Getting Started with Certification – FAQ

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According to a recent study, there is a 40 percent gap between demand and supply of IT professionals with the right technical skills. As technology evolves, organizations are looking for employees with the most up-to-date IT certifications on the most current technologies. If you want to attain a competitive edge and help improve employability and earning potential, Microsoft Certification can help position you. In a recent poll, 63 percent of IT hiring managers reported that certified employees are generally more productive than those without certifications. Similarly, 89 percent of supervisors interviewed said Microsoft Office-certified employees are more productive because of their certification.

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Choosing a certification path is all about your journey—where you are and where you want to be tomorrow. Are you more interested in developing software, deploying it, or using desktop applications and services? Visit the following pages to learn about your options.

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Earning a Microsoft Certification can help you stand out from other job candidates by helping validate that you have the skills required to perform the job. Professional certification also helps show potential employers your commitment to continued learning and career growth.

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Earning a certification from an internationally recognized provider creates lifelong opportunities to fill an estimated eight million IT jobs around the world. Students and Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCPs) can now get college credit by earning a Microsoft Certification. The American Council on Education (ACE) has recommended college credit for several Microsoft Certifications.

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During a recent poll of IT hiring managers, 55 percent said that they consider employee certification as a criterion for hiring, and 63 percent said that they believe certified employees are more productive than noncertified employees. Similarly, 71 percent of employers indicated that Microsoft Office certification is advantageous to employees being considered in hiring, promotion, and advancement decisions.

Since many of our certifications are accredited, some employers will reimburse you for the cost of certifications through their tuition assistance programs.

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No Microsoft Office, Technology Specialist, or Professional certifications require training prior to taking an exam. However, hands-on experience working with the product is highly recommended prior to taking these certification exams. You should be able to demonstrate all the skills described in the exam preparation guide before you take an exam.

Note Some Microsoft Certified Master certifications have a training prerequisite.

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The preparation guide for each exam contains a "Skills Measured" section that you can review, as well as a list of preparation tools and resources provided by Microsoft. The best way to prepare for an exam is to practice the skills listed in the preparation guide. Hands-on experience with the technology is required to successfully pass Microsoft Certification exams.

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With the exception of Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) certification exams, all Microsoft Certification exams are designed to measure your ability to perform skills related to a specific Microsoft technology. Without hands-on experience with the product, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to earn the certification.

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Visit the Microsoft home page and download trial versions of products: Click the Downloads & Trials tab at the top of the page, and then select Download Center. Or click the Products tab, also at the top of the page, and look for trials and downloads on the product web pages.

If you are a student, you might qualify for free access to certain software through Microsoft DreamSpark. You can download online labs from the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) or Microsoft TechNet for many technologies, which allows you to work with the technology without loading it onto your computer. Microsoft Learning training, such as Microsoft Press training kits, e-learning, and instructor-led training, also provides opportunities to gain hands-on experience with the technology.

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Hands-on experience focusing on the skills listed in the exam preparation guide is the most cost-effective way to prepare for a certification exam. Blogs and online articles are available on many of the skills measured by our certification exams. Many public libraries carry Microsoft Press training kits. Microsoft Learning and MSDN sponsor Windows Live Meetings, webcasts, podcasts, and videos that might be relevant to your certification path. Microsoft Learning also offers short, interactive presentations called Silverlight Learning Snacks, which provide overviews on popular topics. A practice test is a great tool for identifying your current level of mastery and gaining insight into the level of training that you need for success on that technology.

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The exam preparation guide is a great tool to help you determine whether you are ready to take the exam. Read the preparation guide and ask yourself whether you can perform the skills described. For a more exam-like assessment of your skills, you can get a practice test from one of our practice test providers. Practice questions are also available in some of our Microsoft Learning training products, such as the Microsoft Press training kits.

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The exam preparation guide includes the recommended amount of hands-on experience that candidates should have prior to taking each exam. Beyond that, it depends on how much time you spend studying. If you already have experience, you might need only a few weeks of studying to prepare for each exam. If you do not have hands-on experience or have very little time to study, you might need a few months of preparation before you are ready.