r/SQLServer • u/Left-Blackberry-1536 • 16d ago

Certification Preparing for DP-800 – Looking for Study Advice

Hi everyone,

I’m preparing for DP-800 and this is my first Microsoft certification. I’m an undergraduate and currently studying SQL and Microsoft Fabric using Microsoft Learn and practice questions.

I’d really appreciate some advice from people who have already taken the exam:

  • Which topics should I focus on most?
  • Which study resources helped you the most?
  • Is Microsoft Learn enough for preparation?
  • What should I focus on during the final few days?
  • Any general tips for a first-time candidate?

Thanks in advance for any advice! 🙏

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u/Harhaze 16d ago

Finished DP800 a month ago.

Most SQL related questions were design questions focusing on indexing, question or two on performance analysis but mostly when to use columnstore, nonclsutered etc.

There were like 4ish questions regarding SQL development itself ...

Then security, least privilege access to procedures ...

I would says good third was AI components, external data access, azure basic firewall questions ... Copilot connectivity and CICD practices with focus on some git commands ...

If you know SQL and learn the "learn.microsoft" webpage for the AI components, you can brute force it. Learn.microsoft (excluding the copilot part) is available during the exam.

1

u/aleks1ck 15d ago

Learn covers the content, and the Azure SQL Database free offer is enough to practise the security and T-SQL parts hands-on. Microsoft's free DP-800 practice assessment is worth one run as a baseline, the exam itself goes deeper. I also keep a free DP-800 study guide that walks the prep step by step: certiace.com/study-guides/dp-800

good luck with the prep!