Microsoft Certified Architect: Technology Programs
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How to become a Technology Architect
Microsoft offers Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA) training and certification in the following two Technology Architect specializations.
| • | MCA Messaging (Microsoft Exchange Server) |
| • | MCA Database (Microsoft SQL Server) |
In order to achieve MCA credentials as a Technology Architect, you must:
1. | Qualify to attend the training by meeting the Messaging or Database prerequisites.
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2. | Attend and successfully complete the training. | ||||
3. | Successfully complete the lab-based exam. | ||||
4. | Successfully complete the certification Review Board interview. |
When you successfully complete the training and pass either the lab-based exam or the Review Board interview, you will have access to all of the resources of the MCA community even though you have not completed all certification components and are not yet certified (this is called "apprentice status"). Qualified apprentices can achieve full certification by successfully completing the missing certification component.
Register to qualify for the training
1. | Familiarize yourself with the program requirements and expectations from the information on this Web site. See program specific information via the "Related Links" on this page. To qualify as a candidate, you must meet the prerequisites before you request an application for the MCA Messaging or MCA Database architect programs. | ||
2. | Request an application.
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3. | Complete the application and submit it with your resumé and the sanitized architecture document. | ||
4. | You will receive a reply from the program team within five business days of receipt of your application. Messaging candidates will be scheduled to take the Environmental Dependencies Course (EDC) exam which tests your applied knowledge of networking, DNS (domain naming server), AD (active directory), and basic mail routing. You may request an EDC study guide or schedule an exam by contacting the program team.
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5. | Qualified candidates will be scheduled for a phone interview with the program manager (PM). | ||
6. | You will receive notification whether you have been accepted or not, along with feedback, within three business days of the interview (or ten weeks prior to the desired training rotation). If you have been accepted, you must respond to your letter of acceptance within five business days. |
Attend and successfully complete the training
If you have been accepted into the program, you will attend four weeks of training in Redmond, Washington.
| • | You are expected to clear all engagements and commitments for the duration of the training. |
| • | You must pass weekly written tests in order to qualify to take the lab-based exam and Review Board interview. If you do not achieve the required passing percentage across all tests (which is usually 80 percent), you cannot continue to pursue the certification at this time. If this occurs, you must retake and successfully complete the training and requirements if you want to achieve certification. |
A sample training and testing schedule follows.
Note The schedule is subject to change. You will receive a finalized schedule at the start of your rotation.
Successfully complete the lab-based exam and Review Board interview
If you successfully complete the training, you can stay for a fifth week to attempt the lab-based exam and the Review Board interview immediately, or you can schedule the online lab-based exam and the Review Board interview for a later date.
Lab-based exam. The lab-based exam is a performance-based test where candidates must complete tasks within a specified amount of time.
| • | Exam results are either pass or fail. |
| • | The exam is online, proctored, and available from anywhere in the world. |
| • | If you do not pass the exam at first attempt, you may immediately schedule a second attempt. If you do not pass the second (or any subsequent) attempts, then you must wait six months before you attempt the exam again. |
Review Board interview. Review Board interviews are held the week after the training sessions and also twice annually outside of these times. Review Board interviews are currently administered only in Redmond, Washington. If you do not pass the Review Board session, you can retry within the time frame that the Review Board recommends.
| • | Learn more about the Review Board process |
Tuition, attendance, and cancellations
The tuition for enrolling in and attending a Microsoft Certified Architect Technology training program is US$25,000 per individual. You must pay all expenses in advance of the training rotation start date. You are responsible for your housing and travel expenses.
Note The tuition fee does not guarantee successful completion of the program, but it does cover the cost of the training and certification process as well as continued education.
Registration and confirmation deadlines
| • | Five weeks before the session start date, all registrations must be completed. (To complete registration, candidates must pass all prerequisites.) |
| • | No fewer than four weeks before the session start date, all accepted candidates will be confirmed as attendees in their desired rotation. |
Cancellation policy
A seat that has been removed from the inventory generally cannot be filled by another candidate since candidates must be prequalified and able to commit to four weeks of training on short notice.
| • | You will not be charged a cancellation fee if you cancel at least four weeks before the date that the session is scheduled to start (the session start date). |
| • | You will be charged a cancellation fee of US$7,500 if you cancel between 14 and 28 days before the session start date. |
| • | You will be charged a cancellation fee of US$15,000 if you cancel 14 or fewer days before the session start date. |