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Certification summary
The Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): Data Platform certification shows that you have the broad set of skills needed to build and administer enterprise-scale data solutions both on-premise or in cloud environments. The MCSE: Data Platform certification exams test your ability to implement database objects and programming objects, optimize and troubleshoot queries, design a troubleshooting and optimization solution, and design databases and database objects, structure, and security. Earning an MCSE: Data Platform certification will qualify you for such jobs as database analyst and database designer.
Exams summary
To get a MCSE: Data Platform certification you need to complete these five exams:
Exam 461: Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012
Exam 462: Administering Windows Server 2012
Exam 463: Configuring Advanced Windows Sever 2012 Services
After finishing Exam 461, 462 and 463 you'll earn a Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA): SQL Server 2012 certification. Once you have your MCSA: SQL Server 2012 the next two exams will upgrade that to a MCSE: Data Platform.
Exam 464: Developing Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Databases
Exam 465: Designing Database Solutions for SQL Server 2012
A closer look...
The Microsoft MCSE is a globally recognised qualification across the IT and telecommunications industry. A variety of government organisations, training institutions and corporations around the UK recommend or require the MCSE certification for their staff or channel partners.
Career & Job Opportunities
The Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) is a globally recognised qualification across the IT and telecommunications industry. A variety of government organisations, training institutions and corporations around the UK recommend or require MCSE certifications for their staff or channel partners. These includes Amazon, Dell, HP, BT and the Cabinet Office. As of 2015, the average salary of a Microsoft MCSE Professional is £40,300pa with more than 87% being offered a salary of more than £27,000pa. The average salary for a MCSE graduate is estimated to be £26,000pa. After graduation, you can find work in roles such as Systems Engineer and Support Technician with relative ease.
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We will work with you to ensure that you can find work in IT after completing your Microsoft course
Working with JobcentrePlus and our Recruitment Partners across the UK, we will work with you to ensure that you can find work in IT (an not in any job) through job interviews and applications. We aim to get you in an IT job role on completion of your MCSE. If you have no qualification or background in IT, we will provide you with the necessary training for the experience required. For existing MCSE professionals, we can upgrade your qualifications and improve your career prospects. Do not allow your lack of experience or self-confidence deny you from a career in I.T - it is a lot easier (and enjoyable too) than most people think, once you learn the basics.
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The five exams
The MCSE Data Platform is the latest generation in Microsoft server technology and as such there is no current retirement plan for its exams. Below is a breakdown of the exams for this certification and how they are made up.
Exam 461
This exam measures your ability to accomplish the technical tasks listed:
- Create database objects.
- Work with data.
- Modify data .
- Troubleshoot and optimize.
Exam 410
This exam measures your ability to accomplish the technical tasks listed: Create database objects, Work with data, Modify data, Troubleshoot and optimize . Here are the percentages that make up the final mark for this exam using these technical tasks:
- Create database objects (24%)
- Create and alter tables using T-SQL syntax (simple statements)
- Create and alter views (simple statements)
- Design views
- Create and modify constraints (simple statements)
- Create and alter DML triggers
- Work with data (27%)
- Query data by using SELECT statements
- Implement sub-queries
- Implement data types
- Implement aggregate queries
- Query and manage XML data
- Modify data (24%)
- Create and alter stored procedures (simple statements)
- Modify data by using INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements
- Combine datasets
- Work with functions
- Troubleshoot and optimize (25%)
- Optimize queries
- Manage transactions
- Evaluate the use of row-based operations vs. set-based operations
- Implement error handling
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Exam 462
This exam measures your ability to accomplish the technical tasks listed:
- Install and configure.
- Maintain instances and databases.
- Optimize and troubleshoot.
- Manage data.
- Implement security.
- Implement high availability.
Exam 462
This exam measures your ability to accomplish the technical tasks listed: Install and configure, Maintain instances and databases, Optimize and troubleshoot, Manage data, Implement security, Implement high availability. Here are the percentages that make up the final mark for this exam using these technical tasks:
- Install and configure (19%)
- Plan installation
- Install SQL Server and related services
- Implement a migration strategy
- Configure additional SQL Server components
- Manage SQL Server Agent
- Maintain instances and databases (17%)
- Manage and configure databases
- Configure SQL Server instances
- Implement a SQL Server clustered instance
- Manage SQL Server instances
- Optimize and troubleshoot (14%)
- Identify and resolve concurrency problems
- Collect and analyse troubleshooting data
- Audit SQL Server instances
- Manage data (19%)
- Configure and maintain a back-up strategy
- Restore databases
- Implement and maintain indexes
- Import and export data
- Implement security (18%)
- Manage logins and server roles
- Manage database permissions
- Manage users and database roles
- Troubleshoot security
- Implement high availability (12%)
- Implement AlwaysOn
- Implement database mirroring
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Exam 463
This exam measures your ability to accomplish the technical tasks listed:
- Design and implement a data warehouse.
