Microsoft's Next Generation of Certification
Vortex has all the classes you need to get certified under Microsoft's new certification program, which is designed to emphasize both the primary technology skill set and the job role of the individual. By focusing on core technical or professional skills, individuals can work toward a certification that meets their needs. This new program works in tandem with current credentials individuals may have.
This program provides shorter certification paths targeted to specific job roles or technologies. The new certifications have been designed with a greater emphasis on product versions. The key idea is to keep “certifications” relevant and product focused. The new program allows for a pathway that proves an engineers ability to maintain the latest software versions.
The program introduces three series of credentials:
Technology Specialist (MCTS): This series validates core technology and product skills, such as how-to or implementation skills. These exams are targeted to a specific technology so individuals can demonstrate expertise in that area. A Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) is consistently capable of implementing, building, troubleshooting, and debugging a particular technology. The Technology Specialist has the depth of skills to fully support the technology.
There are currently five Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist certifications. More will become available as new technologies are introduced. The five certifications are:
IT Professional and Professional Developer (MCITP and MCPD): This series validates specific job-role skills outside of core technology, such as operational processes and procedures, and analyzing business problems. Microsoft Certified IT Professionals (MCITP) and Microsoft Certified Professional Developers (MCPD) are consistently and fully capable of deploying, building, designing, optimizing and operating technologies for a given job role. They have demonstrated the comprehensive skills required to perform the job successfully and must remain current in best practices and technologies.
Microsoft currently offers two Professional series credentials:
Architect (MCA): This series validates the skills required to successfully impact business IT. These include technical breadth, technical depth, communication, strategy, organizational politics, process, and leadership. The Architect certification will require advanced and verifiable experience in IT (at least 10 years) and experience as a working architect (at least 3 years). The Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA) credential will not rely on prepackaged curriculum or traditional exams. Instead, candidates must demonstrate their skills and knowledge by creating architectures that solve complex business problems and then present their solutions to a review board of peer architects. A candidate for the Architect program will need a broad-based knowledge that extends well beyond the bounds of any particular Microsoft technology. In addition, the nontechnical skills domain that candidates will face through the process will be broad, including knowledge areas such as project management, decision making, strategic thinking, and communications. The current expectation is that about a quarter of the emphasis of a candidate’s knowledge will be on breadth and depth of technology skills; the rest will relate to general architecture principles and best practices that aren’t technology specific. The cost for staffing and running a week-long review board is approximately $10,000 per candidate which is also the expected price. This level is now in the pilot phase and it is expected to open for public enrollment in 2006. Announcements on the formal application process and pricing are anticipated to be made within the next 3 months.
Learn more about the Microsoft Certified Architect Program
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FAQs:
Candidates who are currently pursuing a credential should continue with the path they have chosen. It’s still the most relevant credential in the market for the products being certified in.
Candidates who hold an MCP credential are not affected by the new certifications. Candidates will be able to become certified in Visual Studio 2005, SQL Server 2005, or BizTalk Server 2006, by passing the exams which will be released in early 2006.
For candidates that hold an MCSE, MCSA, or MCDST credential, nothing needs to be done at this point . When Microsoft releases the next version of the Windows client and server products, the new credentials will follow the new structure, with a Technology and Professional series. MCSEs, MCSAs, and MCDSTs will be offered an upgrade path to the new credentials.
Candidates with a MCDBA credentials in SQL Server 2000 will continue to be recognized by Microsoft. Upgrade options for the new Microsoft SQL Server 2005 credentials will be available for those currently certified as MCDBAs. You can upgrade to the new MCITP: Database Administrator credential with one exam after earning the prerequisite Technology Specialist credential. The upgrade exam will be available in early to mid-2006.
Lastly, students with an MCSD or MCAD credentials continue to be recognized by Microsoft. Upgrade options for the new Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 credentials will be available for those currently certified as either MCAD or MCSD in Visual Studio .NET. For students who are an MCAD, they can choose an upgrade path to the new MCPD: Web Developer or MCPD: Windows Developer credential; this upgrade requires one exam. For students who are an MCSD in Visual Studio .NET, they can upgrade to the new MCPD: Enterprise Applications Developer; this upgrade requires two exams. For these upgrade paths waive the prerequisite of earning Technology Specialist credentials. The upgrade exams for Professional Developer credentials will be available in early to mid-2006. |
