Originally Posted by 1AP12NV,Nov 2 2007, 03:02 PM

I agree, except for the programming being learned in school

I think that they're both very similar in that you can learn the building blocks from school or book reading, but that you only really gain the power perform DBA duties with skill or architect elegent software solutions through experience (and continual learning and research).

I look at it much like learning a written language. You can go to school and learn the syntax and how to form a sentence so that other can understand you. This doesn't mean you can craft a beautifly written and entertaining novel. That takes research, experience, and the ability to be creative.

In the same vein, just knowing T-SQL or how to set up tables and triggers isn't enough to make you a SQL Server DBA just as knowing C# doesn't mean you're capable of being an .Net Application Architect. Those roles both require you to be creative, have a good deal of experience, and to continually research new techniques and technologies.

Just my personal $0.02, but I'll get off the soap box