Frequently Asked Questions
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Q. Why are you changing the Microsoft Certification Program and what are the key changes?
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We reinvented our certifications to maintain their market relevance as the industry shifts to the cloud. Microsoft Certifications now validate broader and deeper skills required to build solutions on-premise or in the cloud. We added recertification requirements to ensure that IT professionals and developers who hold our certifications are up-to-date on our continually evolving technology.
Q. Why did you change the name of Microsoft Certifications?
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The names—Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA), Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE), Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD), and Microsoft Certified Solutions Master (MCSM)—were changed to better reflect the experience, knowledge, and skills that IT professionals and developers need to build and manage technology solutions that may include multiple technologies, whether on premise or in the cloud.
Q. How do these changes impact my existing Microsoft Certifications?
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The existing MCTS, MCITP, and MCPD certifications are currently valuable in the market and will remain valuable as long as companies are using the technology covered in your certification. As new technologies are released, they will be released in the new solutions structure. Over time, the MCTS, MCITP, and MCPD certifications will retire and will transition to a legacy status. Legacy Microsoft Certifications will still appear on your transcript and will be designated as such.
Q. Will there be an upgrade path from my current MCITP or MCPD certification?
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If you achieved an MCITP or MCPD certification that corresponds to a new expert-level certification, there will be a shorter upgrade path available to you for a limited time.
Q. When will the certifications for each solution area be available?
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New certifications will release for each solution area when Microsoft launches a new version of related products. The first certifications being released are SQL Server 2012 and Private Cloud.
Q. What should I do if a certification isn’t available for the technology that I’m interested in?
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We recommend that you pursue the Microsoft Certification paths that are currently available and sign up to receive notifications about updates on new certifications as they become available. In most cases, upgrade exams will also be available to shorten your path from an MCITP or MCPD to the new MCSE and MCSD certifications.
Q. Which certification should I start with?
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The MCSA certification is the starting point to our technical certifications. The MCSA certification provides a clear starting point for job seekers early in their technology career who are ready to prove that they have the minimum set of skills to hit the ground running.
Q. What happens if I pass a single exam?
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When you pass a single exam, you become a member of the Microsoft Certification Program. You can share your transcript with others to prove that you passed that exam and show your progress towards a specific certification.
Q. Will I be able to access the MCP member site by passing only one exam?
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Yes, you will be able to access the MCP member site after passing one exam. You will be able to view and share your transcript, enabling you to show your progress towards your certification goals.
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Your transcript has a section that shows all the exams you have passed. Each exam title will include the technology version in the name.
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Expert-level certifications do not include a product version number because they may cover multiple versions of a single technology and multiple technologies as part of the solution.
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Expert-level certifications better prepare you to pursue a master-level certification by validating the full range of skills and abilities required to be successful at building technology solutions. Expert-level certifications also validate deeper technology skills than were included in the past, which helps bridge the gap to the difficulty level of master certifications.
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You will continue to earn an MCTS for passing Exams 70-640 and 70-642 until April 2013. Until April 2013, when you earn an MCSA: Windows Server 2008 certification, you will also receive the MCITP: Server Administrator certification. After April 2013, the MCITP: Server Administrator certification will be discontinued.
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When new Expert-level and Associate-level certifications are announced for a technology, the retirement dates for the older certifications in that technology will also be announced. Upgrade paths will be available from MCITP and MCPD certifications, so that you can easily make the transition to the MCSE.
Q. Why should I get certified?
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According to a recent study, 86 percent of hiring managers indicate IT certifications are a high or medium priority during the candidate evaluation process.1 Also, the number of job postings in the cloud computing industry is growing so rapidly that there aren’t enough qualified workers available to fill the positions, according to an analysis of hiring trends by Wanted Analytics. Achieving a Microsoft Certification puts your resume on top of the pile and gives you the competitive edge you need to get hired and get ahead in your
career.
1CompTIA Study, Employer Perceptions of IT Training and Certification, January 2011.
Q. How do I choose a certification path?
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Choosing a certification path is all about your journey—where you are and where you want to be tomorrow. Are you more interested in developing software, deploying it, or using desktop applications and services? Visit the following pages to learn about your options.
