Heads up, IT Pros! If you are still kicking around the idea of upgrading your certification to Windows Server 2012, it's time to get it done. Why now? Because you can "buy 2, get 1 free" on exams, and get free retakes just in case! Here are the details:
Who qualifies for this offer?If you currently hold one of these certifications, you can take advantage of this upgrade offer:
What can I upgrade to?There are the three upgrade paths eligible for this offer. Pick one! (No substitution on exams.)
What exactly do I get in this upgrade offer?
You get three exams for the price of two, and you get one free retake on each exam in the pack if you fail.
How soon do I have to commit to this?
You have to buy this upgrade offer by May 31, 2014. You also need to finish using all the vouchers and free retakes by December 31, 2014.
What if I already took some of the exams in these discount packs?
You can still take advantage of our Second Shot offer on single exams.
What if I need help preparing for these exams?
Check out the online study group for Windows Server. There are Microsoft Certified Trainers and your fellow IT Pros there to help and provide support.
Go ahead. Buy the upgrade pack now. There won't be a better offer any time soon.
Are you attending PASS Summit this year? We are bringing Certification Central to you in Charlotte, North Carolina!
You already know that Microsoft training and certification help keep your skills relevant, applicable and competitive. With Certification Central onsite at PASS Summit 2013, you'll have the chance to learn, practice, and talk one-on-one with technical training experts on a variety of technologies. Ready to get certified? All MCP (070) exams will be offered to summit attendees at 50% off!
Take advantage of this great opportunity to fulfill your certification requirements, at just US$75 per exam! The exam discount offer is only available to registered PASS Summit 2013 attendees. Seats are limited, so reserve your spot by registering via PASS Summit website soon!
If you have been reading my blogs you know that at the end of each one I give an alias through which people can contact us with questions, tips, and concerns regarding security. (Hint: it’s [email protected].) Since I can’t be at every testing center or at every training session, I do appreciate when people alert us to security concerns, brain dumps, proxy testing, fraud, and the like. This alias is monitored by me and my colleagues; rest assured your emails do not end up in a black hole. We then work with our various associates—test centers, legal team, exam development team, and customer service—to investigate the allegation further.
Please know that we take all suspected piracy leads seriously and initiate actions as appropriate. All allegations are thoroughly investigated before we take any action necessary to put a stop to any fraudulent practices. These investigative efforts can be complex and take time, so even though we work to get these matters resolved as quickly as possible, rarely is there the instant satisfaction of seeing results immediately.
If you’ve sent in a tip, and you never hear back about what happened next, it may seem like you’re being ignored. As a policy, Microsoft does not comment on the details of our investigations. Not only would it be hard for us to follow up with everyone who gives us a tip, there are many legal and practical reasons why we don’t elaborate.
It’s always a double-edged sword when it comes to commenting on investigations; on one hand, it would be nice to let everyone know about progress we made. On the other, to do so might undermine what we do and how we do it. So even though there are times when I personally would love to write about a victory, or to respond to an impassioned tipster, I have to maintain silence so that I don’t thwart any investigation or action in progress.
Got a tip for me? Let me know at [email protected].
Please join me on October 29, 2013 for Microsoft Insights—the first in a series of live online events designed to help inspire and guide your technology skills advancement, whether you're just starting out or striving for new opportunities. Learn about emerging opportunities in technology fields, get insights on the wealth of training and resources available to help you get ahead of the pack, and get help deciding if certification is right for you.
Our panel of experts will share their views on technology training and careers, covering:
Our esteemed panelists include:
Who should attend:
Get more details and sign up today!
On Twitter? Tell your friends about this by clicking http://clicktotweet.com/L7RVN . See you online soon!
A few weeks ago, we asked what questions you had about the upcoming changes to Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8.1, and System Center 2012 R2. Psychomagician and Super Sigma thought that the best way to share the answers would be to ask the person who “owns” these decisions within Microsoft Learning Experiences. Let’s meet Erika Cravens as she shares the answers to your burning questions:
You had a lot of questions, so this video is crammed with lots of information, tips, and things to think about as you prepare to earn these certifications or take the next step in the path toward certification.
