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How to Get SQL Certified: 5 Steps, With Costs and Exam Rules

By Owen Middleton · Updated November 2026 · We ran the examples on PostgreSQL 17

To get SQL certified, pick a certification. Then pass its exam or test, or finish its course. Use these five steps:

  1. Choose the kind of proof that you need: a proctored exam, a test or a course certificate.
  2. Prepare from the list of exam skills that the issuer gives.
  3. Pay the fee, or pick a free test.
  4. Take the exam or test under its rules.
  5. Show the result. If it has an end date, renew it before that date.

On our list of eleven SQL certifications, you pay from $0 to US$245 for one exam or test, or for one month of a plan.

We make SQLMaxx Learn, a free SQL course.

Step 1: Where can you get a SQL certification?

There are three kinds of SQL certification:

  • A proctored exam from the company that makes the SQL product: Databricks, Microsoft, Oracle and Snowflake.
  • A test or an exam that the issuer does not call proctored. You take it on a site for courses or practice: DataCamp, freeCodeCamp, HackerRank, LearnSQL.com and W3Schools.
  • A course certificate: you finish a course. On our list, there are two: the IBM course on Coursera and SQLMaxx Learn.

Read job posts for the jobs that you want. Then pick a certification for the SQL product in those posts. Examples are Oracle Database, SQL Server, Snowflake and PostgreSQL. The SQL product of each exam, from its issuer:

  • Oracle AI Database SQL Certified Associate (1Z0-171): You use SQL with Oracle Database.
  • Microsoft Certified: SQL AI Developer Associate (DP-800): You write T-SQL for Microsoft SQL Server, Azure SQL, and SQL databases in Microsoft Fabric.
  • Databricks Certified Data Analyst Associate: You use Databricks SQL. Databricks says: "the SQL in this certification exam adheres to ANSI SQL standards."
  • SnowPro Core Certification (COF-C03): You use the Snowflake AI Data Cloud.
  • DataCamp SQL Associate: DataCamp says that you use PostgreSQL in the exams.

Oracle has two SQL Certified Associate exams, 1Z0-171 and 1Z0-071. In our view, book 1Z0-171, the newer one. Oracle offers Exam 1Z0-171 on Oracle MyLearn, where you can register for the online exam. We found no retirement date for it. In a database certification guide (a PDF file from December 2018), Oracle names "Oracle Database SQL 1Z0-071" as the first exam for the Oracle Database 12c DBA OCA. Exam 1Z0-171 is not in that guide.

Check that the exam is current. Before you pay, open the page of the issuer. Look for a retirement date. Two examples from Microsoft:

  • Microsoft retired the last MCSA exams on January 31, 2021, for example 70-761 (Querying Data with Transact-SQL) and 70-762 (Developing SQL Databases).
  • Microsoft retired the Azure Data Engineer Associate certification (Exam DP-203) on March 31, 2025. Microsoft says: "This certification and the renewal assessment are retired."

To compare the options with scores, see our ranked list of SQL certification options. Do you need a certification at all? Read: is a SQL certification worth it?

Step 2: How do you prepare for a SQL certification exam?

Start with the list of exam skills from the issuer. Two examples:

  • Oracle, for Exam 1Z0-171: Oracle gives eleven exam objectives with weights:
    • relational database concepts (5%)
    • SELECT with restricting and sorting data (15%)
    • functions (25%)
    • data from multiple tables (10%)
    • subqueries (5%)
    • SET operators (5%)
    • DML statements (5%)
    • indexes, synonyms and sequences (5%)
    • DDL for tables and their relationships (15%)
    • user access (5%)
    • data dictionary views and data in different time zones (5%)
    Oracle names the exam "Oracle AI Database SQL Associate", but we found no objective on AI or vector features: 0% of the listed weight.
  • Microsoft, in the DP-800 study guide: Microsoft gives three skill areas: design and develop database solutions (35–40%), secure, optimize and deploy database solutions (35–40%), and implement AI capabilities (25–30%). In the first area, Microsoft names CTEs, window functions and correlated queries in T-SQL. Microsoft lists these skills "as of October 19, 2026".