- Learn about the Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE)
- Find certifications by product or technology
- Find certifications by name
Q. Will getting certified help me get a job?
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The majority of IT hiring managers use certification as a criterion for hiring at least half the time. The MCSA certification is designed to make it easy for hiring managers to identify candidates who have already gained a minimum set of skills on core technologies. While the MCSA certification validates the core technical skills that are important early in your career, those core skills continue to be valuable even as you move on to specialize in a certain solution area.
- Learn about the MCSA certification
- Find certifications by product or technology
- Find certifications by name
Q. Will getting certified help with my matriculation?
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Earning a certification from an internationally recognized provider creates lifelong opportunities to fill an estimated eight million IT jobs around the world. Students can now get college credit by earning a Microsoft Certification. The American Council on Education (ACE) has recommended college credit for several Microsoft Certifications.
- Earn college credit with a Microsoft Certification
- Chart your next steps: Visit the Microsoft Student Career Portal
Start Preparing
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Q. Are there any training prerequisites?
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With the exception of the Microsoft Certified Master program, no Microsoft Certifications require training prior to taking an exam. However, hands-on experience working with the product is highly recommended prior to taking these certification exams. You should be able to demonstrate all the skills described in the exam preparation guide before you take an exam.
Q. How will I know what subjects will be covered on the exam?
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The preparation guide for each exam contains a "Skills Measured" section that you can review, as well as a list of preparation tools and resources provided by Microsoft. The best way to prepare for an exam is to practice the skills listed in the preparation guide. Hands-on experience with the technology is required to successfully pass Microsoft Certification exams.
- Find exam preparation guides in the Training Catalog
- Learn more about certification exams, and start your journey to a more fulfilling career today
Q. Do I really need to have the experience described in the exam preparation guide?
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With the exception of Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) certification exams, all Microsoft Certification exams are designed to measure your ability to perform skills related to one or more Microsoft technologies. Without hands-on experience with the product, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to earn the certification.
Q. How can I get hands-on experience with the product if I’m not working in the IT industry yet?
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Visit the Microsoft home page and download trial versions of products: Click the Downloads & Trials tab at the top of the page, and then select Download Center. Or click the Products tab, also at the top of the page, and look for trials and downloads on the product web pages.
If you are a student, you might qualify for free access to certain software through Microsoft DreamSpark. You can download online labs from the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) or Microsoft TechNet for many technologies, which allows you to work with the technology without loading it onto your computer. Microsoft Learning training, such as Microsoft Press Training Kits, e-learning, and instructor-led training, also provides opportunities to gain hands-on experience with the technology.
- Learn more about Microsoft DreamSpark
- Visit the Microsoft Student Career Portal to get started
- Discover other training and certification programs for students
Q. What’s the most cost-effective way to prepare?
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Hands-on experience focusing on the skills listed in the exam preparation guide is the most cost-effective way to prepare for a certification exam. Blogs and online articles are available on many of the skills measured by our certification exams. Many public libraries carry Microsoft Press Training Kits. Microsoft Learning and MSDN sponsor Windows Live Meetings, webcasts, podcasts, and videos that might be relevant to your certification path. Microsoft Learning also offers short, interactive presentations called Learning Snacks, which provide overviews on popular topics. A practice test is a great tool for identifying your current level of mastery and gaining insight into the level of training that you need for success on that technology.
- Check the Microsoft Learning Events page
- Search worldwide events for upcoming webcasts: Use keyword "MCP"
- View Microsoft Silverlight Learning Snacks
- Get career-related special offers
- Find a Microsoft Certified Practice Test Provider
Q. How will I know when I’m ready to take the exam?
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The exam preparation guide is a great tool to help you determine whether you are ready to take the exam. Read the preparation guide and ask yourself whether you can perform the skills described. For a more exam-like assessment of your skills, you can get a practice test from one of our practice test providers. Practice questions are also available in some of our Microsoft Learning training products, such as the Microsoft Press Training Kits.
Q. How long will it take me to earn a certification?
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The exam preparation guide includes the recommended amount of hands-on experience that candidates should have prior to taking each exam. Beyond that, it depends on how much time you spend studying. If you already have experience, you might need only a few weeks of studying to prepare for each exam. If you do not have hands-on experience or have very little time to study, you might need a few months of preparation before you are ready.
