If the answer to the question, “What does a database administrator do?” appeals to you, then it may be time to schedule a meeting with your high school guidance counselor. Discuss your career goals and ask if you can add any relevant courses to your schedule that may help you prepare for your future. Any courses in coding and computer applications will be helpful.
After high school, you’ll need to plan on earning a baccalaureate information technology degree. Expect to spend around four years as a full-time student before you’re ready to look for your first entry-level job. It’s possible to land an entry-level database administration position after graduation, but you may find that you need some experience as a software developer or in another role.
You can enhance your career qualifications by earning a relevant graduate certificate. It’s also recommended and often required that aspiring database administrators earn one or more professional certifications.
After high school, the first step in the process of how to become a database administrator is to earn your baccalaureate degree, such as a Bachelor of Science in Information Technology degree. This type of degree will not only teach you the essentials of database development and maintenance, but also technical competencies across a range of areas — from platform technologies to networking.
The specific topics you’ll study will vary, depending on your college and program, but in general, you can expect to study topics such as the following:
- Networking essentials in IT, with a look at LANs, WANs, service providers, packets, hubs, routers, switches and Internet protocols
- System administration and maintenance, including computer architecture, computing infrastructures and platform technologies
- The design, development, implementation, maintenance and security of database structures
- Advanced topics in relational databases for business applications, including object-relational databases and NoSQL databases
- The design, management and maintenance of virtual enterprise and data center infrastructure
Although a bachelor’s degree in IT may help you land a job in the field, you may need to gain at least a few years of working experience and additional credentials before pursuing the role of database administrator. One strong credential you can earn to enhance your career qualifications is a Graduate Certificate of Completion in Information Technology Management.
This type of graduate certificate enables you to strengthen your knowledge of IT competencies, including topics in information security and risk management. You may also develop your leadership style and skills, which will prove essential if you plan on pursuing a higher-level role.
In addition to earning a graduate certificate, aspiring database administrators can earn professional certifications to improve their competitiveness as job candidates. Third-party organizations such as professional associations and software vendors offer various certifications to IT professionals, including database administrators. Some examples of certifications are as follows:
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Database Administrator Associate
- Oracle Database 12c Administrator Certified Professional
- Certified PostgreSQL DBA (CPSDBA)
- Oracle Certified Professional, MySQL 8.0 Database Administrator
Earning a certification generally involves taking an exam, which may be administered online, depending on the organization. Which certifications should you earn to enhance your employability? You may wish to scan job boards for the answer. Find the opportunities that most appeal to you, and check the job ad to see which certifications those types of employers are looking for in potential candidates.