Microsoft Certified Professional

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to navigation Jump to search

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article
by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and
removed.
Find sources: "Microsoft Certified Professional" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR
(December 2015) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
The Microsoft Certified Professional or MCP Program is the certification program from Microsoft
that enables IT Professionals and Developers to validate their technical expertise through rigorous,
industry-proven, and industry-recognized exams.[1] The certification exams offered cover a broad
range of technologies throughout the Microsoft ecosystem of IT technologies. When an individual
passes a certification exam and earns a Microsoft certification, then they are recognized as a
Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP). By passing multiple exams they have the opportunity to
earn larger, more distinguished certifications; such as the MCSE and MCSD certifications.
In 2016, Microsoft expanded with the launch of its Microsoft Professional Program, a fully online
certification program in partnership with edX which includes various tracks in data science, front
end web development, cloud computing, DevOps.[2] This program has expanded to a total of 8
tracks in 2018 with the addition of its artificial intelligence and software development program
certification in April 2018.[3] Many of these programs are focused on equipping learners with up to
date skillsets with various Microsoft tools, including Excel, PowerBI, Visual Studio, and Azure.

Contents
• 1 Overview of Microsoft Certifications
• 2 Earning a Microsoft Certification
• 3 See also
• 4 References
• 5 External links

Overview of Microsoft Certifications

Microsoft Certifications are professional certifications that demonstrate the holder's expertise in
Microsoft related technologies. They have been divided into 6 categories named as Cloud, Mobility,
Data, Productivity, App Builder and Business applications. Each category aligns to a series of
technologies that span the entire Microsoft product portfolio. The core technologies include
Microsoft Azure, Windows Server, SQL Server, Office 365, SharePoint Server, Exchange Server,
Skype for Business and Microsoft Dynamics 365.
The pathway to Microsoft certification is broken down into tiers to demonstrate the level of
expertise for the holder. These include:[4]
• Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) – demonstrates the proficiency of the holder in one or
more Office Programs
• Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) – is the entry level certification that validates the
holder's fundamental technology knowledge
• Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) – this certification validates the holder's
ability to build and design solutions using core Microsoft technologies. There are many
flavours of MCSA certifications including Server 2012, Server 2016, Windows 10, SQL
Server 2016, BI Reporting, Dynamics 365, Office 365, Web applications.
• Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) – these certifications show the skills to
design and build advanced solutions which integrate multiple Microsoft technologies -
requires MCSA prerequisite
• Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) – the certification proves the holder's
skills in designing and building application solutions – requires MCSA prerequisite
• Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA)[5] – database specialist that can
design and maintain databases using Microsoft SQL-Server – retired as of September 30,
2012
• Microsoft Specialist – Designed to validate your knowledge and skills in a specialized area
of technology, the Specialist credential sits outside the tier system – retired as of March 31,
2017[6]
The MCSE certification originally stood for Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. In 2012,
Microsoft made some changes to the Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) program, and
renamed MCSE to mean Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert.[7] At the same time, the MCSA
certification was renamed to Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate; from its original, previous
name of Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator.

Earning a Microsoft Certification

Microsoft Certifications are earned by passing exams aligned to a specific certification. The
process of earning certification has changed multiple times since its inception.
The current iteration was introduced September 26, 2016, when Microsoft announced that it was
retiring all existing MCSE and MCSD certifications, introducing new pathways, and changing the
way individuals earn and maintain those Microsoft certifications.[8] Under the new process, the
number and selection of exams required to achieve a Microsoft certification varies.
MCSA certifications require the individual to pass two or more exams in order to achieve the
credential. Depending on the MCSA selected, individuals are either required to pass a set pathway
of exams, or can choose from a pool of exams known as electives. MCSE and MCSD certifications
now only require individuals to pass a single exam, each certification has a pool of aligned elective
exams that the individual can choose from.
Historically, MCSE and MCSD credentials required the individual to recertify after a period of two
to three years in order to keep the credential in the "Active section" of their transcript. Under the
new system, the MCSE and MCSD credentials no longer have a recertification requirement, they
remain on the "Active transcript" of the holder, once gained. Individuals instead now have the
option to re-earn their certification every year by passing an additional elective exam. This is not a
requirement, though Microsoft state it offers the holder an opportunity to demonstrate their growth
in product knowledge.[9] It was done to reflect the increasing cadence of updates to Microsoft
products and services, where products like Microsoft Azure are adding new features every 48 hours.
[10]

