The New Generation of Microsoft Certifications
The new generation of Microsoft certifications is more specific and targeted to reflect the detail of what you do and to prove your expertise to those who need to know.
Consisting of three series and four credentials, the new generation of Microsoft certifications provides a simpler and more targeted framework for IT managers to validate core technical skills, professional skills, and architectural skills. It also provides professionals in the IT industry with a more relevant, flexible, and cost-effective way to showcase their skills.
The Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) program is the leading certification program for validating your experience and skills, keeping you competitive in today’s changing business environment.
MCP certifications The MCP program includes the following certifications:
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MCDST on Microsoft Windows XP or Vista
The Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) certification is designed for professionals who support end users and successfully troubleshoot desktop environments running on the Microsoft Windows operating system.
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MCSA on Windows Server® 2003/2008
The Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) certification is designed for professionals who implement, manage, and troubleshoot existing network and system environments based on the Windows Server 2003 platform. Implementation responsibilities include installing and configuring parts of the systems. Management responsibilities include administering and supporting the systems.
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MCSE on Windows Server 2003/2008
The Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) credential is the premier certification for professionals who analyze the business requirements and design and implement the infrastructure for business solutions based on the Windows Server 2003 platform. Implementation responsibilities include installing, configuring, and troubleshooting network systems.
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MCAD
The Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD) for Microsoft .NET credential is appropriate for professionals who use Microsoft technologies to develop and maintain department-level applications, components, Web or desktop clients, or back-end data services or who work in teams developing enterprise applications. The credential covers job tasks ranging from developing to deploying and maintaining these solutions.
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MCSD
The Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD) credential is the premier certification for professionals who design and develop leading-edge business solutions with Microsoft development tools, technologies, platforms, and the Microsoft Windows DNA architecture. The types of applications MCSDs can develop include desktop applications and multi-user, Web-based, N-tier, and transaction-based applications. The credential covers job tasks ranging from analyzing business requirements to maintaining solutions.
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MCDBA on Microsoft SQL Server™ 2005
The Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA) credential is the premier certification for professionals who implement and administer SQL Server databases. The certification is appropriate for individuals who derive physical database designs, develop logical data models, create physical databases, create data services by using Transact-SQL, manage and maintain databases, configure and manage security, monitor and optimize databases, and install and configure SQL Server.
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MCP
The Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) credential is for individuals who have the skills to successfully implement a Microsoft product or technology as part of a business solution in an organization. Hands-on experience with the product is necessary to successfully achieve certification.
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MCT
Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCTs) demonstrate the instructional and technical skills that qualify them to deliver Microsoft Learning Products through Microsoft Certified Technical Education Centers (Microsoft CTECs).
Certification requirements. Requirements differ for each certification category and are specific to the products and job functions addressed by the certification. To become a Microsoft Certified Professional, you must pass rigorous certification exams that provide a valid and reliable measure of technical proficiency and expertise.
Acquiring the skills tested by an MCP exam Official Microsoft Learning Products can help you develop the skills that you need to do your job. They also complement the experience that you gain while working with Microsoft products and technologies. However, no one-to-one correlation exists between the learning products and MCP exams. Microsoft does not expect or intend for learning products to be the sole preparation method for passing MCP exams. Practical product knowledge and experience are also necessary to pass MCP exams.
To help prepare for MCP exams, use the preparation guides that are available for each exam. Each Exam Preparation Guide contains exam-specific information, such as a list of the topics on which you will be tested. These guides are available on the Microsoft Learning Web site
Microsoft Certifications for IT Professionals
The new Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) and Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) credentials provide IT professionals with a simpler and more targeted framework to showcase their technical skills in addition to the skills that are required for specific developer job roles. The credentials are geared toward IT professionals who administer a Microsoft SQL Server 2005 database or develop business process and integration solutions by using Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006.
The Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA), Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST), Microsoft Certified System Administrator (MCSA), and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) credentials continue to provide IT professionals using Microsoft SQL Server 2005, Microsoft Windows XP/Vista, and Microsoft Windows Server 2003/2008 with industry recognition and validation of their IT skills and experience.
Microsoft Training Resources
Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist
The new Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) credential highlights your skills and knowledge of Microsoft products. With the credential, you can demonstrate your expertise administering, deploying, and maintaining Microsoft SQL Server 2005, developing business process and integration solutions using BizTalk Server 2006, and managing Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005.
Learn More about the New Generation of Microsoft Certifications.
Microsoft Certified IT Professional
The new Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) credential lets you highlight your specific area of expertise. Now, you can easily distinguish yourself as an expert in database administration, database development, or business intelligence.
Learn More about the New Generation of Microsoft Certifications.
Microsoft Certified Database Administrator
Demonstrate that you have the skills to lead organizations in the successful design, implementation, and administration of Microsoft SQL Server 2000 databases with the following Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA) credential.
Learn More about the New Generation of Microsoft Certifications.
Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician
The Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) credential proves that you have the skills to support users who run Microsoft Windows XP. It also proves that you can troubleshoot desktop environments that run on the Microsoft Windows XP operating system.
Learn More about the New Generation of Microsoft Certifications.
Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator
The Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) certification will advance your career by ensuring you have the skills to successfully manage and troubleshoot system environments that run on the Microsoft Windows operating system. The MCSA: Messaging credential identifies systems administrators who implement, manage, and maintain a messaging infrastructure using Microsoft Exchange Server. The MCSA: Security credential identifies systems administrators who specialize in managing, maintaining, and implementing security on the Windows operating system and as part of a secure computing environment.
