A Guide to Microsoft Certification for IT Hiring Managers and Recruiters

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MICROSOFT CERTIFICATION

HIRING GUIDEBOOK A GUIDE TO MICROSOFT CERTIFICATION

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Microsoft Certification improves organizational performance and fills the gap in IT education

According to a recent report from the National Workforce Center for Emerging Technologies, today’s IT professionals are highly specialized and often geographically diverse, with larger organizations gravitating to more specialization in both technical and management skills.1 Microsoft Learning Solutions, and specifically Microsoft Certifications, are important qualification indicators for IT hiring managers and recruiters, providing a skills profile to quickly identify, hire, and develop proficient and competitive IT teams.

Microsoft Certifications are a useful and reliable way to help validate professional and practical knowledge. Certified employees are typically better prepared, more knowledgeable, productive, and capable of contributing to the bottom line. By defining what it means to be proficient in a specific job or task, IT hiring managers can identify the certifications necessary to validate these skills across current employees, or use them as qualifiers to augment their existing team.

When developing the current certification program for IT and developer professionals, Microsoft identified the most desired skills to address real-world challenges. The process began by conducting Job-Task-Analysis (JTA) research to define, at a detailed level for a range of job types, the tasks people perform daily, and what skills are most important in their professional life. Using that data, a Unified Skills Domain (USD) was developed to define those responsibilities at a very granular level in order to create an efficient, job role-focused curriculum.

The Microsoft Certification framework: robust, relevant, and cost-effective

Today, the Microsoft Certification program is designed to provide a robust, focused framework for managers to validate core technical and professional skills, while offering skills development for teams to drive better productivity and lower cost. Certifications also provide a more relevant, flexible and cost-effective way to test and validate those skills. The new certification framework reflects the changing IT career landscape by offering a series of four credentials—three technical series, and an architect level—that supports the needs of IT professionals wherever they are in their careers:

• Technology Series: Specialist Certifications train IT professionals to build, implement, troubleshoot, and debug a specific Microsoft technology.

• Professional Series: Professional credentials validate the skill set required for a particular job.

• Master Series: Master Certifications identify individuals with the deepest technical skills available on a particular Microsoft technology.

• Architect Series: The Certified Architect program makes it easy for companies to identify experienced IT architects who have completed a rigorous peer review process.

The role of IT within organizations has expanded, with IT professionals and developers involved in virtually every aspect of the enterprise. When reviewing resumes, hiring managers and HR professionals focus on three qualifiers: a candidate’s education, professional experience, and whether or not they are certified.

Microsoft® Certification can be used as a critical indicator for validating IT skills, and plays an important role in continued IT skills development and differentiation.

Certification validates skills.

“It is a validation of the skill set, not only for the employee’s self-confidence, but for management’s confidence in that employee. And that’s key. If you have somebody that you brought into your team from within the organization and turn them loose on SMS to manage an 8,500-machine environment, management would really like to know that they have the skills it takes.”

Brent Black IT Manager, Seattle

of managers believe that certifications are important to team performance.

75%of hiring managers consider employee certification as criterion for hiring.

55%

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Certification curriculum offers real-world experience.

“The certification process is also a great educational experience, because you’re given a curriculum of things you need to know, and procedures that you need to be aware of and familiar with. It gives you the opportunity to test what you do know, learn new things, and really develop your skills.”

Keith Terry IT Professional, Seattle

Microsoft Certified IT Professional and Certified Professional Developer

The Professional series is designed for the experienced IT professional and validates a comprehensive set of technology skills necessary to be successful in a particular job role. It’s for the individual who wants to validate his or her skills beyond technology prowess, and includes design, planning, deployment, and operations management. By validating a more comprehensive set of skills, these credentials give candidates and their hiring managers a reliable indicator of on-the-job performance.

The two Professional series credentials—Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) and Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD)—typically consist of one, two, or three exams and require one or more prerequisites from the Technology series as well as periodic re-certification.

Microsoft Certified Master Series

Master Series Certifications identify individuals with the deepest technical skills on a particular Microsoft technology. The program recognizes experienced IT professionals who can success-fully design and implement solutions that meet the most complex business requirements. The strength of the program is advanced, experience-based training and testing on Microsoft technologies that goes beyond any product training offered outside of Microsoft today.

The Master Series Certifications have prerequisite exams from the Technology Series and Professional Series and require the candidate to attend and complete all training. A final qualification lab exam focuses on a single technology platform.

Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA)

The Microsoft Certified Architect program makes it easy for companies to identify experienced IT architects who have completed a rigorous peer review process and exhibit exemplary business IT skills and a proven ability to deliver business solutions. The MCA program identifies prestigious professionals that have a minimum of ten years of advanced IT industry experience and three or more years of experience as a practicing architect. They possess strong technical and managerial skills, and form an elite community. Unlike other industry certifications, this credential was built, and is granted by the architect community.

The Architect Series Certifications have a rigorous and competitive entry process, require the candidate to work closely with a mentor who is a Microsoft Certified Architect, and culminate in an oral review in front of certified architects. Microsoft Certified Architects are required to periodically refresh their certification.

Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS)

The Technology series is designed for IT professionals and developers who want to demonstrate their skills and in-depth knowledge on a specific Microsoft technology. The Technology Series Certifications typically consist of one, two, or three exams, and are focused on a key Microsoft software or technology. They do not include job role skills, and are retired when mainstream product support for the related technology expires.

The following MCTS Certifications are currently available. Technology series Certifications are developed and become available as new technologies are introduced.

Current MCTS Certifications include:

.NET Framework 2.0

• Web Applications• Windows Applications• Distributed Applications

.NET Framework 3.5

• ADO.NET Applications• ASP.NET Applications• Windows Communication Foundation

Applications• Windows Forms Applications• Windows Presentation Foundation

Applications• Windows Workflow Foundation

Applications

Windows Server® 2003 Hosted Environments—Configuration and Management

Windows Server 2008

• Active Directory® Configuration• Network Infrastructure Configuration• Applications Infrastructure Configuration

Enterprise Project Management with Microsoft Office Project Server 2007

Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005

Microsoft Office SharePoint® Server 2007

• Configuration• Application Development

Windows Mobile® 5.0

• Applications• Implementing and Managing

Business Desktop Deployment

SQL Server® 2005

SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence

SQL Server 2008

• Business Intelligence Development and Maintenance

• Database Development• Implementation and Maintenance

BizTalk® Server 2006

Managing Projects with Microsoft Office Project 2007

Microsoft Exchange Server 2007— Configuration

Windows Embedded CE 6.0

Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0

• Application Development• Configuration

Windows Vista®—Configuration

of managers feel certified individuals are more productive on the job.

63%For each and every team member certified, team performance increases.

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Microsoft Second Shot plus Career Assist

Take advantage of the Career Assist Package: Register for Second Shot and get limited time access to a Microsoft E-Learning collection.

In the real world, you might need more than one chance at certification. With Second Shot, if you do not pass a Microsoft Certification exam on your first try, you can retake the exam for free.

Plus, along with the benefits of Second Shot, Career Assist gives you access to a collection of Microsoft E-Learning courses to help you master a Microsoft technology and prepare for certification.

To learn more visit: www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/offers/secondshot

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Certification Title Certification Description

MCTS Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) Certifications enable professionals to target specific technologies and to distinguish themselves by demonstrating in-depth knowledge and expertise in Microsoft specialized technologies.

MCITP Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) Certifications demonstrate comprehensive skills in planning, deploying, supporting, maintaining, and optimizing IT infrastructures.

MCPD Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) Certifications demonstrate comprehensive skills designing, developing, and deploying applications for a particular job role.

Microsoft Certified Architect Program

The Microsoft Certified Architect program targets Solutions Architects and Infrastructure Architects who successfully apply frameworks and methodologies to create an architecture through the entire IT lifecycle.

MCDST A Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) demonstrates technical and customer service skills in troubleshooting hardware and software operation issues in Microsoft Windows environments.

MCLC The Microsoft Certified Learning Consultant (MCLC) credential recognizes Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCTs) whose job roles have grown to include frequent consultative engagements with customers. These MCTs are experts in designing and delivering customized learning solutions.

MCSA A Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) administers network and system environments based on the Windows operating systems. Specializations include the MCSA: Messaging and the MCSA: Security.

MCSE A Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) designs and implements an infrastructure solution that is based on the Windows operating system and Windows Server System software. Specializations include the MCSE: Messaging and the MCSE: Security.

MCDBA A Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA) designs, implements, and administers Microsoft SQL Server databases.

MCT A Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) is a qualified instructor who is certified by Microsoft to deliver Microsoft training courses to IT professionals and developers.

