IT Academy Certification

Achieving a Microsoft Certification is a great way for educators to stay current in their technology areas and for students to enter the IT workforce with proven technical skills.

According to the 2010 Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) Program Satisfaction Study, 91 percent of hiring managers consider employee certification as a criterion for hiring.

Microsoft Certification exams measure one’s ability to perform real-world tasks. These rigorous exams go well beyond testing product knowledge. Test takers are presented with situations in which they must apply their knowledge, analyze technical solutions, solve problems, and make decisions.

Microsoft Certification is one of the most demanding and respected endorsements in the industry, stressing both technical knowledge and real-world experience. Microsoft has certified more than 3 million professionals worldwide. In a recent study, IT hiring managers found that team performance improves as each new team member becomes certified.

According to the 2010 MCP Program Satisfaction Study, 81 percent of hiring managers feel that certified individuals perform better.

According to that same survey, 79 percent of hiring managers feel that certified individuals are more efficient.

Become a testing center

College Credit Now Available

Microsoft Certification exams recognize and validate real-world IT skills, offer a life-long career path of IT skills development, and support the certified community by providing access to unique resources. After a deep dive into Microsoft Learning certifications, the American Council on Education (ACE) has reviewed and recommended college credit for selected Microsoft certifications. Approved certifications are eligible for one to six semester hours of college credit in bachelor’s degree or associate degree classes on computer applications, information technology, or computer information systems. The Accreditation program helps students achieve employability and academic goals, as well as bridging the gap between workforce training and the classroom.

Important note: College credit recommendations are intended for the United States only.

Any institution that is a Microsoft IT Academy member can apply to become a testing center and offer Microsoft Certification exams on its campus. When your institution becomes a testing center, your students and educators gain easy access to certification exams and you enjoy new revenue streams.

Benefits of becoming a testing center:

Setting up a testing center is simple. The hardware requirements are similar to most typical classroom labs, so in most cases you can use existing equipment. The providers supply the software, online registration system, updates, and technical support at no additional charge.

Choose an exam provider:

To deliver Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) and Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) exams:

To deliver Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) exams:

Apply to become a testing center:

As an IT Academy member, you are entitled to deep discounts on IT exams to earn Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE), Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS), Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP), and Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) certifications.

Microsoft Professional certifications, which include the MCITP and MCPD certifications, are designed to demonstrate a comprehensive set of job-related skills, such as project management, system design, and operations management.

MCTS certifications are designed to demonstrate in-depth knowledge of a key product or technology, validating ability to implement, build, troubleshoot, and debug a particular Microsoft technology.

The Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) Certification is new entry-level exam and certification from Microsoft that validates essential building block knowledge for aspiring IT professionals and developers. As an IT Academy member, you are already teaching Microsoft technology. With the MTA Campus License, educators can save valuable planning time by administering exams right in the classroom with just a web browser.

Buy a one-year MTA Campus License and receive 1,000 exams, MTA Exam Review Kits, and access to the entire suite of entry-level MTA Infrastructure and Developer Exams for students, educators, and staff for less than three dollars each with full license utilization!

Additionally, you can include your plans to integrate Microsoft certification into your curriculum to help gain approval on grant requests.

With the launch of Microsoft Office 2010, Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) exams are more popular than ever. As an IT Academy member, you are entitled to deep discounts on MOS exams to earn MOS, MOS Master, and MOS Expert certifications.

A MOS certification helps validate your proficiency in using Microsoft Office 2010 and meets the demand for the most up-to-date skills on some of the latest Microsoft technologies.