http://sqlblog.com/blogs/argenis_fernandez/archive/2012/02/22/a-few-thoughts-on-the-sql-server-mcm-program.aspxI took the MCM lab a couple of weeks ago and passed. I still don’t believe it - it’s been quite the journey. There have been many decisive moments in my career; one of those was back in 2010 when I decided I would work on obtaining the certification afterenCommunityServer 2.1 SP2 (Build: 61129.1)http://sqlblog.com/blogs/argenis_fernandez/archive/2012/02/22/a-few-thoughts-on-the-sql-server-mcm-program.aspx#41858Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:52:32 GMT21093a07-8b3d-42db-8cbf-3350fcbf5496:41858Eugene Lobanov<p>Yeah! You are lucky man!</p> <p>I wanna pass MCM too, but there aren't training centers in Russia.</p> <p>I wanna do labs, but it's to expencive for me.</p> <p>How much does it cost for you? Is it helpfull?</p> <p>Eugene!</p>http://sqlblog.com/blogs/argenis_fernandez/archive/2012/02/22/a-few-thoughts-on-the-sql-server-mcm-program.aspx#41859Wed, 22 Feb 2012 07:57:57 GMT21093a07-8b3d-42db-8cbf-3350fcbf5496:41859Argenis<p>@Eugene the knowledge exam costs $500, and the Lab costs $2000. If you take a IE class with the SQLSkills folks or do the MCM Online training being offered, you have an opportunity to win vouchers to be used toward the cost of the certification.</p>http://sqlblog.com/blogs/argenis_fernandez/archive/2012/02/22/a-few-thoughts-on-the-sql-server-mcm-program.aspx#41860Wed, 22 Feb 2012 08:02:21 GMT21093a07-8b3d-42db-8cbf-3350fcbf5496:41860Sourabh <p>A very nice take on MCM. I am taking mine the coming winter and hopefully I can learn from your experience.</p>http://sqlblog.com/blogs/argenis_fernandez/archive/2012/02/22/a-few-thoughts-on-the-sql-server-mcm-program.aspx#41862Wed, 22 Feb 2012 09:11:56 GMT21093a07-8b3d-42db-8cbf-3350fcbf5496:41862Richard Douglas<p>Congratulations, that's awesome!</p>http://sqlblog.com/blogs/argenis_fernandez/archive/2012/02/22/a-few-thoughts-on-the-sql-server-mcm-program.aspx#41872Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:13:28 GMT21093a07-8b3d-42db-8cbf-3350fcbf5496:41872Brent Ozar<p>Congratulations, man, and you definitely are a Master.</p>http://sqlblog.com/blogs/argenis_fernandez/archive/2012/02/22/a-few-thoughts-on-the-sql-server-mcm-program.aspx#41891Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:47:24 GMT21093a07-8b3d-42db-8cbf-3350fcbf5496:41891Andy ball<p>Congrats . So roughly how many hours did u spend studying ? I know this is kind of meaningless question due to everyone's experience / abilities being different , but would kind of interesting. I'm trying to figure out ROI </p>http://sqlblog.com/blogs/argenis_fernandez/archive/2012/02/22/a-few-thoughts-on-the-sql-server-mcm-program.aspx#41895Wed, 22 Feb 2012 21:26:13 GMT21093a07-8b3d-42db-8cbf-3350fcbf5496:41895Argenis<p>@Andy, I didn't track hours - always studied after business hours. But in my opinion the ROI of such an advanced certification is always 1) huge and 2) very positive.</p> http://sqlblog.com/blogs/argenis_fernandez/archive/2012/02/22/a-few-thoughts-on-the-sql-server-mcm-program.aspx#41925Thu, 23 Feb 2012 17:30:07 GMT21093a07-8b3d-42db-8cbf-3350fcbf5496:41925Jonathan Gardner<p>Congratulations!</p>http://sqlblog.com/blogs/argenis_fernandez/archive/2012/02/22/a-few-thoughts-on-the-sql-server-mcm-program.aspx#41926Thu, 23 Feb 2012 18:06:31 GMT21093a07-8b3d-42db-8cbf-3350fcbf5496:41926Oscar Zamora<p>Congratulations Argenis! You are right about the practice portion. You need to have experienced it in the real world. I wish other certifications had labs as part of the exam; I've dealt with certified resources in the past that didn't know how to solve real-world challenges, or even have an idea where to start to get their arms around it.</p> <p>I was never fond of certification because of it; however the MCM is a different ballpark.</p> <p>Congratulations again!</p>http://sqlblog.com/blogs/argenis_fernandez/archive/2012/02/22/a-few-thoughts-on-the-sql-server-mcm-program.aspx#41931Thu, 23 Feb 2012 20:51:42 GMT21093a07-8b3d-42db-8cbf-3350fcbf5496:41931Kendra Little<p>Not only all of that-- you've also been regularly presenting at SQL Saturdays, as well, and breaking ground in new topics!</p> <p>Very cool, and very well deserved. Congrats!</p>http://sqlblog.com/blogs/argenis_fernandez/archive/2012/02/22/a-few-thoughts-on-the-sql-server-mcm-program.aspx#41947Fri, 24 Feb 2012 21:11:50 GMT21093a07-8b3d-42db-8cbf-3350fcbf5496:41947Andy Ball<p>Thx , I'm intending doing outside of office hours too, that's why I was asking ;) Ie giving up say 250 hours ( I need to do the 2 dev exams) of my life v better money / better chance of landing a higher paying Contract cos I know more</p>http://sqlblog.com/blogs/argenis_fernandez/archive/2012/02/22/a-few-thoughts-on-the-sql-server-mcm-program.aspx#41949Fri, 24 Feb 2012 22:45:45 GMT21093a07-8b3d-42db-8cbf-3350fcbf5496:41949Matt Velic<p>Congratulations! This is fantastic news!</p>http://sqlblog.com/blogs/argenis_fernandez/archive/2012/02/22/a-few-thoughts-on-the-sql-server-mcm-program.aspx#42039Thu, 01 Mar 2012 08:09:12 GMT21093a07-8b3d-42db-8cbf-3350fcbf5496:42039Simon Roses<p>Congratulations!</p>http://sqlblog.com/blogs/argenis_fernandez/archive/2012/02/22/a-few-thoughts-on-the-sql-server-mcm-program.aspx#44062Mon, 25 Jun 2012 06:30:35 GMT21093a07-8b3d-42db-8cbf-3350fcbf5496:44062Madhivanan<p>Congratulations</p>