MCAD A Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD) uses Microsoft technologies to develop and maintain department-level applications, components, Web or desktop clients, or back-end data services.

MCSD A Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD) designs and develops leading-edge business solutions with Microsoft development tools, technologies, platforms, and the Windows operating system.

Microsoft Certified Business Management Solutions Specialist

A Microsoft Certified Business Management Solutions Specialist demonstrates proficiency with Microsoft Dynamics and related business technologies.

Microsoft Certified Business Management Solutions Professional

A Microsoft Certified Business Management Solutions Professional demonstrates professional proficiency with Microsoft Dynamics in one of three knowledge areas: applications, developer, or installation and configuration.

MOS A Microsoft Office Specialist (Office Specialist) is globally recognized for demonstrating advanced skills in using Microsoft desktop software.

MCAS A Microsoft Certified Application Specialist (MCAS) has advanced business skills with the 2007 Microsoft Office system and Windows Vista.

MCAP A Microsoft Certified Application Professional (MCAP) demonstrates advanced cross-industry and cross-job role capabilities in using the 2007 Microsoft Office system and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server sites.

Certifications for Microsoft Dynamics

Microsoft Dynamics is a line of integrated, adaptable business management solutions that automate and streamline financial, customer relationship, and supply chain processes in a way that helps drive business success. The Microsoft Dynamics Certification program identifies individuals who can help deliver comprehensive business management solutions. There are two Microsoft Dynamics Certification titles—Microsoft Certified Business Management Specialist and Microsoft Certified Business Management Professional.

Microsoft Dynamics Certifications typically have single exams for each Microsoft Dynamics or related business technology, along with other exams for other Microsoft technologies, such as SQL Server. The pre-determined set of required and elective exams for this set of certifications focuses on three specific knowledge areas for one Microsoft Dynamic product: applications, developer, and installation and configuration. See the appendix for more details about Microsoft Dynamics specializations.

Certification develops and validates IT talent

IT managers face daunting challenges. The cost of downtime is high, and the search for qualified IT professionals is increasingly difficult. According to a Gartner study,2 40 percent of operational downtime is due to operator error—attributable to a significant lack of training on core systems. At the same time, the availability of trained, qualified IT job candidates is dropping. The number of undergraduate computer science majors fell by 40 percent between 2000 and 2004, and there has been a 70 percent decline in interest in pursuing the major.3 Moreover, an IDC study places the gap between the demand for, and the supply of IT professionals, at 40 percent4 in the next five to ten years.

Training and certification can be used to address the lack of qualified employees in order to help an organization’s IT stay competitive. A recent IDC study notes that a certified workforce helps maximize the value of IT investments, and teams with a higher percentage of certified members outperform teams with fewer certified members.5 The need for skilled workers, has driven a 24 percent increase in the growth of the certification industry (Microsoft has experienced even greater growth), reflecting the growing and importance of certification in the learning process. For IT professionals, Microsoft training and certification ranks second as a satisfaction driver (after E-Learning).6

Renewing or upgrading employee credentials can add value to IT teams by building both new and advanced skills. Certification helps ensure employees are prepared to take advantage of the latest technologies, driving better productivity, and lower costs. Plus, by seeking job candidates with current credentials, HR managers and recruiters can efficiently assess individuals on the basis of valid skill sets.

Below is a complete description of Microsoft Certification titles: Certification helps validate expertise.

“It’s just like having an advanced degree. I’d take the employee who passed the certification because they’ve been using this product on a daily basis and they have gotten certified so they know the nuances of the particular technology that they’re using.”

Lance Candia IT Professional and Partner, Chicago

of hiring managers consider employee certification as criterion for promotion.

57% of managers believe that certifications improve the level of service offered to IT end users and customers.

66%

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Certification helps build an organization’s IT agility and strategic advantage

An additional survey7 conducted by IDC and sponsored by Microsoft, studied the organiza-tional performance of 1,200 IT teams, examining the relationship of team performance to the percentage of the team certified by Microsoft on a variety of technologies. The study concluded that certification correlated positively to organizational performance improvements. The IDC study concludes: “It is clear that every increase in team skill improves organizational performance. So, this research demonstrates that for each new team member certified, team performance increases.”

Why get certified?

