September, 2012

Microsoft Certified Professionals: You're invited to participate in the 6th annual salary and skills survey conducted by Global Knowledge and Windows IT Pro. It is one of the industry's most extensive surveys of IT and business professionals.  Last year's survey had over 10,000 participants.  The topics includes:

• What skills are in demand?
• How do certifications impact salary?
• How does your salary compare to national averages?
• How does training impact salaries?
• What training and certifications matter most?
• Other critical issues facing workers today

All participants will have the option to request a complimentary summary of findings. Responses are due by October 19, 2012.  

The survey will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. Click here to begin. 

It’s a new era for developers. The consumerization of IT has changed the technology landscape in a big way, and customers have higher expectations than ever before. They want fast, light, stunning applications that deliver high value and are accessible on any device. For developers, this can mean an opportunity to turn bright ideas into applications.

As Microsoft celebrated the release of Visual Studio 2012 at today’s virtual launch event, Microsoft also has cause to celebrate our new Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD) certifications, designed for the future of the applications marketplace. The new MCSD is available in two tracks, each designed for developers:

• MCSD: Windows Store apps for Windows 8 developers reflects expertise in architecting and building Windows Store apps.
• MCSD: Web Applications validates the ability to create and deploy modern Web applications and services.

The MCSD provides an objective, meaningful way to identify advanced technical competence and significant real-world solution-building expertise. But that’s not all—in the process of achieving your MCSD, you’ll build the skills you’ll need to succeed in this new era. Preparing for your MCSD is a great way to learn how to take advantage of the new and exciting possibilities for developers in Visual Studio 2012 and Windows 8.

Over the course of the next few months, Microsoft Learning will be releasing a variety of books, courses, and other learning products that enable developers to build the skills needed to architect and build Windows Store apps, and to create modern web applications. You can start getting ready for the new era today by downloading this free Microsoft Press e-book: Programming Windows 8 Apps with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript (Second Preview). You can also attend worldwide Tech Showcase events, which focus on Microsoft’s most recent technology releases and provide you with a first-hand look at what’s new. As another boost on your road to MCSD, Microsoft is offering a free second shot at certification exams or exam packs.

Stay relevant. Build the skills you need to create tomorrow’s apps by preparing for and earning an MCSD certification!

Yesterday, we released our next certification under our new branding - Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) on Windows 7.

Many of you now have this certification on your transcript and may be wondering what it is and how you earned it.  As part of our efforts to grandfather our existing customers into the new program, we are awarding those individuals that have already passed the approprite Windows 7 exams, the MCSA: Windows 7 certification.

Here are the MCSA: Windows 7 requirements:

Some questions you may have are

• When you can I download my certificate?
  • It should be available now if you have the certification on your transcript. 

• What is happening to the existing MCTS and MCITP certifications on Windows 7?
  • These certifications will remain available to earn until January 31, 2014.  Once they have been earned they will remain on your transcript.

• Does the MCSA: Windows 7 certification go away on January 31, 2014?
  • No.  The MCSA: Windows 7 certification will remain available after January 31, 2014.

For those that have earned the MCSA: Windows 7 certification, you will be able to earn the new MCSA: Windows 8 certification by taking and passing one exam - exam 689.

Here is the upgrade path to the MCSA: Windows 8 certification.

Our web pages are in progress and should be updated with the latest information in the next day.

Lots going on so let me know what questions you have.

Have a great day!

Hi!

I wanted to make a really quick announcement to all of you, especially since you have been asking....

The MCSA: Windows Server 2012 now counts as a pre-requisite certification for the MCSE: Private Cloud certification. NOTE - it won't show up on your transcript until November 2012.

Now for anyone that already started down the path of the MCSA: Windows Server 2008 certification, you are still in luck. It still counts towards the MCSE: Private Cloud certification and it will show up on your transcript immediately.

The MCSA: Windows Server 2012 exams (410, 411, and 412; the upgrade exam 417) will be released as final on September 17th. For those of you that took the exams in beta, you should be seeing your scores right around that time.

As a reminder, the MCSE: Private Cloud does require recertification every 3 years.

I hope you find this information useful and have a great day!