligence, or of course you could do both.

MCSE: Data Platform involves

• Obtain your SQL Server 2012 MCSA
• Exam 70-464: Developing Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Databases
• Exam 70-465: Designing Database Solutions for Microsoft SQL Server 2012

There is also an upgrade path

• A pass in Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) Database Administrator 2008 or Database Developer 2008 (70-450 or 70-451)
• Exam 70-457: Transition your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012 – Part 1
• Exam 70-458: Transition your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012 – Part 2
• Exam 70-459: Transition your MCITP: Database Administrator 2008 or MCITP: Database Developer 2008 to MCSE:Data Platform

MCSE: Business Intelligence involves

• Obtain your SQL Server 2012 MCSA
• Exam 70-466: Implementing Data Models and Reports with Microsoft SQL Server 2012
• Exam 70-467: Designing Business Intelligence Solutions with Microsoft SQL Server 2012

The upgrade path involves:

• A pass in Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) Business Intelligence 2008 (70-452)
• Exam 70-457: Transition your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012 – Part 1
• Exam 70-458: Transition your MCTS on SQL Server 2008 to MCSA: SQL Server 2012 – Part 2
• Exam 70-460: Transition your MCITP: Business Intelligence Developer 2008 to MCSE: Business Intelligence

As a result if you want to achieve the MCSE in either Data Platform or Business Intelligence and you are starting from scratch there will be 5 exams to take.  If you have the ability to upgrade your certification because you have an MCITP already then it will be three upgrade exams.

Notice that these new certifications don’t have “SQL Server 2012” in their names.  The certifications are not versioned.  Instead, certifications may cover multiple versions of the product.

Upgrade exams are scheduled to be available by the end of August 2012.  There is currently no info on the subjects they will cover.

There is also now two Microsoft Certified Solutions Master (MCSM) certifications: MCSM: SQL Server and MCSM: Intelligence.  It is good to see BI get its own MSCM.  And there is still the Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA).  Details for these have not been released yet.

Full details and questions can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/cert-sql-server.aspx

More info:

A New Era in Microsoft Certification

Microsoft’s Certifications Reinvented for the Cloud

Breaking News: Changes to Microsoft SQL Server Certifications