Microsoft Certifications bring valuable, measurable rewards to students, IT professionals, their managers, and the organizations that employ them. These certifications are designed to provide the recognition you need to help you excel in your career and provide employers with validation of your skills.
Microsoft Certifications are available for most Microsoft technologies and all skill levels. Achieving a Microsoft Certification helps provide you with relevant skills that can lead you to a fulfilling career, while giving you access to valuable Microsoft Certification Program benefits. These benefits include access to the member site and a vast, global network of other certified professionals. Learn more about certification in the below images.
Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA)The Microsoft Certified Architect program recognizes and provides advanced certification to practicing architects in an enterprise setting.
Microsoft Certified Master (MCM)The MCM program helps experienced IT professionals demonstrate and validate their ability to successfully design and implement solutions that meet the most complex business requirements.
Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP)An MCITP certification demonstrates comprehensive skills in deploying, supporting, and optimizing IT infrastructures.
Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD)An MCPD certification demonstrates comprehensive skills in designing, developing, and deploying applications for a particular job role.
Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS)The MCTS certification helps enable IT professionals to target specific technologies and to distinguish themselves by demonstrating in-depth knowledge and expertise.
Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA)An MTA certification helps students explore career options in technology, prepare for advanced studies and MCTS exams, and demonstrate fundamental knowledge of hardware or IT infrastructure or software technology.
Figure 1. The various Microsoft Certification tracks
For more detail on Microsoft Certification, see the "Recommended Path to Certification" and the "Certification Tracks" tabs that are part of this page.
Microsoft Office Specialist MasterMicrosoft Office Specialist (MOS) Masters have more than a working familiarity with Microsoft Office programs—they are technically skilled to take advantage of the breadth of features efficiently and effectively.
Microsoft Office Specialist ExpertThe Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) Expert certification helps demonstrate an individual's overall comprehension and expertise on specific Microsoft Office programs.
Microsoft Office SpecialistA Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) is globally recognized for demonstrating advanced business skills in using Microsoft Office 2010, the 2007 Microsoft Office system, and Windows Vista; or highly developed skills in using other Microsoft desktop software.
Figure 2. The various Microsoft Office certification tracks
Microsoft offers a wide range of certifications that cover a spectrum of professions within—and outside of—the IT industry. Whether you follow the business professional, IT professional, or developer path, each Microsoft Certification helps provide objective validation of your ability to perform more advanced and critical business and IT functions successfully to help mark key turning points in your skills and career.
Microsoft Certification Tutorial
Let us help you get started on the path to professional certification. This Silverlight Learning Snack provides answers to frequently asked questions, such as:
How do I start getting certified?
Which exams do I take?
What prerequisites do I need?
What are the next steps on my certification journey?
You will also find information on job roles and how earning a Microsoft Certification helps show potential employers your commitment to continued learning and career growth.
Choosing a certification path is all about your journey: where you are today, where you want to be tomorrow, and defining your career goals. Are you a student? New to certification? Already certified? Are you interested in developing software, deploying it, or using desktop applications and services? Microsoft Certifications are available for most Microsoft technologies and skill levels, from students to business workers to IT professionals, developers, technology trainers, and system architects. Representing a rich and varied spectrum of job roles and responsibilities, Microsoft Certifications are designed to give you structured paths to help validate your skills every step of the way.
Review the following guided steps to start your certification journey
Students
If you are a student interested in IT careers, get a head start by earning a Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) certification in Windows, Microsoft Visual Studio, or Microsoft SQL Server. Becoming an MTA can help you explore your potential for a career in technology.
If you are interested in a business career, start with a core Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification in Office Word, Office Excel, or Office PowerPoint.
Find out more about how Microsoft Certification can help you get a head-start on your IT career.
Non-certified professionals
If you are a non-certified IT professional or developer, you should aim to obtain a Professional-level certification in your current or future job role.
If you are a non-certified business professional, you should aim to obtain an Expert-level certification in your current or future job role.
After earning your first Professional- or Expert-level certification, go to the next level of certification or diversify. Our program is set up to help you diversify and explore other Microsoft technologies.