Want answers? Watch the video today!
Did we miss something that you want to know? There’s still time to get your questions answered!
Do you remember when I asked you what questions you have about how the upcoming changes related to Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows 8.1 releases will impact exams, associated courseware, and books? We got a great list of questions, and Super Sigma and Psychomagician are actively investigating them (stay tuned!). During this investigation, Psychomagician reached out to MS Press to find out the plan for updating books. During that investigation, Anne Hamilton, who leads this team, asked that I post the following blog on her behalf. Here's the answer to "When and how will books be updated to reflect the changes that are coming?"...
Hi folks,
I’m Anne Hamilton, the publisher for Microsoft Press. I wanted to share our certification title plans to help you prepare for your exams.
First off, in the Windows Server 2012 R2 MCSA track, we are planning to have the following titles available within 30 days of the exam. Highlighted titles are currently available for Windows Server 2012, and will be updated for R2. The remaining titles will be new for R2.
This slightly longer Exam Ref will be available about a month later.
For the Windows 8.1 MCSA track, we are planning to have the following titles available within 30 days of the exam. Highlighted titles are currently available for Windows 8, and will be updated for Windows 8.1. The remaining titles will be new for Windows 8.1.
For the Windows Server 2012 R2 MCSE track, we are planning to have the following titles available within 60 days of the exam:
Several of these titles are yet to be announced, but will show up here shortly. Check back every few weeks as the titles are added, and once there, you can pre-order them. Stay tuned for more info!
If you’ve used a Training Guide or an Exam Ref to study for an exam, we’d love to hear your thoughts about the series. Let us know what you think.
I am very EXCITED to announce that we will beginning this month, subject matter experts (SMEs) who act as lead item writer or participate in alpha review or item selection/standard setting meetings will receive credit for the exam, meaning they will no longer be required to take the exam!! Can I hear a "WOOT!" from everyone!!!
Some important notes on eligibility for this awesome benefit:
Here's what I think are likely to be the most frequently asked questions... Let me know what other questions you have. In the meantime, add yourself to the SME database to increase the probability that you will be asked to participate in one of these exam development sessions!
Q: Who is eligible for exam credit through this process?
A: Currently, only the lead item writer, alpha SMEs, and item selection/standard setting SMEs are eligible. We are exploring other opportunities that might qualify, but only those SMEs who have seen all or most of the items on the exam are eligible because they have distinct advantage over other candidates.
Q: Does this apply all Microsoft certification programs?
A: Yes. SMEs who act as the lead item writer and/or participate in alpha or item selection/standard setting process for MTA, MBS, MOS, and MCSA/E/D exams are eligible.
Q: What must I do to earn this credit?
A: You must have a MCID and participate as the lead item writer and/or participate in alpha or item selection/standard setting process for new exam content development, what Microsoft considers v100. This benefit does not apply to the development of recertification or upgrade exams. If you are removed from an eligible exam development activity or leave prior to completing it, you will not be eligible for this benefit.
Q: Does this apply to new content that is developed to sustain an exam?
A: No. This only applies to the development of new exams because we expect that our content development vendors will hire certified SMEs to assist with the development of content associated with the sustainment of an exam.
Q: How will this be reflected on my transcript?
A: Exactly as all other exams that you have taken and passed appear on your transcript. Note that exams earned in this way will ONLY appear on your Microsoft transcript. They will NOT appear on the exam delivery provider’s transcript.
Q: When will this appear on my transcript?
A: Microsoft certification management database will be updated monthly to reflect this credit. The request will be submitted on the first business day of the month and will appear within 5 business days on your transcript.
Q: What should I do if I believe I should have received credit for an exam, but it doesn’t appear on my transcript?
A: Contact your regional service center.
Q: What date will be associated with this exam on my transcript?
A: The date that the credit is awarded. For some exams, this may be the date that drives your recertification requirement, so pay particular attention to this date if you want to maintain any associated certifications.
Q: Will I earn the associated certification if this is the last exam that I must pass to meet the certification requirements?
A: Yes as long as you have met all the certification requirements, the credit earned through this process applies as if you actually took and passed the exam.
