The SAS Certified Advanced Programmer for SAS 9 credential represents the upper echelon of SAS programmers.
Those who earn the advanced programming credential have demonstrated a high level of proficiency in SAS programming expertise and are a much sought after commodity in the global job market.
Candidates who earn this credential will have earned a passing score on the following two exams: 1) SAS Base Programming Exam for SAS 9, and 2) SAS Advanced Programming Exam for SAS 9:
• 63 multiple-choice questions (must achieve score of 65% correct to pass)
• 2 hours to complete exam.
Prerequisites:
A SAS advanced programmer should have current SAS programming and data management experience. Successful candidates shouls be skilled in tasks such as:
• using advanced DATA step programming statements and efficiency techniques to solve complex problems
• writing and interpreting SAS SQL code
• creating and using the SAS MACRO facility.
Candidates for the SAS Advanced Programmer for SAS 9 exam should be familiar with enhancements and new functionality that are available in SAS 9.2.
Exam Topics Include:
Accessing Data Using SQL:
• generate detail reports by working with a single table, joining tables, or using set operators in the SQL procedure
• generate summary reports by working with a single table, joining tables, or using set operators in the SQL procedure
• construct sub-queries and in-line views within an SQL procedure step
• compare solving a problem using the SQL procedure versus using traditional SAS programming techniques
• access Dictionary Tables using the SQL procedure
Macro Processing:
• create and use user-defined and automatic macro variables within the SAS Macro Language
• automate programs by defining and calling macros using the SAS Macro Language
• understand the use of macro functions
• use various system options that are available for macro debugging and displaying values of user-defined and automatic macro variables in the SAS log
• create data-driven programs using SAS Macro Language
Advanced Programming Techniques:
• demonstrate the use of advanced data look-up techniques such as array processing, hash objects, formats, and combining/merging data
• reduce I/O by controlling the space required to store SAS data sets using compressing techniques, length statements, or eliminating variables and observations
• reduce programming time by developing reusable SAS programs which incorporate data step views, DATA steps that write SAS programs, and the FCMP procedure
• perform effective benchmarking by using the appropriate SAS System options and interpreting the resulting resource utilization statistics
• determine the resources by the SORT procedure and avoid unnecessary sorts by using appropriate indexes, data set options, BYs statement options, and the CLASS statement
• identify appropriate applications for using indexes and create them using the DATA step, the DATASETS procedure, or the SQL procedure
• compare techniques to eliminate duplicate data using the DATA step, the SORT procedure, and the SQL procedure.