Microsoft Certified Professionals
If you have already earned a Microsoft Certification (and thus are already a Microsoft Certified Professional, or MCP), continue on your journey to advanced certifications. If you are a highly experienced IT professional, earning a Microsoft Certified Master (MCM) certification will help provide industry-recognized validation of your in-depth technical and architectural expertise.
What is your career focus? Explore certifications by tracks.
Certifications for IT professionals make up our largest group of certifications. Choose a certification that focuses on a specific technology or job role, such as building, troubleshooting, or debugging a Microsoft technology.
Certifications
Technologies
Legacy certifications
* This is a legacy certification. Some legacy certification exams are no longer available, in which case the certifications can no longer be earned. Refer to the individual certification requirements for more information.
Help maximize your value by certifying your advanced technical skills for a specific developer job role.
Demonstrate your proficiency in Microsoft Dynamics or related business management solutions.
Microsoft Dynamics AX
Microsoft Dynamics CRM
Microsoft Dynamics GP
Microsoft Dynamics NAV
Microsoft Dynamics SL
Microsoft Dynamics Retail Management System
Microsoft Dynamics Point of Sale
Certify your Microsoft Office expertise to improve your performance or stand out in a competitive job market.
By earning a Microsoft Certification, you gain relevant skills that employers respect and you get the opportunity to connect with a global community of other certified professionals. The Microsoft Certification Program also provides you with access to valuable Microsoft resources and benefits, such as access to the member website, career-building tools, and training. Explore the benefits of certification—and start your journey toward your ideal career.
Microsoft Certification exams are continually evaluated and updated to ensure their relevance in the marketplace. As a result, earning a Microsoft Certification not only helps you stay up-to-speed on the latest developments in Microsoft technologies and platforms, but also helps enable you to demonstrate to employers your on-the-job skills.
Whether you are new to technology, changing jobs, or a seasoned professional, when you earn a Microsoft Certification, you are showing employers your commitment to advancing your skills and taking on greater challenges. See where certification fits into your career path:
Read a white paper on the value of certification
The Microsoft Certification Program provides you access to resources and benefits, including the opportunity to connect with a wide network of other Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) community members.
After you become certified, you gain access to resources available only to Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCPs), including those described in the following table.
MCP tools
Microsoft transcript and Transcript Sharing tool
Open and review your password-protected transcript at any time, and provide temporary or permanent access to employers and clients who may want to verify your credentials.
Microsoft Certification logo and Logo Builder tool
Easily create custom logos that draw attention to your expertise and mastery of Microsoft technologies and add them to your resume, business cards, or email signature. Pick your format and download logos on-demand for your own logo library.
Certificate Manager
Create, download, print, and store customized certificates.
MCPeStore
Shop online for official Microsoft Certification-branded merchandise.
MCP Career Center
Market your technical talents to employers looking for certified professionals in the MCP Career Center, powered by CareerBuilder.com. Post your resume, search for job openings, and sign up for personalized job alerts.
Microsoft Certification Planner
Track your progress toward achieving a specific certification. Synchronized with your personal transcript, Certification Planner helps you evaluate your options and select the shortest path to achieving your next certification.
Subscriptions, products, and services
Enjoy special offers and ongoing savings on IT magazines, online resources, and certification-related publications, along with exclusive savings on training, exams, and technical products and services from Microsoft and select affiliated companies.
Your career is the best investment you can make. Whether you are just getting started or you want to take your skills to the next level, Microsoft can help you meet your goals with training and certification.
Do you want to pursue a new career in IT, change your job role, or become indispensable in your current job? Or, do you want to be an enterprise application developer, or a web or database developer? Microsoft Learning provides a wide range of resources to help you track your career.
We collaborate with organizations around the world to help students prepare for in-demand information technology (IT) jobs and career certifications. Learn more about the resources, how to get involved, IT careers, how we are addressing the digital divide, and more.
As an IT manager, you need to recruit, hire, and supervise technology professionals who can make a direct impact on productivity, business efficiency, and the bottom line. Take advantage of Microsoft training, certification, guidance, and resources to help optimize your technology investment.