Microsoft Learning Experiences is in the process of updating the MCSD: Windows Store Apps exams to reflect the upcoming release of Windows 8.1. We are also creating the recertification exams for these two credentials:
Would you like to have a voice in what we assess on these updated exams as well as the recertification exam? How many questions should we include on these exams to measure each of these skills? Recertification is a big deal, and if you are on the path to earning one of these certifications or have earned one and need recertify, here's your chance to be sure we are measuring the right skills in the right ways to ensure continued competency! We also need your help ensuring that we are assessing the skills initially in the right proportions, too. You can help us by completing any one or more of the online surveys by Thursday, September 19th.
If you develop using HTML5 and JavaScript, please complete these surveys:
481 and 482: http://microsoftlearning.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_bJEWbxflXNL29ZX
490: http://microsoftlearning.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_1WVpsheUBQTldGZ
If you develop using C#, please complete these surveys:
484: http://microsoftlearning.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_2mGk7jQvolzOEBf
485: http://microsoftlearning.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_094wKGxWhiFfHdX
491: http://microsoftlearning.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_79yu8c9mpqPA501
Your voice matters! Complete one or more of these surveys today to ensure the ongoing validity of your certification!
Note: If you are viewing the survey in Internet Explorer 9, you’ll need to switch to Compatibility Mode for the survey to function properly.
In light of the upcoming releases of Visual Studio 2013 and Windows 8.1, you may be wondering how the updates will affect the corresponding MCSD: Windows Store Apps certifications.
Here are a few things you can count on:
Whether you have started on the path to earning your MCSD certification or are just about to begin, we recommend that you continue moving forward. For developer certifications on Windows 8 application development with Visual Studio 2012, the exams you take now will still count towards your certification.
As the new technology updates become available, you will see a variety of training made available through Microsoft Learning Partner offerings, searchable here. These resources may include First Look clinics, hands-on labs, and courses using Microsoft Official Course content. In addition, many training resources will be available to you directly through Microsoft Virtual Academy (MVA). The following MVA courses geared towards exam preparation are available now:
For the latest information on upcoming changes to the certifications and related exams, please review our Visual Studio FAQ.
Imagine the energy of 100 students from around the globe waiting on the edge of their seats to find out if they’ve won a fiercely competitive MOS World Champion title! These motivated students competed against over 344,000 of their peers from 90 countries to make it to the 13th annual championship event in Washington DC this summer. The top six student competitors were recognized at the awards ceremony and presented with a $5,000 scholarship, a gold medal, and a trophy. Here are the exciting results!
(from left to right)
For those of us from Microsoft that attended, it was an amazing opportunity to mingle with and congratulate each of the student competitors. Microsoft made presentations including an in-depth Office 2013 demo by Julia White (Office GM) and Ari Schorr (PM), and the Microsoft education keynote by Lauren Woodman (Partners in Learning GM). The conference also allowed for quality time spent presenting to and meeting with each of the MOS and MTA distributors.
The MOS 2013 Championship event page has highlights of all the results. Check out the photo gallery, too.
Want to be a part of something like this? Do you know some students who should be here? Let’s start thinking now about the 2014 MOS Championship which kicks off October 1! Students interested in participating should check out details in this video:
To read more about the recent event in Washington, D.C., here is a sampling of the videos and articles and press releases you can check out:
First of all, a HUGE thank you to everyone who shared their "test day tips" either by responding to the post: ‘Tried and True Exam Prep – Part 2: Countdown to Test Day’ or allowing us to interview them while they were in Redmond. (If you ever find yourself in Redmond, let us know!!! We'd love to meet you!!!) Psychomagician and Super Sigma could not have cracked the case without your help. Ultimately, your insights about what to do on the day of the test help other exam takers, especially newbies to the world of Microsoft certification.
So, what did we learn? You’re not getting off that easy! You have to do a little investigating on your own by watching the video to find out.
Did you know that Microsoft has a tool to help you know what requirements are necessary to achieve your next certification? This tool is called the Certification Planner and it is found in the MCP Member site.