Learn More about the New Generation of Microsoft Certifications.
Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer
Earn the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) certification and prove your expertise in designing and implementing the infrastructure for business solutions that are based on the Microsoft Windows 2000 operating system and the Microsoft Windows Server System. The MCSE: Messaging credential identifies systems engineers who design, plan, implement, manage, and maintain a messaging infrastructure by using Microsoft Exchange Server. The MCSE: Security credential identifies systems engineers who specialize in managing, maintaining, and implementing security on the Windows operating system and as part of a secure computing environment.
Learn More about the New Generation of Microsoft Certifications.
New Generation of Certifications for Longhorn Server
Many IT professionals have been eager to know what changes will be occurring to the Microsoft Certifications program in the Longhorn timeframe.
It’s important to note that the current iteration of both the MCSA and MCSE credentials for Windows 2000 Server and Windows Server 2003 are not being retired any time soon and will stay on your Microsoft Certified Professional Transcript indefinitely. Likewise, these credentials are not changing.
The suggestion is that people who are currently pursuing their MCSA/MCSE on Windows Server 2003 and who have already completed some exams should attempt to complete the credential because an upgrade path to the Longhorn certifications will be available. In fact, you can now use various exams based on current products, such as Windows Vista and Exchange Server 2007, as credit towards your MCSA/MCSE. Information about this will be posted soon to the Microsoft Learning site.
Please note that there will be no upgrade path from Windows 2000 to the Longhorn credentials. Furthermore, Windows 2000-related exams will be retired on March 30, 2008. This includes the 2000 to 2003 upgrade exams: exam 70-292 and exam 70-296. A Microsoft Learning senior product manager for IT Professional and Developer Certifications explained that these retirements are based on Microsoft’s published mainstream support timeline and that, at the point of retirement, these particular exams will have been available in the industry for eight years.
Last year, Microsoft Learning redesigned the certification program in an effort to “create more targeted, relevant and cost-effective certifications.” Specifically, the new generation of certifications is based on the following three principles.
Principle 1: Targeted & Flexible
- Create certifications that reflect specific job roles
- Create credentials that allow individuals to identify custom skill sets
Principle 2: Rigorous & Credible
- Advance testing technology using simulations, case study, and other complex methodologies
- Create straightforward exam paths that test more completely and accurately
Principle 3: Relevant & Simple
- Technology exams verify depth in using technology
- Professional exams verify relevant job role skills
The new generation of certifications consists of three skill areas and four credentials.
Skill Area 1: Core Technical Skills
- Proven skills on Microsoft technologies
- Credential: Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist
- 1-3 exams per credential
- Certification retires when mainstream product support for the product being tested ends
- Focused on a key product or technology (Vista, SQL Server, Exchange, etc.)
- Does not include job role skills
Skill Area 2: Professional Skills
- Proven ability to perform on the job
- Credentials: Microsoft Certified IT Professional and Microsoft Certified Professional Developer
- 1-3 exams per credential
- Technology Specialist Prerequisite
- Focused on a single job role
- Recertification required
Skill Area 3: Business IT Skills
- Proven ability to delivery business solutions
- Credential: Microsoft Certified Architect
- Rigorous entry process
- Work closely with a mentor
- Culminate in oral review board
- Recertification required
These areas don’t build up in levels as a pyramid would; they are rather a puzzle with the varying pieces fitting together. In other words, you don’t have to obtain all the credentials on the lower half of the image to become a Microsoft Certified Architect, for example.
The new generation of certifications also means new logos. The new logos are split into two parts, with the left side depicting the credential and the right side enumerating the certification(s) held. For example, a Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) may have completed the requirements to be both an Enterprise Messaging Administrator and an Enterprise Support Technician. A certified professional can use a tool called Logo Builder to combine these certifications into one logo. The new logo allows certification holders to be more readily identified to their peers, managers, clients and recruiters as holding the credentials that are in demand in a given situation.
Longhorn certifications will follow this new framework. Specifically, there will be three Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) credentials. These three are prerequisites for two Microsoft Certified IT Professional credentials. Note that these are credentials, not exams. The exam numbers, exam titles, and exact certification titles are not yet available. This information will be previewed to Microsoft Certified Professionals in May and generally announced in June. If you want to be the first to know about these details, sign up for the MCP Flash newsletter here.
If you are currently certified as an MCSA/MCSE on Windows Server 2003, upgrade exams to the MCTS credentials will be available. One exam will upgrade MCSA; an additional exam is required for MCSE. Please note that there is no upgrade path from MCSA/MCSE to MCITP. You will first have to pass the one or two exams required to upgrade your credential to MCTS. From there you can take whatever exams are required to obtain the MCITP credentials.
As I mentioned, recertification of these credentials will be required every three years. Recertification is likely to be a MCTS exam, and if this is not completed within the three-year window, your certification is not revoked but expired. You will need to pass only the relevant recertification exam to be reinstated. Details are yet to be provided on what will occur when a product covered by an MCTS credential enters the mainstream support phase and the credential is retired. Many certified professionals were curious to know whether their transcript would show “retired” or “expired” or merely disappear altogether.
As you might have guessed based on all of this information, there will no longer be any specializations (either Security or Messaging) in the Longhorn certifications. Existing credentials highlight these skill sets: For example, Exchange Administrators can earn the MCITP: Enterprise Messaging Administrator credential.