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Microsoft Certified Master (MCM)

Brent Ozar Talks SQL 2012 and MCMs on RunAs Radio

Last Updated February 12, 2017

Microsoft Certified Master (MCM)

Richard Campbell’s RunAs Radio podcast is a relaxed, fun discussion between IT professionals like sysadmins and DBAs who have to manage infrastructure. Richard’s a hoot to talk to, and I really like hanging out with him. I think that comes through on the podcasts, too – I could spend hours chatting with him, and the…

Brent Ozar Unlimited® Adds Another MCM

Last Updated February 12, 2017

Company News, Microsoft Certified Master (MCM)

Nope, we didn’t clone Brent. I am honored to say I’ve earned the Microsoft Certified Master SQL Server 2008 certification. Seriously honored. I feel awesome. What’s the SQL Sever MCM? “MCM” stands for “Microsoft Certified Master.” As Microsoft describes it, “the MCM program is the highest level of technical certification; it helps recognize and validate…

Pimp My MCM Certificate Contest Winner

Last Updated February 12, 2017

Humor, Microsoft Certified Master (MCM)

Wow – you guys are creative! I got a lot of laughs out of the contest entries, and here’s some of the highlights. Doug Lane certified Admiral Ackbar as a Master of Trap Recognition and Countermeasures: Michael Swart captured the essence of what it feels like when Microsoft says you actually passed: Robert Davis got…

SQLskills MCM Videos: Behind the Scenes

Last Updated February 12, 2017

Microsoft Certified Master (MCM)

A few weeks ago, Microsoft unveiled changes to the Microsoft Certified Master (MCM) of SQL Server program and showed off new free video training materials by SQLskills. I was curious to hear what the community would think about the new certification and our training materials. Jason Strate (Blog – @StrateSQL) was the first to blog…

One for me, one for you.

I passed the MCM! iPads for everyone!

Last Updated July 8, 2020

Microsoft Certified Master (MCM)

Quest: “Brent, here’s a top-of-the-line Apple iPad 3G, case, camera kit, dock, and all the trimmings.” One for me, one for you. Me: “What? Why?” Quest: “Before you went for the Microsoft Certified Master program, you kept telling us how hard it was and how high the failure rate was. We wanted to thank you for…

The Masters of the MCM Program: David Ikeda and Joe Sack

Last Updated February 12, 2017

Microsoft Certified Master (MCM)

The Microsoft Certified Masters program doesn’t run itself. David Ikeda and Joe Sack manage the monster, and I’d like to take a minute to thank them for everything they do. Someone’s gotta review the applicants. Not everybody gets accepted into the program. Some candidates don’t have the necessary experience, and some are just looking for…

Six of the SQL MCM R8 guys

SQL MCM: The Exams

Last Updated March 10, 2021

Microsoft Certified Master (MCM)

If the DBA answer is always, “It depends,” how can Microsoft test DBAs? Six of the SQL MCM R8 guys Every week of the MCM program, attendees take a multiple-choice test. Afterwards, we gathered in the hallways and vigorously debated our answers. We agreed about most of the questions, but we had loud discussions about…

Running on Empty

SQL MCM: Now, the bad stuff.

Last Updated February 12, 2017

Microsoft Certified Master (MCM)

The MCM isn’t perfect. The instructors and David Ikeda (the lead for this rotation) are trying hard to make the experience great, but there’s some areas for improvement. I’ve been holding back from discussing them until I’d seen all of the instructors; I didn’t want to post a complaint and have people connect that complaint…

Killing Us Softly

SQL MCM Day 15: Logistics

Last Updated February 12, 2017

Microsoft Certified Master (MCM)

There’s something really exciting about walking into Microsoft each morning. I know it sounds cheesy, but I get the feeling that really cool things are happening all over the campus. Love ’em or hate ’em, Microsoft builds things that touch our everyday lives, and this is where it’s happening. I know a lot of Microsoft…

MCM Flash Cards

SQL MCM Day 14: Test #2

Last Updated February 12, 2017

Microsoft Certified Master (MCM)

The MCM schedule goes like this: Week 1 – M-F – training Week 1 – Weekend – study time Week 2 – Monday 8am – written exam covering Week 1’s material Week 2 – M-F – training Week 2 – Weekend – study time Week 3 – Monday 8am – written exam covering Week 2’s…

