Microsoft Certification

To be a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) you will have had to take and pass one of the Microsoft Certification exams currently being offered. The certification exams serve as a measuring device as to what you know about a particular Microsoft product or technology. It’s simply not enough anymore to claim you have experience in a certain computer or IT application. By being certified, your boss or potential boss as the case may be, knows what you know.

If you look at the classified job ads in the IT sector in any given city or on any given career search website, you are going to see ad after ad requiring Microsoft certification. If you put on your resume that you can type 60 words a minute, you had better be prepared to prove it – and fast! It’s relatively easy to slap the job hunter into a chair in front of a computer and administer a typing test.

It’s not as easy or as quick, however to assess advanced computer skills. The person interviewing you for the position may not even know what you are talking about with the IT jargon you throw around. However, by taking and passing a certification exam, with just a few call letters, you are telling the company and the world what you know.

Regardless of the education you already have, possessing Microsoft Certification credentials can only enhance your resume and your skills portfolio. Even in jobs for which the certification is not a requirement, it is a prestigious enough endorsement of your skills to tip the hiring scales in your favor.

There are several different Microsoft Certifications offered. Your present job or your future career plans will dictate which one or ones you should pursue. You may notice a friend or colleague having a Microsoft Certification that is no longer offered. As new technologies are introduced some of the certifications are retired and new ones emerge.

We will list and briefly describe each Microsoft Certification currently offered here. As there is not room in this article to offer detailed information about each Certification the reader is encouraged to contact Microsoft for further information.

MCTS – Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist

MCITP – Microsoft Certified IT Professional

MCPD – Microsoft Certified Professional Developer

MCDST – Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician

MCLC – Microsoft Certified Learning Consultant

MCSA – Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator

MCSE – Microsoft Certified Systems Engineers

MCDBA – Microsoft Certified Database Administrators

MCT – Microsoft Certified Trainers

MCAD – Microsoft Certified Application Developers

MCSD – Microsoft Certified Solution Developers

In addition to these Certifications, there is the Microsoft Certified Architect Program, which is a brand new program that started accepting applications in July 2006. These Certifications will recognize top IT experts.

In addition, the Microsoft Office Specialist Certification (MOS) recognizes experts using Microsoft Office software. There are different levels of Certification for the MOS, core and expert. With this certification, you take the exams one program at a time, such as Word or Excel certification exams. You don’t have to take all or any of them. If you just want to be certified as a MOS in Word that is perfectly fine.

Once you are an MCP, it works like any other professional certification in that you have to stay up to date by taking refresher courses.

That may or may not be readily answered. If you are working with desktop applications in Microsoft Office regularly, then the MOS, Microsoft Office Specialist certification would be right up your alley. That one is pretty easy to figure out. If you are already working in IT, you probably won’t have any trouble deciding which certification is the right one for you. However, if you’re planning on a future career in IT, the solution may not be as clear.

The Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) targets certain technologies such as Microsoft SQL Server 2005. Earning this certification marks one as a specialist in this particular technology. From there, the specialist can choose or may have already chosen a career in database administration, developer, systems administrator or other similar career paths.

Altogether, there are five MCTS certifications. One would choose the one that most closely relates to the career path he has chosen. Sometimes the MCTS certification is the first step in obtaining other, more concise certification. For example, suppose your goal is to be a web developer. First, you obtain the MCTS certification which recognizes you as an expert at .NET Framework 2.0 Web Applications. From here, though you want to go further and obtain the Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) credential.

This credential emphasizes your expertise in the job role you have chosen whereas the previous certification, although necessary, recognizes your expertise in the technology.

You can see how these certifications can complement a degree in information technology or computer science. Sometimes, the certification is enough for an entry level position or in some cases, with previous experience an even higher position. To be sure, though, alone or accompanying a college degree, the Microsoft Certification credentials can make a huge impact on the direction your career takes.

Check with your employer to see if the exams, courses or exam prep materials qualify for tuition reimbursement when you have the tuition reimbursement benefit. If they don’t qualify or you don’t have this particular benefit, ask your boss straight out if the company will pay for this. Many companies will gladly pay for their employees to better themselves and with some companies, it doesn’t even matter if the coursework has anything to do with the kind of job you perform.

Other companies will only pay for training that is relevant to your job description.

The military will pay for exam fees for certain military personnel, veterans and family members. Check with your benefits coordinator to ascertain if you are eligible for this benefit.

Microsoft Certification exams cost about $125 each.

The American Council on Education (ACE) reviews and recommends certain certifications for college credit but ultimately it is up to the college or university to decide whether or not to award college credit for certifications.

Microsoft Certification is no substitute for a college degree. The job advertisements that require certification usually do so in conjunction with a degree although sometimes the certification is all that is listed in the ad. Remember, Microsoft Certification means that you are an expert on what is essentially a product, either software or hardware or a technology. While these certifications are quite worthy and will most certainly pay for themselves many times over, they may not be the only qualifications required.

Don’t forget to figure in the cost of the training you’ll need in order to take the exam. You’ll have to do a little research here to discover the best training method for you. The cost can range from the price of a book to an entire course for the exam you’re planning to take.

There are several options available to you when preparing for any of the Microsoft Certification exams. You can take courses directly from Microsoft, you can buy a book and study on your own or you can take a course at your community or technical college. You can also find different vendors online offering courses.