Then use the free material from the issuer, where it exists. For Microsoft exams: Microsoft says that Microsoft Learn training is free. You do not need a profile to read the modules and learning paths, for example the Transact-SQL learning path. Microsoft says that Practice Assessments "are available for free to every learner and can be taken as many times as you want". You sign in to your Learn profile or create an account first. Microsoft also says: "Currently, not all Microsoft Certification exams have free Practice Assessments."

For DP-800: On the DP-800 certification page, under "Practice for the exam", Microsoft shows only the Exam Sandbox. Microsoft says that in the sandbox, you "interact with different question types in the same user interface you'll use during the exam". We found no Practice Assessment on that page. Use the Exam Sandbox.

Then practice the SQL itself. For Exam 1Z0-171: Oracle names SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE and MERGE statements, some Data Definition Language and Data Control Language statements, and tables, indexes, views and sequences. In a SELECT list, you can give each column a name with AS. To learn how, practice Column Aliases and Expression Naming (lesson 9).

In SQLMaxx Learn, you write SQL for PostgreSQL. For the Oracle exam, you use SQL with Oracle Database, and for the Microsoft exam, you write T-SQL.

One Oracle objective above is data from multiple tables. A join is one way to get data from two tables. For the task below, use two tables of Brightlane, a made-up online store: products (one row for each product) and categories (one row for each category). In products, category_id is the id of the category of the product, or NULL.

Schema · ecommerce2 tables? = nullable
categories
idinteger
nametext
parent_id?integer
products
idinteger
nametext
category_id?integer
pricenumeric
stock_qtyinteger
attributes?jsonb

Try a SQL task: products with no category

This task is from lesson 19 of SQLMaxx Learn, FULL OUTER JOIN. You can solve it with a join or with a WHERE condition. For the join way, practice FULL OUTER JOIN (lesson 19).

Step 3: How much does a SQL certification cost?

Every proctored exam on our list has a fee. You pay nothing for three of the tests: freeCodeCamp, HackerRank and LearnSQL.com. Our own certificate is free too.

We read each issuer's public pages from October 12, 2026 to November 1, 2026. We took no exam and bought no plan. In the tables, we list the credentials by kind and then by name, not by rank. Where you see a dash, we show no fact in that column.

Proctored exams

  • Databricks Certified Data Analyst Associate
    Price
    Databricks charges a $200 registration fee.
    Retakes and refunds
    –
  • Microsoft Certified: SQL AI Developer Associate (DP-800)
    Price
    Microsoft says that it typically charges US$165 for Associate exams, and that it sets the price by country or region.
    Retakes and refunds
    If you fail a Microsoft certification exam, you wait 24 hours before you take it again. Microsoft says: "A 14-day waiting period is imposed between all subsequent attempts (up to 5)." You can take one exam no more than five times in 12 months from your first attempt. Microsoft says: "Microsoft does not offer refunds for exams you do not pass or exam appointments you miss."
  • Oracle AI Database SQL Certified Associate (1Z0-171)
    Price
    You buy an Oracle Technology Exam Subscription for US$245. With it, you get one exam attempt, and the term is 6 months.
    Retakes and refunds
    –
  • SnowPro Core Certification (COF-C03)
    Price
    Snowflake charges $175 for each exam attempt.
    Retakes and refunds
    After a fail, you wait seven days. You can take one exam four times in 12 months, and you pay the full fee each time.

