Joined: 18 Sep 2001 Posts: 7867 Location: Portland, Or
Post subject: Next Generation of MS Certifications Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 3:34 am
Help others: Review your books and training products here
Microsoft has announced that they have released a new framework for their certification programs. The certification titles that we have become accustomed to over the last decade are going away. Microsoft states that the changes are designed to better target specific job roles and will reduce the number of exams individuals need to take to prove competency in their areas of expertise. The new qualifications will be as follows:
Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): This is the bottom rung, so to speak, of the new program. This program will allow individuals to demonstrate proficiency with specific Microsoft products. Microsoft has already released several Technology Specialist qualifications which are listed below:
Technology Specialist: .NET Framework 2.0 Web Applications
Technology Specialist: .NET Framework 2.0 Windows Applications
Judging from the requirements for the above qualifications, it appears that MCTS certifications will require 1 or 2 exams.
Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP): The MCITP designation is the "middle rung" of the new certification framework. Currently, Microsoft is offering the following MCITP certifications:
IT Professional: Database Developer
IT Professional: Database Administrator
IT Professional: Business Intelligence Developer
Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD): The MCPD is the equivalent of the MCITP, however, it is geared towards programmers and web developers. Currently, the following designations exist:
Professional Developer: Web Developer
Professional Developer: Windows Developer
Professional Developer: Enterprise Applications Developer
Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA): Microsoft's Architect program was announced earlier this year and is the highest level of certification offered. More information about this program can be found here.
Like Cisco certifications, these will require recertification every 3 years.
I would imagine that most of you are wondering about the status of the certifications that you hold or are currently working on. The following statement is from Microsoft's web site:
"No changes are planned for the MCSA and MCSE certification credentials for Windows Server 2003. When Microsoft releases the next version of the Windows client and server products, the new credentials will follow the new structure, with a Technology and Professional series. MCSEs, MCSAs, and MCDSTs will be offered an upgrade path to the new credentials."
Obviously, this is going to be a major change that will take some time to figure out and get used to. We will do our best to keep you posted on the latest news and expect major changes to our site (including domain name) over the next 6 months.
In the meantime, visit the New Generation page and make sure you read the FAQ. _________________ Did you know?
Buying discount exam vouchers saves you money and helps support this site.
Joined: 10 Apr 2005 Posts: 1287 Location: Wales, UK
Post subject: Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2005 6:22 am
Help others: Review your books and training products here
Hmm a Microsoft Certified IT Professional?
I like it! _________________ David Jones BSc (Hons)
MS Certs: MCSA: Messaging 2003, MCSE: 2003, MCTS: Vista, MCTS: Exchange 2007
Cisco Certs: CCNP
Studying: Beer
Help others: Review your books and training products here
They certainly don't roll off the tongue very easily...
As for recertifying every 3 years, this is a great idea for something like Cisco but having to sit an exam based on your MCSE knowledge every 3 years would be a grueling task and I just don't see the return on investment being good enough. _________________ Regards
Joined: 10 Apr 2005 Posts: 1287 Location: Wales, UK
Post subject: Posted: Sun Oct 30, 2005 6:47 pm
Help others: Review your books and training products here
JohnBradbury wrote:
They certainly don't roll off the tongue very easily...
As for recertifying every 3 years, this is a great idea for something like Cisco but having to sit an exam based on your MCSE knowledge every 3 years would be a grueling task and I just don't see the return on investment being good enough.
I think that is just for the MCA program? _________________ David Jones BSc (Hons)
MS Certs: MCSA: Messaging 2003, MCSE: 2003, MCTS: Vista, MCTS: Exchange 2007
Cisco Certs: CCNP
Studying: Beer
Joined: 18 Sep 2001 Posts: 7867 Location: Portland, Or
Post subject: Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2005 4:41 pm
Help others: Review your books and training products here
They have already started, at least for developers and database admins. Those pursuing MCSE and MCSA certs will be affected when the Windows Vista certification track is released. Vista will follow the new framework and this should happen sometime next year (probably 3rd or 4th quarter). _________________ Did you know?
Buying discount exam vouchers saves you money and helps support this site.