Something to think about: Your goal is not only to learn the material but to pass the exam so you want to make sure that the training choices you make will lead to you successfully passing the certification exam. By all means, don’t take the exam until you are ready as there are no refunds and if your employer is paying for the exam, he likely won’t be happy with anyone who fails it. If your exam date has already been set, don’t wait until the last minute and then try to cram for it.

There is a course of study for each exam listed. It will take time and dedication to learn the material and is not something you can cram for over the weekend.

This leaves you with some choices unless your employer is providing the class structure, otherwise you’ll need to decide the structure of your test preparation.

Within your learning environment should be pretests and practice tests so you can monitor your progress before the big day.

It’s up to you to choose the kind of exam prep that will prepare you for success on test day. If you learn better on your own and don’t have a problem with self discipline, you might opt for an independent course of study. If however, you learn better within a classroom setting and need to know that you have to show up to class then you would be better off signing up for a training class in your chosen Certification subject.

Depending on the kind of exam prep you choose, you may be able to take a course online. However, the exams are not given online. They are given in person at authorized test centers all over the country. All you have to do is enter your zip code in the search box to find the testing center nearest to your home. In some cases, you may be able to register for an exam online but all testing is done in person.

You can check with Microsoft to learn about the online and brick and mortar courses offered in order to participate in the exam. Although you can take independent courses online, do keep in mind that you need instruction leading to the successful passing of the exam.

There are some excellent test prep books available at the book store that include CDs containing simulations of the program or application you are studying. Be sure and do all the exercises as these exams are not just about answering questions but performing simple and complex operations.

It’s not enough to know how to perform an operation but you’ll need to know all the ways to perform a certain operation. The exam question may give you two examples of how to perform a particular operation and then state that it wants you to perform the operation in the 3rd and final way in which it can be performed. These are very in-depth exams. If there are three ways to do something, make sure you know all 3 ways.

How long your course of study takes really depends upon several factors. If you elect a classroom approach with a structured curriculum, then it’s going to take as many weeks or months as the class takes. Most of the training options concerning the Microsoft Certification exams are self-paced allowing you to set the structure and the pace.

If your training is employer sponsored of course, then you’ll have to abide by those guidelines.

Some of the training that Microsoft offers is subscription based whereby you have access to the material for a period of one year. You can then take as long as you need up to that one year deadline to learn the material. Should you need additional time you would then need to purchase another subscription and then you could take as long as you need.

Purchasing a test prep book is perhaps the most lenient self-paced option there is. With so many of them having an enclosed CD with coursework recorded onto it, it’s almost as if you’re working online and you have no deadlines whatsoever.

To a large degree, your particular situation is what is going to dictate how much time you can comfortably take to learn the course material. Other than that, your ambition may push you to take the course as fast as possible to allow you to move on to another course. These certification credentials come with more than a little prestige and the more you can attach to your name, the more opportunities you will have to succeed in the IT field.

You may be wondering, especially if you have a college degree, why you would need to get certified. Perhaps you already have a job in the IT field and you’re doing just fine.

Make no mistake about it; the IT field is very competitive which you must know if you are already established in this field. Perhaps established is a misnomer though as fast as things change in this field. Not to discount the college degree at all, as it is an integral part of your overall career success but as new technologies emerge, the powers that be want to know one thing in the end.

That one thing is “Who can do the job?” If your coworker is XYZ certified and XYZ is a new technology that didn’t even exist when you earned your degree, then she is likely to get a fast ticket to the front of the promotion line with or without a college degree.

Now think about the impact your college degree along with certification credentials will have on your resume. Employers not only want someone who can do the job but who will also be dedicated. The more letters you have after your name the more dedicated you will appear.

If your job is just that, a job maybe you don’t need to get certified. If moving up or advancing in your career is not something that is a priority to you then you don’t have to bother. Some people just want to put in their 8 hours and go home to their lives and their families. There’s nothing wrong with that if that’s the way you feel. As much good as certification credentials can bring to one’s career, one has to want those credentials in order to succeed.

1. What if I don’t live in the United States? Can I still get certified?
Yes. Microsoft Certification is offered in many other countries as well as the United States. Consult the Microsoft website for further information.

2. How much does training to take the exams cost?
It depends on the training you choose. You may choose to buy a book and study for your exams that way or take a course at your community college. In addition, Microsoft has partners that are authorized to offer training. Consult with the particular venue you have chosen to provide your training for the specific price.

3. Will I make more money after I’m certified?
As with any other career decision, the salaries of those with higher education, including certification are almost always higher than employees without any formal education. Check with your human resources department to learn what certification can mean for you in terms of a higher salary at your present job.
4. How do I get started? I don’t even work in IT?
First, you’re going to have to ask yourself and provide the answers to some questions. What is it you really want to do? If you’re not sure, do some research or talk to an advisor, perhaps at your community college or trade school. Once you have narrowed down what part of IT you want to work in, you’ll be able to find the proper certification necessary.

Don’t stop there though. Look at all the qualifications for the job you’re seeking. If it takes 3-5 years of experience to get hired in your chosen occupation, step back a little and see what kind of job in the IT field you can get in order to get that experience. Couple that with the proper certifications and you’ll be on your way.