- Extract and transform data.
- Load data.
- Configure and deploy SSIS solutions.
- Build data quality solutions.
Exam 463
This exam measures your ability to accomplish the technical tasks listed: Design and implement a data warehouse, Extract and transform data, Load data, Configure and deploy SSIS solutions, Build data quality solutions. Here are the percentages that make up the final mark for this exam using these technical tasks:
- Design and implement a data warehouse (11%)
- Design and implement dimensions
- Design and implement fact tables
- Extract and transform data (23%)
- Define connection managers
- Design data flow
- Implement data flow
- Manage SSIS package execution
- Implement script tasks in SSIS
- Load data (27%)
- Design control flow
- Implement package logic by using SSIS variables and parameters
- Implement control flow
- Implement data load options
- Implement script components in SSIS
- Configure and deploy SSIS solutions (24%)
- Troubleshoot data integration issues
- Install and maintain SSIS components
- Implement auditing, logging, and event handling
- Deploy SSIS solutions
- Configure SSIS security settings
- Build data quality solutions (15%)
- Install and maintain data quality services
- Implement master data management solutions
- Create a data quality project to clean data
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Exam 464
This exam measures your ability to accomplish the technical tasks listed:
- Implement database objects.
- Implement programming objects .
- Design database objects.
- Optimize and troubleshoot queries.
Exam 464
This exam measures your ability to accomplish the technical tasks listed: Implement database objects, Implement programming objects, Design database objects, Optimize and troubleshoot queries. Here are the percentages that make up the final mark for this exam:
- Implement database objects (31%)
- Create and alter tables (complex statements)
- Design, implement, and troubleshoot security
- Design the locking granularity level
- Maintain indexes
- Implement data types
- Create and modify constraints (complex statements)
- Work with XML data
- Implement programming objects (21%)
- Write automation scripts
- Design and implement stored procedures
- Design T-SQL table-valued and scalar functions
- Create, use, and alter user-defined functions (UDFs)
- Create and alter views (complex statements)
- Design database objects (24%)
- Design tables
- Design for concurrency
- Create and alter indexes
- Design data integrity
- Design for implicit and explicit transactions
- Optimize and troubleshoot queries (24%)
- Optimize and tune queries
- Troubleshoot and resolve performance problems
- Optimize indexing strategies
- Capture and analyse execution plans
- Collect performance and system information
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Exam 465
This exam measures your ability to accomplish the technical tasks listed:
- Design database structure.
- Design databases and database objects.
- Design database security.
- Design a troubleshooting and optimization solution.
Exam 465
This exam measures your ability to accomplish the technical tasks listed: Design database structure, Design databases and database objects, Design database security, Design a troubleshooting and optimization solution. Here are the percentages that make up the final mark for this exam:
- Design database structure (29%)
- Design for business requirements
- Design physical database and object placement
- Design a table and index partitioning strategy
- Design a migration, consolidation, and upgrade strategy
- Design SQL Server instances
- Design backup and recovery
- Design databases and database objects (32%)
- Design a database model
- Design tables
- Design for concurrency
- Design a management automation strategy
- Design for implicit and explicit transactions
- Design database security (15%)
- Design an application strategy to support security
- Design database, schema, and object security parameters
- Design instance-level security configurations
- Design a troubleshooting and optimization solution (24%)
- Design a maintenance strategy for database servers
- Troubleshoot and resolve concurrency issues
- Design and implement a high availability solution
- Design a solution to monitor performance and concurrency
- Design a monitoring solution at the instance level
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This course is suitable for...
School leavers
A fun and enjoyable way to build a fresh career
Teachers & IT professionals
A prestigious qualification which will distinguish you from the crowd of 21st century geeks
Anyone else...
Looking to start a healthy, rewarding & lucrative career in I.T
But is this course right for you?
Will it provide you with the skills that you need, or the career you'd like to explore? If you are not 100% sure that it's correct for you then we highly recommend that you experience our trial courses and assessments to get an accurate insight to the MCSE certification. You can sign up for this below or use it to ask our lecturers some questions. You can also call us on 0800 622 69 69 and speak to one of our course advisers and they will help you choose the perfect certification tailored to your needs.
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