Microsoft is yet again making important changes to its IT training certification program. While these changes are designed to make the Microsoft certification program much easier to use, there are a few disadvantages involved and anyone who has or is thinking of getting Microsoft training need to understand just how the program is changing. It should also be noted that professionals who currently have Microsoft certifications must also be aware of these new changes, as they have an impact on some Microsoft certificates.
What Improvements Are Being Made?
Microsoft is phasing out both the MCITP title and the MCTS title. Those certifications are going to be replaced by the MCSE and MCSA titles, which happen to be the titles that Microsoft was originally using for the longest period.
Even so, Microsoft does a lot more than simply changing the names around. It's also lowering its rating for the MCITP title, rendering it the same as the MCSA title but not to the MCSE title, which is commonly widely known as the premium form of Microsoft certification.
Microsoft is once again making re-certification a requisite for those who wish to keep the new MCSE or MCSD title. Although this is a requirement which angered quite a few certificate holders when Microsoft initially attempted to introduce it, increasing numbers of people are coming to recognize that ongoing, rapid changes in the computer world make it impossible for a person to continue to hold to the same level of certification without regular training. MCSE certifications must be renewed every 3 years and MCSD certifications every 2 years. MCSA certifications will have no re-certification requirements.
Why the Modifications?
Microsoft's MCITP and MCTS titles weren't appreciated by either certificate trainees or all those that were seeking to employ graduates from Microsoft's certification program. Many organisations were and are still not technically savvy and therefore did not understand the differences between Microsoft's new certifications forms and the company's old ones. This caused it to be challenging for individuals who were looking for a job, as these individuals were required to explain to potential employers exactly what the new types of certification meant and why they were just as appropriate as the old ones.
One more reason why the initial program change was not appreciated is the fact that Microsoft declared that the new certificates would be required to be periodically renewed. However, the company was vague regarding exactly what would have to be done to acquire certificate renewal and when the certificates would reach their expiration date. Naturally, this created a large amount of uncertainty for those who were contemplating getting started with the Microsoft training program.
The Way To Upgrade Existing Certificates
The majority of new MCSE, MCSD and MCSA certification tracks provide special upgrade examinations. These examinations center on assessing the knowledge of the student on the new and changed features of a new technology edition. The prerequisite of these upgrade examinations is always one or more valid MCTS or MCITP certifications. Furthermore, in the event you currently hold a MCITP certification for Windows Server 2008 or Windows 7 you will automatically receive a corresponding MCSA certification.
What Are The Advantages Involved in Upgrading a Microsoft Certificate?
Because Microsoft has just recently changed the certification rules, it isn't crucial for a person to right away upgrade his or her certification. There are plenty of businesses who are more than happy to hire a person with either a MCITP or MCTS certification, particularly if he or she has experience and can prove that he or she is staying up to date with new developments connected with his or her type of work.
However, at some point it becomes good for someone to have new upgraded certifications that reflect Microsoft's new standards and technologies. Even though it might require some time and money to acquire a new certification, it truly is well worth the effort. Besides, the skills accumulated under Microsoft's past program do count for something and can be put towards the learning requirements for the new type of official certifications (by means of special upgrade exams). The need to upgrade present certifications will get more urgent when enterprises begin using the newer Microsoft technologies (eg. Windows Server 2012, SQL Server 2012, SharePoint 2013, Exchange 2013 and so on).
Microsoft's new certification program has worried some people who have been contemplating taking a Microsoft training program or have already taken such a training course. While the changes are not small or light in nature, they are generally speaking advantageous and in the long run will help to properly reflect exactly how much education and knowledge an individual has in any given field of IT. Any person who is at this time taking a Microsoft training course for one of the newer technology versions will already be using the new program and so have nothing to worry about. At the same time, individuals who have old(er) certificates (or what is now referred to as legacy certification) are able to keep employing their old certifications without any problems, whilst ultimately switching over to a current certification is unquestionably recommended.
What Improvements Are Being Made?
Microsoft is phasing out both the MCITP title and the MCTS title. Those certifications are going to be replaced by the MCSE and MCSA titles, which happen to be the titles that Microsoft was originally using for the longest period.
Even so, Microsoft does a lot more than simply changing the names around. It's also lowering its rating for the MCITP title, rendering it the same as the MCSA title but not to the MCSE title, which is commonly widely known as the premium form of Microsoft certification.
Microsoft is once again making re-certification a requisite for those who wish to keep the new MCSE or MCSD title. Although this is a requirement which angered quite a few certificate holders when Microsoft initially attempted to introduce it, increasing numbers of people are coming to recognize that ongoing, rapid changes in the computer world make it impossible for a person to continue to hold to the same level of certification without regular training. MCSE certifications must be renewed every 3 years and MCSD certifications every 2 years. MCSA certifications will have no re-certification requirements.
Why the Modifications?
Microsoft's MCITP and MCTS titles weren't appreciated by either certificate trainees or all those that were seeking to employ graduates from Microsoft's certification program. Many organisations were and are still not technically savvy and therefore did not understand the differences between Microsoft's new certifications forms and the company's old ones. This caused it to be challenging for individuals who were looking for a job, as these individuals were required to explain to potential employers exactly what the new types of certification meant and why they were just as appropriate as the old ones.
One more reason why the initial program change was not appreciated is the fact that Microsoft declared that the new certificates would be required to be periodically renewed. However, the company was vague regarding exactly what would have to be done to acquire certificate renewal and when the certificates would reach their expiration date. Naturally, this created a large amount of uncertainty for those who were contemplating getting started with the Microsoft training program.
The Way To Upgrade Existing Certificates
The majority of new MCSE, MCSD and MCSA certification tracks provide special upgrade examinations. These examinations center on assessing the knowledge of the student on the new and changed features of a new technology edition. The prerequisite of these upgrade examinations is always one or more valid MCTS or MCITP certifications. Furthermore, in the event you currently hold a MCITP certification for Windows Server 2008 or Windows 7 you will automatically receive a corresponding MCSA certification.
What Are The Advantages Involved in Upgrading a Microsoft Certificate?
Because Microsoft has just recently changed the certification rules, it isn't crucial for a person to right away upgrade his or her certification. There are plenty of businesses who are more than happy to hire a person with either a MCITP or MCTS certification, particularly if he or she has experience and can prove that he or she is staying up to date with new developments connected with his or her type of work.
However, at some point it becomes good for someone to have new upgraded certifications that reflect Microsoft's new standards and technologies. Even though it might require some time and money to acquire a new certification, it truly is well worth the effort. Besides, the skills accumulated under Microsoft's past program do count for something and can be put towards the learning requirements for the new type of official certifications (by means of special upgrade exams). The need to upgrade present certifications will get more urgent when enterprises begin using the newer Microsoft technologies (eg. Windows Server 2012, SQL Server 2012, SharePoint 2013, Exchange 2013 and so on).
Microsoft's new certification program has worried some people who have been contemplating taking a Microsoft training program or have already taken such a training course. While the changes are not small or light in nature, they are generally speaking advantageous and in the long run will help to properly reflect exactly how much education and knowledge an individual has in any given field of IT. Any person who is at this time taking a Microsoft training course for one of the newer technology versions will already be using the new program and so have nothing to worry about. At the same time, individuals who have old(er) certificates (or what is now referred to as legacy certification) are able to keep employing their old certifications without any problems, whilst ultimately switching over to a current certification is unquestionably recommended.
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