Tests and exams that the issuer does not call proctored

  • DataCamp SQL Associate
    Price
    DataCamp includes certification in Premium: DataCamp lists "industry-leading certifications" in the plan. In US dollars, Premium is $35 a month, billed monthly. If you pay for a year, DataCamp shows a lower price per month, and DataCamp changes the offer.
    Retakes and refunds
    DataCamp says that you get 2 attempts at each exam. If you fail one exam two times, DataCamp resets your certification process, and you wait 14 days before you register again.
  • freeCodeCamp Relational Databases
    Price
    The whole certification is free, with the verified certification exam.
    Retakes and refunds
    You take the 50-question exam in the freeCodeCamp exam app on a laptop or desktop computer. The exam is closed book, and you can try it one time each week.
  • HackerRank SQL (Basic)
    Price
    Free. HackerRank calls its certifications "free, timed assessments".
    Retakes and refunds
    Each SQL certificate is a timed test. You can take a test again 30 days after your last attempt.
  • LearnSQL.com Certificate of Competency in SQL
    Price
    LearnSQL.com says that the SQL Assessment is "completely free".
    Retakes and refunds
    –
  • W3Schools SQL Certificate
    Price
    The tutorial is free. W3Schools charges $95 for the SQL certificate exam.
    Retakes and refunds
    –

Course certificates

  • IBM Databases and SQL for Data Science with Python (Coursera)
    Price
    Coursera charges $59 a month for Coursera Plus, with a 7-day free trial, or $399 a year.
    Retakes and refunds
    –
  • SQLMaxx Certificate of Completion (SQLMaxx Learn)
    Price
    Free. You pay no fee for the 66 lessons or for the certificate.
    Retakes and refunds
    –

Before you book, read the retake rule in the table.

A strength of each certification, from the issuer's pages:

  • Databricks Certified Data Analyst Associate: You pass a proctored exam, and Databricks says that its SQL is in line with ANSI SQL standards.
  • Microsoft Certified: SQL AI Developer Associate (DP-800): You pass a proctored exam on T-SQL, with CTEs, window functions and correlated queries, and you renew the certification free online each year.
  • Oracle AI Database SQL Certified Associate (1Z0-171): You pass a proctored exam on SQL alone.
  • SnowPro Core Certification (COF-C03): You pass a proctored exam at a test center or online, and you get a digital badge and verifiable certification through Accredible.
  • DataCamp SQL Associate: DataCamp says that you must pass two exams for the SQL Associate certification. The first is a timed exam in PostgreSQL. The second is a practical exam on tasks for a business problem.
  • freeCodeCamp Relational Databases: You finish five PostgreSQL projects and pass a 50-question closed-book exam, and the certification is free.
  • HackerRank SQL (Basic): You earn the certificate in a timed test. You do not finish lessons for it, and the SQL tests are free at all three levels.
  • LearnSQL.com Certificate of Competency in SQL: You prove your skill in a free test of 18 hands-on SQL tasks, up to window functions and recursive queries.
  • W3Schools SQL Certificate: Employers can check your certificate with its link or QR code, and W3Schools says that the certificate never expires.
  • IBM Databases and SQL for Data Science with Python (Coursera): IBM made the course, and you finish a final exam and a hands-on final assignment in SQLite.

Step 4: What happens in a SQL certification exam?

Read the rules before you book.

