Base SAS Certification

[NAP]

I’m starting to prepare for my first graduate school course in September. The course is a combination of learning about R and SAS (statistical computer programming). I found the current syllabus and it mentions using the Base SAS Certification exam as an option instead of taking the final exam for the course.

Has anyone earned this certificate? How long did it take to study for it? What is the best study guide?

Thank you for your help!

[bluebooger]

I haven't done the exam yet, but I plan on it
I bought this book and it just got delivered yesterday

Amazon.com: The Little SAS Book: A Primer, Fifth Edition: 9781612903439

I've only skimmed through it
but so far it looks really good

here's some interesting blogs
Zero to SAS Certified Base Programmer in 3 months (Part 1) - The SAS Training Post

Zero to SAS Certified Base Programmer in 3 months (Part II) - The SAS Training Post

^ he did it in 3 months

I can't believe it will take me that long
I know Excel and VBA and SQL really, really well; and I know C programming and R programming a little
so I'm aiming for 6-8 weeks

maybe I'm overestimating myself though
like I said, I just got the book yesterday and I've only flipped through it
I haven't started studying at all

here's what's tested
SAS Global Certification program

here's some sample questions
SAS Global Certification program

they don't look that difficult to me
but again, maybe I'm overestimating myself

there's some youtube videos, but I haven't started watching them yet
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6JU4JQ...8NqfzeYWgQ

if you find any good resources I'd love to hear about them

using the Base SAS Certification exam as an option instead of taking the final exam for the course

mind telling the name of the course and university ?
and is it online ?
do you have to be admitted into the grad program to take the course ?

[NAP]

Great! Thank you for the very helpful information! This is a completely new thought for me, so I appreciate the help!

.....
mind telling the name of the course and university ?
and is it online ?
do you have to be admitted into the grad program to take the course ?

Yes, it is an online course at Texas A&M called Statistical Computations Stat 604.

You'll have to ask, but I don't think you have to be accepted to take the course. There may be some prerequisites, like Calculus I and II.

Best Distance Learning Statistics Program at Online Statistics College of TAMU | Apply Now

http://www.stat.tamu.edu/dist/syllabus/604.pdf

Please keep me posted on your progress!

[bluebooger]

if you're interested in learning R now this free course just started yesterday

https://www.coursera.org/course/rprog

I've done the course a few times and I think I've learned a fair amount of R
(its a basic R programming course - the graphing course is also free and starts every month https://www.coursera.org/course/exdata but you have to know basic R before taking the graphing course)

R is a very difficult language
especially if you've never done programming before
so that first course is really tough

this tutorial
Code School - Try R
is a great help

its is a VERY SLOW tutorial,
you will think it is going too slow, but trust me
you want to go slow
R is a real pain

after the tutorial, you may want to look at these
twotutorials (videos) - how to do stuff in r. two minutes or less
twotorials by anthony damico

these are also very helpful (they helped a lot with the homework from the coursera course)
Cookbook for R » Creating strings from variables
Cookbook for R » Basics
Cookbook for R » Manipulating Data
Cookbook for R » Statistical analysis

Quick-R: Data Types
Quick-R: Missing Data
Quick-R: Subsetting Data

R FAQ: How can I subset a data set?

R Frequently Asked Questions

and thanks for the course info, but I don't have Calc 1 or 2 so I guess I'll have to work on that first

[NAP]

Thank you so much for all of the additional information about R! I'm very happy to have it!

I should ask - Besides the smaller size of the book and lower price, why did you choose the "Little SAS Book" instead of the "official" book for the certification exam?

[bluebooger]

smaller and lower price pretty much covers it

smaller: I like books that get straight to the point
I'm not going to read 800 pages
I just won't
but I will read 350 pages

and I know from past experience (books on Excel, MS Access) that I learn more and retain more by reading a little while doing lots of programming

I find that much better than reading a lot

sure, I could read a lot and also program a lot, but if I have to read a 10 page explanation on how to do something and why it works, I get bored and just want to hurry up and start putting into practice the stuff I'm reading

I'd rather read 5 pages and get busy actually doing stuff

plus, I know I can find tons of info on the web for free
Resources to help you learn and use SAS

and I'm sure there are more youtube videos

so why pay more for a bigger book when there's so much free info around
and if I ever to get stuck I guess there's a barnes and nobles bookstore somewhere near me that will have a copy I can go look through

and the book got lots of high reviews, so that's important
I wouldn't have bought a small, inexpensive book with no good reviews

but yet, mainly because of my learning style and access to high speed internet with lots of free resources

[NAP]

That's one of the things that I love about this forum; there are so many kindred spirits who want to learn the material in an efficient way!

[NAP]

More links for R - http://www.degreeforum.net/excelsior-tho...post149772

R Tutorial - R Videos

SAS Tutorial - http://dist.stat.tamu.edu/flash/sas/

[NAP]

........

Yes, it is an online course at Texas A&M called Statistical Computations Stat 604.

You'll have to ask, but I don't think you have to be accepted to take the course. There may be some prerequisites, like Calculus I and II.

......

Just want to correct these points:

Apparently there is a mini-application process for taking individual courses and the certificate program.
Online Statistics Certificates and Degrees by Texas A&M University

This particular course, STAT604, does not have calculus or any other prerequisites.

I'm enjoying the class so far and still deciding about the certificate!

[NAP]

Also want to add that SAS has several discount programs, including 50% off for students. This makes $180 exam only $90! :hurray:

SAS Global Certification program

A friend sent me this link for practice questions/answers, too, but I haven't tried it, yet: SAS Base Certification | BI Exam Academy