Hi, Sonika-
Honestly, I would consider the possibility of learning another statistical programming language like Python or R. SAS is a great package that has relatively easy implementation of most statistical methods and it's widely used in several fields, including mine (public health), academia, and banking. I use it every day, mostly because a lot of our processes were developed on SAS.
But my sense is that it's a legacy language that is being superseded by newer languages, including the two I've mentioned above. Python is more for data science (putting together workflows, pulling in data from different sources, joining the datasets together, etc.) and R is more for statistical analysis. Other prominent programs and tools include Tableau (dashboards), ArcGIS (maps), and SQL (database management), but there are several more programming languages worth considering.
If you're embarking on a career as a SAS programmer, of course learning SAS will boost your career! If I were starting anew, though, I would first choose a programming language to learn then figure out the best way to learn it. Some of the things you'll probably take into account when choosing the programming language are: 1) what languages are most prevalent in the field you want to go into? 2) What do you want to do with those languages--do statistical analyses, manage databases, build dashboards, etc.? And 3) what's the best way to learn the programming language I've decided on?
So, perhaps do a little investigating about the field you want to go into (talking to people in the field, Internet searches, etc.) Once you've decided on the best language, figure out what your objectives are in learning it. It sounds like, based on your experience in clinical data management, that maybe it's more "data architecture" and putting databases together. If that's the case, I would consider Python or SQL.
Finally, in choosing how to learn the language, consider your learning style: are you an independent learner who prefers to set her own pace or do you thrive more on structured learning environments? Whatever program you decide on, there will be lots of free tutorials online. For me, I like having a class and an instructor, with regular meetings, goals set by an instructor, and so on. There are many online courses offered both by commercial vendors (like Coursera) and university extension programs (I think Arizona State U. is prominent in online education). Also, there are probably inexpensive courses you could take in person at a local community college.
Whatever program you start out with, whether SAS or something else, knowing several languages will make you more valuable in the job market. The good news is once you know one, learning a second is much easier! One last thing: even if you think database management and data architecture are your thing, it's always a good idea to have a basic grasp of statistics. It should be easy to find introductory statistics courses online or at a community college.
Sorry this is so long-winded, but I hope it's helpful!
Good luck,
David
P.S. Many, many congratulations on your baby! I've always thought that bringing a kid into the world is a radical act of hope.
