How To Become a Database Administrator

What degree do you need

One of the most common questions that we always get is what major or degree do I need to become Database Administrators or what courses do I need to take.

We also asked Database Administrators what did they major in college or university and here are the top 5 most popular majors that came up.

Most database administrators have a bachelor’s degree in management information systems (MIS) or a computer-related field. Firms with large databases may prefer applicants who have a master’s degree focusing on data or database management, typically either in computer science, information systems, or information technology.

How hard is it

You will need a considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge or experience to be a Database Administrator. For example, an accountant must complete 4 years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Careers in this difficulty category will usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. These careers usually involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Similar careers include sales managers, database administrators, chemists, and art directors.

License and certifications

Certification is a way to demonstrate competence and may provide a jobseeker with a competitive advantage. Certification programs are generally offered by product vendors or software firms. Some companies may require their database administrators to be certified in the product they use.

Skills required

We asked other Database Administrators if they could only have 5 skills, what would they be. Here is what they said.

Knowledge required

Just like any other job, you will need certain know-hows to excel at your job. Database Administrators are generally very knowledgeable in these 5 key areas.

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