See also
• Microsoft Technology Associate

References
1.
• "Microsoft Learning: Become a Microsoft Certified professional". Microsoft Corporation.
Retrieved 2018-02-13.
• Foley, Mary Jo (2016-07-13). "Microsoft's new online certification program kicks off with
data science specialization". ZDNet. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
• Lardinois, Frederic (2018-04-02). "Microsoft launches AI and entry-level software
development courses". Techcrunch. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
• "Microsoft Learning: Certification Overview". Microsoft Corporation. Retrieved 2013-01-
02.
• "Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA)". Retrieved 2018-08-26.
• "Legacy Certifications". Microsoft Learning. Retrieved 2017-10-26.
• "Microsoft renames MCSE and MCSA to Solutions Expert and Solutions Associate".
Accelerated Ideas. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
• "Massive changes to Microsoft Certifications". blog.firebrandtraining.co.uk. Retrieved
2017-10-26.
• "Top 12 Questions About the New Streamlined Certification Paths". Born to Learn.
Retrieved 2017-10-26.
10."Azure updates | Microsoft Azure". azure.microsoft.com. Retrieved 2017-10-26.

External links
• Microsoft Certification Program
• Microsoft Professional Program

•
Microsoft
• History
• Outline

People • Bill Gates

Founders • Paul Allen

Board of directors • John W. Thompson (Chairman)

• Satya Nadella (CEO)
 • Bill Gates
• Charles Noski
• Helmut Panke
• John W. Stanton
• Reid Hoffman
• Sandi Peterson
• Penny Pritzker
• Charles Scharf
• Arne Sorenson
• Padmasree Warrior

• Satya Nadella (CEO)

• Scott Guthrie
• Amy Hood (CFO)
Senior leadership team • Terry Myerson
• Harry Shum
• Phil Spencer

• Gabe Aul (VP)

• Joe Belfiore
• Richard Rashid (SVP)
Corporate VPs
• S. Somasegar (SVP)
• César Cernuda

• Engineering groups
• Mobile
• Skype unit
• Digital Crimes Unit
• Garage
Divisions • Press
• Research
• .NET Foundation
• Outercurve Foundation
• Xbox Game Studios

• Microsoft Redmond campus

• Microsoft Talo
• Microsoft Algeria
• Microsoft Egypt
Estates
• Microsoft India
• Microsoft Japan
• Microsoft Theater

Products Hardware • HoloLens

• Surface
• Hub
• Go
• Laptop
• Pro
• Studio
 • Xbox

• Windows
Operating systems • Xbox OS

• Office
• Office 365
• Mobile
Software
• Servers
• Visual Studio

• Azure
• Bing
• Channel 9
• CodePlex
• Developer Network
• MSN
Web properties • Mixer
• Office.com
• OneDrive
• Outlook.com
• Store
• TechNet

• Build
• Inspire
• MIX
Conferences • PDC
• TechEd
• WinHEC

• Where do you want to go today? (1994)

• Champagne (2002)
• Mojave Experiment (2006)
Campaigns
• I'm a PC (2008)
• Scroogled (2012)

• Bundling of Microsoft Windows

• Clippy
• iLoo
• Internet Explorer
• Microsoft Bob
Criticism • _NSAKEY
• Windows
• XP
• Vista
• 10

Litigation • Alcatel-Lucent v. Microsoft

• Apple v. Microsoft
 • European Union Microsoft competition case
• Microsoft v. Lindows
• Microsoft v. MikeRoweSoft
• Microsoft v. Shah
• United States v. Microsoft (2001 antitrust case)
• Microsoft Ireland case

Acquisitions • 6Wunderkinder
• Altamira Software
• AltspaceVR
• aQuantive
• Azyxxi
• The Blue Ribbon SoundWorks
• Beam
• Bungie
• Calista Technologies
• Colloquis
• Connectix
• Consumers Software
• Danger
• Farecast
• FASA Studio
• Fast Search & Transfer
• Firefly
• Forethought
• GIANT Company Software
• GitHub
• GreenButton
• Groove Networks
• High Heat Major League Baseball
• Hotmail
• Jellyfish.com
• LinkedIn
• LinkExchange
• Lionhead Studios
• Maluuba
• Massive Incorporated
• Mobile Data Labs
• Mojang
• Nokia Devices and Services
• Onfolio
• Pando Networks
• Perceptive Pixel
• PlaceWare
• Powerset
• ProClarity
• Rare
• Revolution Analytics
• ScreenTonic
• Secure Islands
• Simplygon
• Skype
• Sunrise Atelier
• SwiftKey
• Winternals Software
• Teleo
• Telekinesys Research
• Tellme Networks
• Twisted Pixel Games
• Vermeer Technologies
• Visio Corporation
• Vivaty
• VoloMetrix
• VXtreme
• WebTV Networks
• Xamarin
• Yammer
• Yupi