Joined: 22 Nov 2005 Posts: 82 Location: The 6th Borough
Post subject: Posted: Sat Dec 03, 2005 10:51 pm
Help others: Review your books and training products here
jsprague wrote:
They have already started, at least for developers and database admins. Those pursuing MCSE and MCSA certs will be affected when the Windows Vista certification track is released. Vista will follow the new framework and this should happen sometime next year (probably 3rd or 4th quarter).
IMHO, I don't think they will get rid of the MCDBA track on Windows 2000. If history teaches us anything, MS will have to get used to the fact that people will still use SQL Server 2000, just like folks were using 7.0 for a number of years after the latest version as come out. If people are hunting for that track then they should still pursue it, at least in the following year. Heck, Microsoft was supposed to stop calling those with MCSE NT 4.0s MCSE until they changed their minds at the last minute. Why? Because alot of their customers were still using NT. I'm supposed to attend a free seminar on SQL Server 2005 soon. I still support SQL Server 2000 in my enterprise. I plan on going for the 228 and 229 in the MCSE track and when I'm done will simply upgrade to 2005 both in enterprise and in cert. In production environments, I do not believe in early adoption of any new version. I wait to see if it's stable in other environments and wait for the kinks to get out via patches and service packs. Don't just jump on a new cert for the sake of jumping on a new cert. _________________ CompTIA A+ Certified, CompTIA Network+ Certified
Joined: 18 Sep 2001 Posts: 7867 Location: Portland, Or
Post subject: Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2005 10:17 pm
Help others: Review your books and training products here
This new certification framework WILL NOT affect current certifications. The changes will be seen for all future tracks released. _________________ Did you know?
Buying discount exam vouchers saves you money and helps support this site.
Joined: 04 Apr 2006 Posts: 6 Location: Birmingham, AL US
Post subject: Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 12:48 pm
Help others: Review your books and training products here
That MCA sounds kinda like the CCIE. Lot of time and effort. Good luck to you brave souls, I know you're out there...I still need to get MCSE for now, but it is good to see Microsoft step up and create an elite certification. _________________ A+, Network+, Server+, MCP (270,290) Working on 291.
Joined: 10 Apr 2005 Posts: 1287 Location: Wales, UK
Post subject: Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 2:33 pm
Help others: Review your books and training products here
True enough.
One day I may go for an MCA. _________________ David Jones BSc (Hons)
MS Certs: MCSA: Messaging 2003, MCSE: 2003, MCTS: Vista, MCTS: Exchange 2007
Cisco Certs: CCNP
Studying: Beer
Joined: 26 Feb 2003 Posts: 5520 Location: New Zealand
Post subject: Posted: Tue Apr 04, 2006 2:37 pm
Help others: Review your books and training products here
gorebrush wrote:
True enough.
One day I may go for an MCA.
When will that be? When you can handle a car with an engine larger then 1.2 _________________ Koen
CCSI #30501 CCNP CCIP CCVP CCSP CCDP Cisco Advanced Wireless LAN Field Specialist Cisco Unity Design Specialist Cisco IP Telephony Design Specialist JNCIS-ES JNCIA-ER JNCIA-EX MCSE MCSA:Messaging
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Sponsor
Sponsor
Training Picks
CareerAcademy Expert-led On-Demand Certification training courses with 7x24 LIVE Mentoring. Topics cover MCSE 2008 Training, A+ Certification, IT Security CEH Training, Cisco Training and many more.Training Videos We offer streaming or CD certification training videos for Microsoft, CompTIA, Cisco, Citrix, Oracle, CISSP, CET, CWNA, LPI, SCJP, CIW, MOS, PMP and other certifications. View our free videos!EDULEARN Certification Training on CD-ROMs & Videos: Microsoft MCSE Training, A+ Certification, Windows 2003, & Free demos. MCSE certification training includes videos and labs.Online Computer Trainingby K Alliance. Certification training videos for MCTS, MCITP, Oracle OCA/OCP, A+, CCNA, RHCE and more. Our e-learning courses come with 24/7 online mentoring.More Training
But I gotta focus on my 70-290 exam next Saturday! 
