This exam is the TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Database Development. Applicants on this exam must have 1 to 2 years experience using MS SQL Server 2009 or 2 to 3 years of experience using a previous version of SQL Server. This exam is intended for IT professionals that work in jobs wherein database is their major responsibility. They should also have experience in the following job roles: IT generalist that work in environments wherein SQL Server 2008 is part of an overall solution; IT professionals that manage systems which runs SQL Server 2008; developers that builds applications that use SQL Server 2008; and IT professionals that work with third-party applications which are build on SQL Server 2008.

If the applicants pass this exam, they will earn credit certification towards MCTS: SQL Server 2008, Database Development.

To assist applicants in preparing for this exam, aside from their hands-on experience with the product they must also take other training resources. The applicants can take courses such as course 6232 which is a 5 day course.

This exam will determine the ability of the applicants to complete the following tasks:
Implementing Tables and Views – applicants must create and alter tables; create and alter views; create and alter indexes; create and modify constraints; implement data types; and implement partitioning solutions.

Implementing programming objects – the applicants should create and alter stored procedures; create and alter user-defined functions; create and alter DML triggers; create and alter DDL triggers; create and deploy CLR-based objects; implement error handling; and manage transactions.

Working with Query Fundamentals – the applicants must do the following: query data using SELECT statements; modify data by using INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE statements; return data by using the OUTPUT clause; modify data using MERGE statements; implement aggregate queries; combine datasets; and apply built-in scalar functions.

Applying Additional Query Techniques – applicants must implement sub-queries; implement CTE queries; apply ranking functions; control execution plans; and manage international considerations.

Working with Additional SQL Server Components – the applicants should integrate Database Mail; implement full-text search; implement scripts by using Windows PowerShell and SQL Server Management Objects; implement Service Broker solutions; and track data changes.

Working with XML Data - the applicants must retrieve relational data as XML; transform XML data into relational data; query XML data; and manage XML data.

Gathering Performance Information – applicants must capture execution plans; gather trace information using the SQL Server Profiler; collect output from the Database Engine Tuning Advisor; and collect information from metadata.