A.
We reinvented our certifications to maintain their market relevance as the industry shifts to the cloud. Microsoft Certifications now validate broader and deeper skills required to build solutions on-premise or in the cloud. We added recertification requirements to ensure that IT professionals and developers who hold our certifications are up-to-date on our continually evolving technology.
A.
The names—Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE), Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD), and Microsoft Certified Solutions Master (MCSM)—were changed to better reflect the experience, knowledge, and skills that IT professionals and developers need to build and manage technology solutions that may include multiple technologies, whether on premise or in the cloud.
A.
The existing MCTS, MCITP, and MCPD certifications are currently valuable in the market and will remain valuable as long as companies are using the technology covered in your certification. As new technologies are released, they will be released in the new solutions structure. Over time, the MCTS, MCITP, and MCPD certifications will retire and will transition to a legacy status. Legacy Microsoft Certifications will still appear on your transcript and will be designated as such.
A.
If you achieved an MCITP or MCPD certification that corresponds to a new expert-level certification, there will be a shorter upgrade path available to you for a limited time.
A.
New certifications will release for each solution area when Microsoft launches a new version of related products. The first certifications being released are SQL Server 2012 and Private Cloud.
A.
We recommend that you pursue the Microsoft Certification paths that are currently available and sign up to receive notifications about updates on new certifications as they become available. In most cases, upgrade exams will also be available to shorten your path from an MCITP or MCPD to the new MCSE and MCSD certifications.
A.
The MCSA certification is the starting point to our technical certifications. The MCSA certification provides a clear starting point for job seekers early in their technology career who are ready to prove that they have the minimum set of skills to hit the ground running.
A.
When you pass a single exam, you become a member of the Microsoft Certification Program. You can share your transcript with others to prove that you passed that exam and show your progress towards a specific certification.
A.
Yes, you will be able to access the MCP member site after passing one exam. You will be able to view and share your transcript, enabling you to show your progress towards your certification goals.
A.
Your transcript has a section that shows all the exams you have passed. Each exam title will include the technology version in the name.
A.
Expert-level certifications do not include a product version number because they may cover multiple versions of a single technology and multiple technologies as part of the solution.
A.
Expert-level certifications better prepare you to pursue a master-level certification by validating the full range of skills and abilities required to be successful at building technology solutions. Expert-level certifications also validate deeper technology skills than were included in the past, which helps bridge the gap to the difficulty level of master certifications.
A.
You will continue to earn an MCTS for passing Exams 70-640 and 70-642 until April 2013. Until April 2013, when you earn an MCSA: Windows Server 2008 certification, you will also receive the MCITP: Server Administrator certification. After April 2013, the MCITP: Server Administrator certification will be discontinued.
A.
When new Expert-level and Associate-level certifications are announced for a technology, the retirement dates for the older certifications in that technology will also be announced. Upgrade paths will be available from MCITP and MCPD certifications, so that you can easily make the transition to the MCSE.
A.
According to a recent study, 86 percent of hiring managers indicate IT certifications are a high or medium priority during the candidate evaluation process.1 Also, the number of job postings in the cloud computing industry is growing so rapidly that there aren't enough qualified workers available to fill the positions, according to an analysis of hiring trends by Wanted Analytics. Achieving a Microsoft Certification puts your resume on top of the pile and gives you the competitive edge you need to get hired and get ahead in your career.
1CompTIA Study, Employer Perceptions of IT Training and Certification, January 2011.
A.
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.
A.
The majority of IT hiring managers use certification as a criterion for hiring at least half the time. The MCSA certification is designed to make it easy for hiring managers to identify candidates who have already gained a minimum set of skills on core technologies. While the MCSA certification validates the core technical skills that are important early in your career, those core skills continue to be valuable even as you move on to specialize in a certain solution area.
A.
Earning a certification from an internationally recognized provider creates lifelong opportunities to fill an estimated eight million IT jobs around the world. Students can now get college credit by earning a Microsoft Certification. The American Council on Education (ACE) has recommended college credit for several Microsoft Certifications.