To better understand the current IT market and how certification can best serve it, Microsoft commissioned research about the perceived value of certification.9 The study initially surveyed nearly 1,500 certified and non-certified IT professionals globally. Through the course of the research, three common themes present the driving factors for why IT professionals pursue certification and why it’s relevant for IT organizations:

Relevance: Certification reflects and validates real-world skills and job-related experiences used every day, aiding in practical technology problem-solving and improving the professional performance.

• Certification programs are continually updated and measured for relevance in the marketplace, so they remain effective tools for job satisfaction and career growth.

• Microsoft guarantees exam security and is aggressively pursuing and winning the piracy battle.

• New performance-based testing technology guarantees real-world experience in a more secure environment.

• As evidence of the relevance of certification, Microsoft requires its own staff to be certified.

Development: Microsoft Certification is designed to add value across all stages of an individual’s career path, so it is valuable for job seekers, as well as new and advanced skill building, and upward career growth for employees.

• 55% of hiring managers consider employee certification as a criterion for hiring.

• 46% of hiring managers consider employee certification as a criterion for promotion.

IT Agility: Microsoft Certification can be used as an important employee development tool to help increase IT agility and strategic advantage. Certifications help demonstrate that your staff has the skills and is empowered to work with your existing systems in order to get the most out of your software investments.

• Certifications are a valid and reliable way to assess professional and practical knowledge.

• Certifications differentiate individuals with a credential apart from those who have not earned one.

• Certified employees are typically better prepared, more knowledgeable, productive, and capable of contributing to the bottom line.

Certification validates knowledge.

“It’s a validation of yourself. You’re not saying ‘I know this stuff.’ You’re actually saying ‘Microsoft says I know this stuff. I learned the product well enough to pass the exam.’”

Jeff Shelby IT Manager, Seattle

Certified individuals have access to valuable resources.

“I like the exclusive resources for certified professionals. You’ve proven that you understand the concept, so Microsoft can give you more resources that you’re qualified to use. If you weren’t certified, you might not be able to properly use them.”

Brent Black IT Manager, Seattle

Certification provides real-life advantages

Microsoft Certifications deliver significant advantages to IT organizations, including increased productivity, greater efficiencies and reduced costs. The following are just a few real-life examples of the positive impact certification has on companies.

Improved customer confidence and satisfaction

The Gurango Software Corporation strives to differentiate itself from its competitors, and maintain a highly motivated and educated software development team. The company gives the highest priority to Microsoft Certification as a means for determining internal promotion—90 percent of employees hold at least one certification.

By positioning its certified workforce as a competitive advantage, Gurango Software has successfully closed an impressive number of deals. In addition, the company credits its investment in Microsoft Certification in helping employees deliver shorter development cycles and faster implementation. A certified workforce has also helped Gurango establish a track record for fewer errors in the development and delivery phases of projects, which has boosted client satisfaction and referrals.

Paying a premium for Microsoft certified professionals

Sarbjit Singh Gill is a Unified Communications and Collaborations Specialist and regional Microsoft Consultant at British Telecommunications (BT) in Singapore with 19 years of IT experience. Sarbjit describes how bids for new projects often require Microsoft certified members on the team. When Sarbjit ran his own consultancy for seven years prior to joining BT, his team won 50 percent of their new projects thanks to Microsoft Certifications that earned clients trust.

“I had customers who felt comfortable knowing there was an MCSE on the team. In some cases—where the customer was also certified—they felt good to have a peer with the vendor and thus were willing to pay a premium,” said Sarbjit.

IronOne wins new projects based on certification

Joy Rathnayake, a Senior Software Engineer from Sri Lanka, works for IronOne Technologies, a software design and development company that specializes in outsourced IT services. Joy helped increase IronOne’s business by 80 percent by winning new projects on the basis of certification. IronOne Technologies is a preferred partner for projects involving Microsoft Global Services and Asia Consulting Services thanks to their various areas of expertise with certified employees. Joy stresses that having certified staff gives the company hard evidence of skill sets, which leads to project wins and increased business.

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Gurango Software gives highest priority to certification.

“The ‘badge of honor’ I received upon earning certification was an incredibly effective way to market myself. I could now clearly demonstrate that I was proficient in that particular technology.”

Joey Gurango Chief Technology Officer Gurango Software

Certification speeds troubleshooting.

“Certified employees have the ability to pinpoint the cause of errors faster than others as we apply best practices learnt. For example, by using a check-list to troubleshoot problems, we are able to solve most cases quickly,”

Sarbjit Singh Gill Unified Communications and Collaborations Specialist British Telecommunications

of office workers report salary increases as a result of Microsoft certification.

