The Microsoft Certified Architect: Infrastructure Program Overview
The Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA) program identifies top industry experts in the fields of IT architecture. Unlike other industry certifications, this credential is designed, built, and granted by industry peers, and candidates are required to present to and be approved through a rigorous review board process overseen by previously certified architects.
The MCA certification for infrastructure architects was designed for IT architects whose key areas of focus include physical network, security, storage, network operating systems, application platforms, desktop operating systems, messaging, management, or operations.
Successful candidates for the infrastructure architecture certification generally have more than 10 years of experience in IT, and three or more years of specific architectural experience.
| • | Learn more about what is expected of a infrastructure architect |
The MCA program for infrastructure architects focuses on validating skills across seven competencies. While these competencies are common across each of the MCA certifications, the expectations for each architect job role are slightly different.
| • | Read about the MCA program competencies for infrastructure architects |
Candidates who enter the program are required to provide documentation showing how their skills and work experience directly apply to each of the seven architect competencies. After creating the required documentation, the last step is the review board interview. Candidates appear before a jury of their peers, which consists of four MCAs—two each from the infrastructure and solutions domains. The two-hour session includes a 30-minute presentation by the candidate, followed by questions from the review board panel.
| • | Learn about the MCA program certification process and how to register for the program |
