SQL Certifications Compared: Which Database Certification Should You Take in 2026?

Five database certifications dominate the SQL space: Oracle's 1Z0-071 (SQL), 1Z0-082 (DBA I), and 1Z0-149 (PL/SQL), Microsoft's DP-300 (Azure DBA), and EDB's PostgreSQL Associate. This page puts them side by side — format, cost, difficulty, and who each one is for — so you can pick the one that matches your stack and role, then prepare for it free with SQLMentor's tutorials and timed practice exams.

The comparison at a glance

Certification	Vendor	Best for	Questions	Time	Pass mark	Cost (approx.)
Oracle SQL Associate (1Z0-071)	Oracle	Developers & analysts starting out	63	120 min	63%	US$245
Oracle DBA I (1Z0-082)	Oracle	Database administrators	72	120 min	60%	US$245
Oracle PL/SQL (1Z0-149)	Oracle	Oracle back-end developers	65	90 min	60%	US$245
Azure DBA Associate (DP-300)	Microsoft	DBAs on Azure SQL / SQL Server	≈ 40–60	≈ 100 min	700 / 1000	US$165
PostgreSQL Associate (PG-A)	EDB	PostgreSQL DBAs & developers	≈ 80	≈ 90 min	≈ 70%	US$200

Fees and formats vary by region and change over time — confirm current details on the vendor's official page (linked from each exam guide) before booking. SQLMentor is an independent study resource, not affiliated with Oracle, Microsoft, or EDB.

How to choose: match the certification to your stack

The single most useful rule: certify in the database your target employers actually run. SQL skills transfer heavily between engines, but recruiters and hiring managers screen for the credential that names their stack. Beyond that, three questions settle it:

Do you write queries or run databases? Query writers (developers, analysts) want 1Z0-071, 1Z0-149, or PG-A. Operators (DBAs, platform engineers) want 1Z0-082 or DP-300.
Which engine? Oracle shop → the Oracle track. Azure SQL / SQL Server shop → DP-300. PostgreSQL shop → PG-A.
How much experience do you have? 1Z0-071 and PG-A are genuinely attainable for motivated beginners after a few months of study. 1Z0-082, 1Z0-149, and DP-300 assume you already work with the technology.

Each certification in one paragraph

Oracle SQL Associate (1Z0-071) — the default starting point

Tests the SQL language itself: SELECT, joins, subqueries, set operators, DML, DDL, and constraints. No administration content, so it suits developers, analysts, testers, and future DBAs alike, and it is the assumed foundation for both of Oracle's follow-on exams. Start with the 1Z0-071 exam guide and the free practice exams.

Oracle DBA I (1Z0-082) — for people who run the database

Covers architecture, instances, storage, users and security, networking, moving data, and basic backup/recovery. Combined with the second DBA exam it leads to Oracle's professional DBA credential. Choose it when administering Oracle is part of your job. See the 1Z0-082 exam guide and practice exams.

Oracle PL/SQL (1Z0-149) — for Oracle back-end developers

Goes deep on procedural Oracle code: procedures, functions, packages, triggers, cursors, collections, bulk operations, and dynamic SQL. The natural second exam for developers who passed 1Z0-071 and write server-side logic. See the 1Z0-149 exam guide and practice exams.

Microsoft DP-300 — for DBAs in the Azure ecosystem

A role-based certification for planning, securing, monitoring, automating, and recovering SQL Server and Azure SQL workloads. The most cloud-specific exam here — its value is highest if you work (or want to work) in a Microsoft shop. See the DP-300 exam guide and practice sets.

PostgreSQL Associate (PG-A) — for the open-source world

EDB's associate exam covers PostgreSQL architecture, MVCC, SQL, indexes, security, backup/recovery, replication, and maintenance. With Postgres adoption still climbing, it is an increasingly useful signal for DBA and backend roles. See the PG-A exam guide and practice sets.

What about other database certifications?

Oracle also certifies MySQL separately, and the major cloud providers fold database content into broader data and platform certifications rather than standalone SQL exams. If your stack is one of those, check the vendor's current certification catalogue — offerings and exam numbers change more often than the five compared here. And whichever engine you choose, the core SQL you can practise free in SQLMentor's in-browser editor carries over.

Practise any of them, free

SQLMentor has timed practice exams for all five certifications on this page — free, no sign-up, with per-question explanations and progress saved locally in your browser.

Browse all practice exams →

Frequently asked questions — choosing a SQL certification

Which SQL certification is best for beginners?

For most people the Oracle Database SQL Certified Associate (1Z0-071) is the best first SQL certification: it tests the core SQL language rather than administration, it is widely recognised, and the skills transfer to every other database. If your workplace runs PostgreSQL rather than Oracle, the PostgreSQL Associate is the more directly relevant start.

Which SQL certification pays the most?

There is no reliable universal answer — pay depends far more on your role, region, and experience than on which certificate you hold. The practical advice: certify in the stack your target employers actually run. An Azure shop values DP-300; an Oracle shop values 1Z0-071/1Z0-082; a PostgreSQL shop values PG-A.

Should I choose an Oracle, Microsoft, or PostgreSQL certification?

Match the certification to the database you use (or want to use) professionally. Oracle certifications suit enterprise environments running Oracle Database; DP-300 suits DBAs on Azure SQL and SQL Server; the PostgreSQL Associate suits teams on open-source Postgres. The underlying SQL skills overlap heavily, so starting with any of them builds transferable knowledge.

Can I prepare for these certifications for free?

Yes. SQLMentor offers free tutorials for Oracle SQL, PL/SQL, PostgreSQL, and SQL Server, a free in-browser SQL editor, and free timed practice exams for all five certifications compared here — no sign-up. You only pay the vendor's fee when you book the real exam.

Do these certification details change over time?

Yes. Vendors periodically revise question counts, durations, blueprints, and fees. The figures on this page match each exam's published format at the time of writing, but always confirm current details on the official Oracle, Microsoft, or EDB page before booking.