43%of workers report that Microsoft certification helped them find a job or led to a promotion.

40%

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Appendix

Certifications for Microsoft Dynamics

The pre-determined set of required and elective exams for this set of certifications focuses on three specific knowledge areas for one Microsoft Dynamic product: applications, developer, and installation and configuration.

Microsoft Certified Business Management Solutions Specialist:

For IT professionals who want to demonstrate their proficiency in one module of a Microsoft Dynamics or related business technology. Specializations include:

Microsoft Dynamics:

• CRM • SL• AX • Retail Management System• GP • Point of Sale• NAV

Microsoft Certified Business Management Solutions Professional:

For IT professionals who want to demonstrate their professional proficiency in Microsoft Dynamics. Specializations include:

Complete tasks faster while doing more with less

Edwin Sarmiento, a Senior Systems Engineer for Fujitsu Asia Pte Ltd based in Singapore, holds 10 Microsoft Certifications. Specializing in Enterprise Hosting Services, Edwin’s team provides organizations with secure network infrastructure. The certified professionals on his team created a script that alerts users to expiring passwords and completes tasks efficiently.

“We created a script which alerts mobile users who seldom connect to the domain to expiring passwords and sends them a reminder to change them. Also, auditing was previously hard to do manually so we created a script to help us in terms of hardware and software. Now, we complete the same task within hours instead of a couple of days. This gives us more impetus to obtain certification and increases our confidence in fulfilling projects,” said Edwin.

“Having certified staff within the team enables members to talk about their competencies and share knowledge which helps in solving problems in their day-to-day job. It also helps them correlate the exam questions with real-life situations and how to address those challenges.”

Keeping up with the changing IT landscape

Certification is a proven way to keep up with the changing IT landscape, improve troubleshooting, and to demonstrate skill, knowledge, and motivation levels that differentiate IT professionals from their peers. It delivers benefits both to organizations and individuals and is a documented way to increase overall performance and improve service and support levels.

Certification provides a framework that helps individuals advance their skills across all stages of their careers, not just in the lead-up to getting their first job in IT. It also provides a significant and industry-accepted measure of an IT professional’s skills—a benchmark that helps IT hiring managers and HR managers find the most qualified candidates for positions.

Microsoft Certification recognizes and validates real-world IT skills, supports the certified community by providing access to unique resources, and offers a life-long career path for IT skills development.

For more information on Microsoft Certifications, visit www.microsoft.com/learning.

Certification used as a people management tool.

“We hire more and give more promotions to the people that are certified and give them larger raises, too. But remember, those are also the people that are demonstrating dedication, professionalism, drive and desire to succeed. They’re the right people, the people you want to take care of.”

Keith Terry IT Manager Seattle

1 “Building a Foundation for Tomorrow, Skill Standards for Information Technology,” National Workforce Center for Emerging Technologies, 2003.2 Gartner Security Conference presentation: Operation Zero Downtime, D. Scott, May 20023 The Higher Education Research Institute at the University of California4 “Certification at the Entry Level” by Matt Walker, Certification Magazine, July 20085 IDC Market Analysis for Worldwide and U.S. IT Certification Training and Testing 2008.2012 Forecast6 Metrics That Matter7 IDC Whitepaper sponsored by Microsoft, Value of Certification: Team Certification and Organizational Performance, Doc #204360, Nov 20068 Microsoft Learning (2007). Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) customer satisfaction study (2007 ed.). Redmond, WA: Various.9 Intrepid Consultants, “Microsoft Learning, Value Of Certification: Market Intelligence Meta-Analysis,” 2008

Microsoft Dynamics CRM:

• Applications• Developer• Installation and Configuration

Microsoft Dynamics AX:

• Applications• Developer• Installation and Configuration

Microsoft Dynamics GP:

• Applications• Installation and Configuration

Microsoft Dynamics NAV:

• Applications• Developer• Installation and Configuration

Microsoft Dynamics SL:

• Applications• Installation and Configuration

If you’re not familiar with the current Microsoft Certification program, now is the time to take a look. Microsoft Certification has evolved to meet new and expanding organizational and personal needs for skills, while at the same time making it simpler and more efficient than ever to obtain a credential.

Find out how Microsoft Certification can work for you. Visit www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/newgen

© 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

of managers believe that certifications are important to team performance.

75%

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