Proctored exams

Tests and exams that the issuer does not call proctored

  • DataCamp SQL Associate
    How you take it
    DataCamp says that you pass two exams: a timed exam (SQ101) and a practical exam (SQ501P) on tasks for a business problem. You have 30 days to finish both.
    Questions, time and pass mark
    DataCamp says that you get up to two hours for the timed exam. For the practical exam, you get four hours and two attempts.
  • freeCodeCamp Relational Databases
    How you take it
    freeCodeCamp does not record your webcam or microphone, and does not ask for a photo of your ID.
    Questions, time and pass mark
    You take the 50-question exam in the freeCodeCamp exam app on a laptop or desktop computer. The exam is closed book, and you can try it one time each week.
  • HackerRank SQL (Basic)
    How you take it
    We found no statement about a proctor, a webcam or an ID check in the HackerRank certification FAQ. We also found none in its guide on how to earn a certification. With a free account, we opened the SQL (Basic) test up to its start button. Before the test, you tick two boxes: a declaration that you will not get help, and HackerRank's Terms of Service and Privacy policy. Up to that button, HackerRank asked for no webcam and no ID.
    Questions, time and pass mark
    For SQL (Basic), you take a 30-minute assessment and solve 2 questions.
  • LearnSQL.com Certificate of Competency in SQL
    How you take it
    First, you make a free account. LearnSQL.com says that you need less than a minute for this.
    Questions, time and pass mark
    The SQL Assessment is an online test with 18 hands-on tasks in six competency areas. You need a score of at least 70%.
  • W3Schools SQL Certificate
    How you take it
    You take an online exam with multiple-choice questions, with no proctor. You pass with a minimum of 40%.
    Questions, time and pass mark
    You get 3 attempts, and you have a time limit on each attempt. W3Schools gives the Intermediate level at 40%, Advanced at 75% and Professional at 90%.

Course certificates

  • IBM Databases and SQL for Data Science with Python (Coursera)
    How you take it
    You finish a course of 6 modules with 14 assignments, a 30-minute final exam, and a final assignment in SQLite. Coursera says that some assignments are AI-graded.
    Questions, time and pass mark
    –
  • SQLMaxx Certificate of Completion (SQLMaxx Learn)
    How you take it
    You reach the mastery level in all 66 lessons, and you solve at least one problem in each lesson.
    Questions, time and pass mark
    No exam.

The older Oracle exam, 1Z0-071:

  • When you pass Exam 1Z0-071, Oracle Database SQL, you earn Oracle Database SQL Certified Associate. Exam 1Z0-071 is a proctored online exam with 63 multiple-choice questions in 120 minutes and a pass mark of 63%.
  • Oracle lists Exam 1Z0-171 and Exam 1Z0-071 among the exams in its OCI and Tech Exam Subscription.

Step 5: How do you show and renew a SQL certification?

Check two things for your certification: how an employer can check it, and if it expires. Some issuers say that their certificates do not expire, and some ask you to renew.

Proctored exams

  • Databricks Certified Data Analyst Associate
    How anyone checks it
    When you pass, Databricks gives you a digital badge on its credentials site, credentials.databricks.com.
    Expiry and renewal
    You must recertify every two years to keep the certified status.
  • Microsoft Certified: SQL AI Developer Associate (DP-800)
    How anyone checks it
    You share a link to your Microsoft Learn transcript or certification. Microsoft marks verified credentials "Online Verifiable", and your Learn profile must be public for others to verify them.
    Expiry and renewal
    The certification is valid for one year. You renew it free when you pass a short, unproctored, open-book online assessment on Microsoft Learn.
  • Oracle AI Database SQL Certified Associate (1Z0-171)
    How anyone checks it
    You download a digital badge from Oracle CertView. Oracle says that it links each valid badge to an Oracle-maintained verification page. Oracle says that on this page, it shows the credential, the date earned, and the expiration date, if any.
    Expiry and renewal
    Oracle says that "Certain Oracle Database Credentials require periodic recertification". We found no statement about expiry or a validity period for the SQL Associate certification.
  • SnowPro Core Certification (COF-C03)
    How anyone checks it
    Snowflake sends your digital badge and verifiable certification through Accredible.
    Expiry and renewal
    Snowflake says that all its certifications are valid for two years after it awards them. To renew, you earn an equal or higher certification, or you finish one Snowflake instructor-led course.

