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Greg Neilson
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Microsoft Certification Changes Mostly Good |
| New names, less exams, more focus, but will the variety of options hurt rather than help? |
| by Greg Neilson |
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11/30/2005 -- Late last month Microsoft formally announced the new structure of its certification programs, and the news is mostly good. Microsoft announced a new three-tiered structure of titles: the entry-level technology specialist (MCTS), the mid-level IT professional (MCITP)/professional developer (MCPD), and the already announced architect (MCA) at the top. The new SQL Server 2005, Biztalk Server 2006 and Visual Studio programs that fit within this model have been announced now, and the rest of the Microsoft certification programs will migrate to it over time as product releases dictate.
One benefit of the new structure is the reduced number of exams expected to complete a certification. For the tracks released, the MCTS requires one to exams, with the MCITP and MCPD requiring the relevant MCTS as a pre-requisite together with an additional one to two exams. The exception is the MCPD Enterprise Application Developer, which requires all three available Visual Studio MCTS credentials as a pre-requisite.
The upgrade paths to these new certifications have been announced and some will require one upgrade exam while others require two. I think it is preferable to only require one upgrade exam, and looking back over the exams I took to upgrade my MCSE to Windows 2003, I don't think there was a compelling case for two separate upgrade exams given that they covered some similar ground in varying depths. Windows NT 4.0 to Windows 2000 was such a large technology change that two upgrade exams can be justified, but this was the exception rather than the rule.
The current MCSE program has grown to have too many exams (seven), and once Longhorn surfaces the new certification structure will require fewer exams (how many different ways can you examined about Windows?). Although the exact number hasn't been announced yet, it should be around 3. And the cynic in me thinks that Microsoft will finally fix any residual issues with MCSE credibility once and for all by migrating to the new MCITP name!
I guess the one area I can see problems in future is the combination of professional credentials (role-based) together with certifications (technology-based) to give an ala carte certification model. In the Visual Studio certification path, there are three different MCTS options followed by another three MCPD options available. Similarly, for SQL Server there is one MCTS option and three MCITP options. Once all of the existing Microsoft programs have fully migrated, I think hiring managers will struggle to differentiate what a candidate's certifications actually mean without a referral to Microsoft's Web site (including me, and this would be even after following these developments closely!).
I've already talked about the architectural program in my last column, and although we'll need to see how this program develops once the beta is completed, I'm still positive about this development.
Microsoft been offering certification programs now for 13 years, and have been due for a revamp. Although we don't yet have the detail for how all of the programs will migrate across to the new model, these changes do appear in the most part to be good news. What do you make of them? Please let me know by posting your thoughts below. 
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Greg Neilson, MCSE+Internet, MCNE, PCLP, is a Contributing Editor for Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine and a manager at a large IT services firm in Australia. He's the author of Lotus Domino Administration in a Nutshell (O'Reilly and Associates, ISBN 1-56592-717-6). You can reach him at Attn: Greg.
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There are 42  user Comments for “Microsoft Certification Changes Mostly Good”
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| 12/7/05: Patrizia Pierani from Pittsburgh, PA says: |
I am already confused. I am in the process of studying for Windows 2003 MCSE. So far I passed 70-210 and 70-290. Can I call myself an MCTS at this point? What is the next exam required to become MCITP? How do I determine the most efficient path to become MCA? I apologize for too many questions, but they support my initial comment regarding confusion. I appreciate any direction you could give me. Thank you, Pat |
| 12/7/05: mrobinson52 from Florida says: |
The biggest problem I can see is name recognition. HR types know MCP and MCSE, but not MCSA or MCDST. Microsoft will have to do a LOT of work to get the new designations known and accepted. I also hope that there is a concerted effort to make the new certs harder to braindump, or the fewer number of tests will be counterproductive. |
| 12/7/05: Robert from Texas says: |
Pat, you really don't need to worry about the changes in the certification program. Continue with your MCSE 2003 Cert. You will not see the requirement change in the OS certs until the new OS and servers are released. Microsoft is just starting the change with the launch of these products. Rob MCT |
| 12/7/05: tired multi-mcse says: |
I am so tired of this program. I'm glad it's changing, but it seems like there are too many options, but then again, it is simplier than before. Thank goodness they killed the +internet junk. The problem with the MCSE has always been credibility and confusion about what's what, even for IT pros. I hope by reducing the exams that MS will reduce the redundant topics on the exams. They're getting better, but not quite there. |
| 12/8/05: Steve says: |
To regain some credibility Microsoft seem to be copying the 3 tiered Cisco CCIE certification path. To succeed they need : 1. To market the new certs , (XBOX 360 style), to all potential employers. 2.They also need to weed-out all the paper MCSE´s who are ruining the credibilty of the whole their certification process, this can be done by using CCIE style labs to recertify current MCSE´s. It´s a big chance for MS to move on, personally I would like to see an MS cert comparable to the CCIE. |
| 12/9/05: Jeff from So Cal says: |
What I'd like to know is at what point did developers cease to be IT professionals? I've been a developer for 8 years and have always considered myself an IT professional. I think that the MCITP is poorly named due to its implication that developers are not IT folks. I know MS wanted to get away from the MCSE designation, but I think they erred by no longer considering developers IT professionals. I'm still planning to upgrade my certs, but I still would like to be recognized as an IT person. Thoughts? |
| 12/9/05: J. D. from PA says: |
I didn't upgrade my Win NT 4.0 MCSE because it just wasn't worth the cost and time investments. While I agree Microsoft requires too many exams for its MCSE cert, how can anyone be sure that its next MCSE will require fewer exams. Especially since it seems Micrsoft's trend is to increase the number of MCSE exams. Does anyone know when Microsoft will announce its next MCSE track? I have heard it could be late next year, after the release of its next OS. |
| 12/9/05: Patrizia Pierani from Pittsburgh, PA says: |
Robert MCT, Thank you for your reply. I feel better and can concentrate on studying instead thinking about the changes. Pat |
| 12/10/05: mrobinson52 from Florida says: |
J.D., the certs mentioned in the article above are replacements to the current MCSE program. The MCSE will be like a retired certification path. I think this is a bad idea, since it has such a widely known reputation. I plan to finish my MCSE and do the upgrade to 2003, but I am not sure what will happen after that. MS might backpeddle, as they have in the past, and decide that they need to continue the MCSE because of it's popularity with the people who do the hiring. |
| 12/14/05: Anonymous says: |
All these arcronyms are going to really confusing to hiring managers and HR staff. I already see a problem with this MCA certification (Microsoft Certified Architect.) For example, when a hiring manager is scanning a stack of resumes, and sees the term "MCSA", doesn't that look the same as "MCA"? The problem is the MCSA is a dramatically different certifictation than the MCA. People might mistakenly think the MCSA is better than the MCA just because it has one more letter. I'm dead serious folks. People will make mistakes when they are bombarded with all these goofy acronyms. Another example is the word "MCTS" (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist) looks similar to "MCT" (Microsoft Certified Trainer.) MCA, MCSA, MCSE, MCITP, MCPD, ABC, 123...it's like one big bowl of alphabet soup! And here's the funny part...at the end of the day...all these letters after your name mean so little to a hiring manager. It seems many IT managers doesn't even bother with certifications as they have little time to study for them. Just my 2 cents. |
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