We recently made some significant improvements to the look and feel of the tool as well as the functionality (example screen shot below). We want to get some feedback on how we did and some thoughts on how we can further improve the tool. We would love for you to try the new Certification Planner and take the survey below (only 8 quick questions - should take about 5-10 minutes maximum). The only requirement we have for you to do this is to have access to the MCP member site, which means that you would have to have taken and passed at least one exam. The survey is open now and will close on October 3rd, so let us know what you think!
MCP Member site: https://mcp.microsoft.com
Survey Link: http://microsoftlearning.co1.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_cYdOQBy51fqUFbn
Thanks and have a great day!
Second in line to brain dumps as one of the most irritating threats to a secure testing environment are the proxy testers. A proxy tester will try to take the test for someone else, usually by passing fake credentials in order to get into the exam, or somehow procuring a passing result in the name of someone else. Sometimes they simply just sell fake score reports or certificates in one’s name. In fact, proxy testing is almost more egregious than using brain dumps, because the violator isn’t even memorizing answers or looking at the test. Someone who uses a proxy tester can’t even pretend to know the material.
You can imagine how disruptive proxy testing is to the integrity of a certification program. Employers and colleagues need to know that those who hold a Microsoft certification possess the requisite skills. We spend a good deal of time ferreting out and taking action against these organizations that provide proxy testing promises.
This is one reason why our ID policies at exam centers exist, as well as biometrics in some places. The first step to stopping the practice is to cripple the criminal enterprises that provide the services. The next step is to stop it at the test center level. ID checking and biometrics help us identify those who try to take the same test multiple times under several personas.
Unfortunately, some of these proxy testing companies are as sneaky as brain dump providers when it comes to “looking legit” to the casual browser wishing to find study material. The primary warning sign of a proxy testing website or organization is any guarantee that you will pass the exam without having to take it. Look for promises like “Guaranteed pass!” and “Pass without exam.” Proxy testing sites indicate that they will provide a full credential if you send them your credit card information. A candidate should be very wary of such promises.
Engaging in proxy testing as either the test taker or the person who hired the test taker is a form of misconduct and fraud. If a candidate engages in proxy testing, that candidate will be permanently banned or prohibited from taking any future Microsoft Certification exams and may be decertified from the Microsoft Certification Program. Additionally, test scores and certifications, if applicable, may be revoked. These actions may be taken even if the candidate did not intend to defraud the Microsoft Certification Program.
If you believe that a website or company provides proxy test-taking services, please inform Microsoft immediately by sending an email message to [email protected].
Thinking about starting or upgrading your Microsoft certification? Still undecided about scheduling that exam? It’s no secret that it takes time, preparation, and commitment to pass all the required exams to achieve a certification milestone, and we want to help you. That's why we're so excited to bring back Second Shot!
For those who are newer to our community: the return of Second Shot is great news for MCPs (and aspiring ones) because it means being able to retake an exam for free. Just knowing there's a chance to do-over at no cost can make a big difference on exam day.
This round of Second Shot applies to individual technical (070 and 071 beta) and commercial MTA (098) exams. Here are two ways to get your Second Shot voucher:
Both the initial exam and the retake have to be done no later than May 31, 2014, so find your certification path and get started soon!
Name: Sidney AndrewsMC ID: 8958741Location: Virginia, USATwitter: @sidney_andrewsBlog: seesharprun.net
A couple of years ago, I was on top of the world. I ran my own XAML consultancy and was doing very well using online marketplaces to sell my skills. Wanting to spend more time with my son, who was two at the time, my wife and I agreed that a sane schedule would be better all around, so I found a job as a .NET consultant for a great company in my hometown. I felt like a rock star again. My boss thought I did great work, and the company really valued me. At 25, I knew a lot in the .NET world, but had not felt the need to prove it in the past.
Hearing about Microsoft Certifications for the first time, my company used them as a seal of quality to show customers that we really knew our stuff. My boss suggested that I take an exam in a topic area where I knew I was absolutely solid. I challenged myself to pass one exam every month until I felt I had done enough.