Tests and exams that the issuer does not call proctored

  • DataCamp SQL Associate
    How anyone checks it
    DataCamp gives each certificate its own URL. DataCamp says that you paste this URL into the Credential URL field on LinkedIn. We opened one SQL Associate certificate at datacamp.com/certificate/ with no account. On it, DataCamp shows the name of the holder, the date obtained and the expiry date.
    Expiry and renewal
    DataCamp says that the certification is valid for two years from the date that DataCamp awards it. After two years, DataCamp invites you to retake the exams, or you can try for a more advanced certification.
  • freeCodeCamp Relational Databases
    How anyone checks it
    freeCodeCamp says that you can link to any of its certifications from your LinkedIn profile or resume. When an employer opens that link, the employer sees a verified certification for you.
    Expiry and renewal
    freeCodeCamp says: "Once you claim a certification, it's yours to keep." freeCodeCamp says that it does not plan expiration dates, and that it will give at least one year of notice before it adds them.
  • HackerRank SQL (Basic)
    How anyone checks it
    HackerRank says that you can download your certificate, share its iframe link on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, or add it to your LinkedIn profile. HackerRank gives each certificate its own page at hackerrank.com/certificates/<ID>. Anyone can open these pages with no account: we checked six of them on October 20, 2026, one for SQL (Basic). On each page, HackerRank shows the holder's name, the certificate with the word "Verified", and a share link.
    Expiry and renewal
    We found no statement on expiration in the HackerRank certification FAQ.
  • LearnSQL.com Certificate of Competency in SQL
    How anyone checks it
    You download a PDF or share the certificate on LinkedIn. LearnSQL.com says that it keeps a record of every certificate. LearnSQL.com also says that "the authenticity of your certificate may be verified at any time". We found no public verification page. In a web search, we found no Certificate of Competency that we could open.
    Expiry and renewal
    We found no statement on expiration on the certificate page.
  • W3Schools SQL Certificate
    How anyone checks it
    W3Schools says that employers can verify the certificate with a unique link or QR code.
    Expiry and renewal
    W3Schools says: "Certificates never expire".

Course certificates

  • IBM Databases and SQL for Data Science with Python (Coursera)
    How anyone checks it
    Coursera gives each certificate a share URL. Coursera says that anyone can open the URL to verify the certificate, and that "This link never expires."
    Expiry and renewal
    We found no Coursera statement that a Course Certificate expires. Coursera says about the share link of a certificate: "This link never expires."
  • SQLMaxx Certificate of Completion (SQLMaxx Learn)
    How anyone checks it
    A public page at sqlmaxx.com/verify/ followed by your certificate ID. Anyone can open it with no account.
    Expiry and renewal
    We set no end date on a certificate.

Put the link to the check page on your resume and LinkedIn profile. Do not put only the name of the certification.

Practice SQL first with SQLMaxx Learn

SQLMaxx Learn is our free SQL course, with 66 lessons and 615 practice problems.

You practice in a real PostgreSQL database and can earn a free certificate, but it is a certificate of completion, with no exam.

You can start lesson 1 in your browser, with no account.

Start lesson 1

More questions about how to get SQL certified

How long does it take to get SQL certified?

We do not know your study time. At Microsoft, you have a limit on how far ahead you can book: Microsoft says: "You can schedule certification exams through Pearson VUE no more than 90 days in advance." DataCamp and Oracle also set time limits. See steps 3 and 4.

Where can you find SQL certification exam sample questions?

Use the practice material from the issuer of your exam. For DP-900: On the DP-900 page, Microsoft offers a Practice Assessment and an Exam Sandbox. For the HackerRank tests: You can filter the SQL challenges by the three levels of the free HackerRank SQL certificate tests: SQL (Basic), SQL (Intermediate), and SQL (Advanced).

Does Microsoft have a SQL certification exam?

Yes. Microsoft Certified: SQL AI Developer Associate. You earn it when you pass Exam DP-800. Microsoft also has a fundamentals certification with some SQL: Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals, with Exam DP-900. You have 45 minutes. None of the four skill areas is SQL by name. SQL statements are one objective in the relational data area. The other areas are on data concepts, non-relational data and analytics on Azure.