Wednesday, July 10, 2013

The New Microsoft Certification Program

By Thomas Hunter


Microsoft is once again making major modifications to its IT training certification program. Whilst these changes ought to make the Microsoft certification program much easier to use, there are drawbacks involved and anyone who has or is looking at getting Microsoft training need to be aware of how the program is evolving. It should also be known that those who have already got Microsoft certifications must also be familiar with these new changes, since they will have an impact upon some Microsoft certificates.

Just what Modifications Are Going To Be Made?

Microsoft will be phasing out both the MCITP title and also the MCTS title. Those certifications will be replaced by the MCSE and MCSA titles, which happen to be the titles that Microsoft was formerly utilizing for the longest time period.

However, Microsoft is doing a lot more than just changing the names around. It's also lowering its ranking for the MCITP title, so that it is equivalent to the MCSA title but not to the MCSE title, which is commonly regarded as the superior form of Microsoft certification.

Microsoft is once again making re-certification required for individuals who wish to keep the new MCSE or MCSD title. While this is a requirement that angered quite a few certification holders when Microsoft initially attempted to introduce it, a lot of people are beginning to realize that ongoing, rapid changes in the computer world make it unachievable for someone to continue to hold to the same level of qualification without ongoing education. MCSE certifications will have to be renewed every 3 years and MCSD certifications every 2 years. MCSA certifications have no re-certification requirements.

Why the Modifications?

Microsoft's MCITP and MCTS titles weren't well accepted by either certificate students or those who were looking to employ graduates from Microsoft's certification program. Many organisations were and are still not technologically savvy and for that reason failed to comprehend the differences between Microsoft's new certifications forms and the company's old ones. This meant it was challenging for individuals who were looking for a job, since these individuals were required to explain to possible employers just what the new types of certification meant and why they were just as appropriate as the old ones.

One other reason why the initial program change was not well received is the fact that Microsoft said that the new certificates would be required to be periodically renewed. However, the company was confusing regarding what needed to be done to get hold of certificate renewal as well as when the certificates would reach their expiration date. Naturally, this situation created a lot of uncertainty for individuals who were thinking about getting started with the Microsoft training program.

Tips On How To Upgrade Current Certificates

The majority of new MCSE, MCSD and MCSA certification paths provide special upgrade examinations. These examinations center on testing the knowledge of a student on the new and changed functionalities of a new technology version. The prerequisite for these particular upgrade examinations is always one or more valid MCTS or MCITP certifications. Besides, in the event you currently hold a MCITP certification for Windows Server 2008 or Windows 7 you will automatically obtain a corresponding MCSA certification.

Are There Any Advantages Involved in Upgrading a Microsoft Certificate?

Because Microsoft has just recently changed the certification rules, it is not imperative for an individual to immediately upgrade his or her certification. There are plenty of businesses that are more than happy to employ a person with either a MCITP or MCTS certification, especially if this individual has experience and can show that he or she is staying up to date with new developments connected with his or her line of work.

Nevertheless, down the road it becomes necessary for a person to have new upgraded certifications that represent Microsoft's new systems and technology versions. Even though it may require some time and funds to acquire a new certification, it will be well worth the effort. Additionally, the skills earned under Microsoft's former program do count for something and can be put towards the study requirements for the new form of accreditation (through special upgrade exams). The call to upgrade existing certifications will get more urgent when companies begin using the more modern Microsoft technology versions (eg. Windows Server 2012, SQL Server 2012, SharePoint 2013, Exchange 2013 and so forth).

Microsoft's new certification program has worried some individuals who are thinking about taking a Microsoft training course or have by now taken such a course. Whilst the changes are not small or light in nature, they really are generally speaking beneficial and in the long run will help to accurately represent precisely how much training and knowledge an individual has in any given field of IT. Anyone that is at this time taking a Microsoft course for one of the newer technology versions will already be using the brand-new program and therefore have absolutely nothing to be concerned about. At the same time, those who have old(er) certificates (or what is now named legacy certification) are able to keep using their old certifications without any problems, whilst eventually transitioning to a newer certification is definitely recommended.




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