SQL MCM Day 11: When and How to Get In Free

Last Updated February 12, 2017

Microsoft Certified Master (MCM)

I’m more than halfway through my big adventure. Candidates are starting to complain about the lack of sleep and the abundance of material. So far this week, we’ve covered the following material: 537 PowerPoint slides (and these aren’t Brent-style slides, either – one of the slides yesterday scored 15 bullet points) 43 T-SQL scripts 11…

Adam Machanic, Japanese Snack Connoisseur

SQL MCM Day 10: Comfort Zone

Last Updated February 12, 2017

Microsoft Certified Master (MCM)

I’m kinda good at a few things. I can tune pretty much any SQL Server to make it run faster. I play a decent game of Extreme Query Makeover. If you talk about your SQL Server application behavior for a few minutes, I can usually tell you where your bottleneck is. I’ve even been known…

SQL MCM Day 9: Taking Good Notes

Last Updated February 12, 2017

Microsoft Certified Master (MCM)

I sit at the back of the classroom, so I get to see everybody’s laptops as they’re working. Some folks surf the web, make travel plans, or do email. Other folks follow along with the demos, running the scripts on their machines before the instructor gets to the next one. I seem to have a…

My kind of email

SQL MCM Day 8: The First Weekly Exam

Last Updated February 12, 2017

Microsoft Certified Master (MCM)

Here’s everything you need to know to pass the MCM written exams: Before you get here, read the prerequisites. Again. And again. And again. My kind of email Do the demos. Run the scripts. Explain them out loud. Teach the workings to your pet hamster. Be completely comfortable with everything covered in the prerequisite reading. …

XKCD - Duty Calls

SQL MCM Day 7: One Week Down

Last Updated February 12, 2017

Microsoft Certified Master (MCM)

Whew. The first week was taught by Paul Randal (Blog – @PaulRandal) and Kimberly Tripp (Blog – @KimberlyLTripp), the husband-and-wife team of former Microsofties who founded SQLSkills.com. To call them good trainers is an epic understatement. They know how to deliver very, very technical material in ways that illustrate it well. I had to stop…

Well, there's always Access.

SQL MCM Day 3: Thieves and Clerics

Last Updated February 12, 2017

Microsoft Certified Master (MCM)

I played a lot of Dungeons & Dragons growing up, and part of the game involves building your character. You picked a class like thief, cleric, fighter, and so on, and your choice determined the strengths and weaknesses of your character. Your character’s Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Charisma, and Intelligence scores were affected by your class. …

SQL MCM Day 2: NDA Club

Last Updated February 12, 2017

Microsoft Certified Master (MCM)

One of the classic lines from the movie Fight Club is: “The first rule of Fight Club is: you do not talk about Fight Club. The second rule of Fight Club is: you DO NOT talk about Fight Club!” Tom LaRock (Blog – @SQLRockstar) used this line (and many others) to explain what happens at…

MCM Swag

SQL MCM Day 1: The Ides of March

Last Updated February 12, 2017

Microsoft Certified Master (MCM)

I know kung fu. SQL MCM Swag Okay, maybe not, but day one of my Microsoft Certified Master training for SQL Server was pretty darned cool. I arrived to find my name on a spot in the classroom, plus my very own swag! We got: A t-shirt that says “Microsoft Certified Master” – which I…

My home for the next 3 weeks

MCM Day 0: No More Cramming

Last Updated February 12, 2017

Microsoft Certified Master (MCM)

Tomorrow is the first day of school. I wasn’t all that fond of school, if I’m honest. My most vivid recollection of high school is that I constantly forgot my locker combination. I kept having to go to the office for them to remind me, and it got so bad that the secretary knew my…

What would make you get your bacon wallet out?

MCM Prep Week: How Would You Change the MCM?

Last Updated February 12, 2017

Microsoft Certified Master (MCM)

By now I’ve told you pretty much everything I know about the Microsoft Certified Master program, and I’m curious to hear your feedback. How would you change the SQL MCM program? What would make you get your bacon wallet out? Most of the complaints I’ve heard have boiled down to: Cost – $20k for 3…