In February, I took the Silverlight MCTS exam and blew it out of the water. I was so excited and I thought to myself, “This will be easy,” since I hadn’t studied for it at all. Wow, was I wrong! So I started studying for the Data Access MCTS exam. I wasn’t sure if I would do well considering that I used mostly RESTful web services and only had a general understanding of Entity Framework. I ended up taking the exam twice and failing. I was getting frustrated, but my boss reminded me that I was gaining a lot of knowledge from trying and that my studying was not a waste of time. To boost my confidence, I took the WPF/Windows Forms MCTS exam and did very well. Right after that I gave the Data Access exam another shot and passed in April.
I had a lot of small victories, but I truly wanted a terminal certification. In May, I took the WCF MCTS exam and did very well on it. This gave me enough confidence to pass the Windows Azure Pro exam at TechEd and to earn the MCPD: Windows Azure Developer certification. After I got home, I decided that I wasn’t done. In July, after 2 attempts, I passed the Windows Pro exam and earned my MCPD: Windows Developer certification. In August, I passed the Web Pro exam to earn both the MCPD: Silverlight Developer and the MCPD: Web Developer certifications.
It was at this point that I felt like I needed to take a big step. I spoke at a lot of community events and had a bit of post-secondary classroom experience, so I decided to pursue becoming a Microsoft Certified Trainer and get back to my education roots. Working at a top-tier company allowed me to bring real-world experience to the table when teaching a Microsoft course. With my combined certification record and classroom teaching history, in accordance with the program policies, I applied and was accepted as an MCT in September of 2012. The following holiday season, I taught my first two Microsoft courses and became a charter member for MCSD: Web Applications.
Earning my Microsoft certifications and becoming an MCT has drastically altered the trajectory of my career. Before, I was content to do my job. Now I teach, speak, architect and implement. I went from being a .NET developer in my hometown to being recognized as someone who’s accomplished “big things.” If none of these benefits resonate with you, the best benefit is that I have the longest e-mail signature at my company. My next goal is to amplify my efforts to share with my community and begin to travel to distant user groups more often during the year. I also would like to earn an MCSD: SharePoint Applications certification in 2013 since I’ve been spending a lot of time building SharePoint and LightSwitch apps.
Sidney’s Tips:
With the launch of the new project-based exam experience for MOS 2013, candidates need to complete a short project during the allotted exam time. During development of the MOS 2013 Expert certification exams, it became clear the objectives would require more time than provided in the standard 50 minute testing period to complete. Further, during exam design phase, it became clear two different types of projects would be needed in Word or Excel to cover objectives in a realistic setting.
Considering all of these factors, we are here to announce the MOS 2013 Word and Excel Expert certifications will require passing two exams. Word Expert certification requires passing exams 77-425 and 77-426, while Excel Expert certification requires passing exams 77-427 and 77-428. These part one and two exams are 50 minutes in length each, and are both required to achieve the Expert certification. Details about each of these exams can be found on the MOS Expert overview page.
Related resources:
Imagine that Psychomagician and Super Sigma had the power to get your questions answered about how the upcoming releases of Windows Server, Windows client, and System Center will affect certification and courseware. What if they could get the answers straight from the person making the decisions about how to approach these changes and incorporate them into the associated exams and training materials? What questions would you ask? What would you want to know?
Imagine such a world... and behold, Psychomagician has the magic to make it so!
Your questions will be the basis of an upcoming episode of ACE Chronicles where Psychomagician and Super Sigma will get the answers “straight from the horse’s mouth.” Don't be shy! Ask, ask, ask, and stay tuned for your answers!
Let us know what questions you have about how these releases will be incorporated into the associated exams, certifications, and courseware by September 9!
A few months ago, we proposed a new item type--progressive case studies--to the community and asked for your feedback. We created a video describing this new item type and asked you for feedback via a brief survey, and the results are in!
As a reminder, progressive case study is a variation of the case study item type in which the case builds progressively. More resources are introduced to candidates as they answer questions. The progressive case study scenarios will include information in a format that reflects how candidates might receive it on the job. For example, the case may include emails, graphics, exhibits, and documents that candidates need to review and synthesize in order to answer questions.
So, what did you think? Highlights include:
Several respondents also expressed some concerns that:
Given the generally positive feedback on this item type, we expect to pilot test it sometime in 2014. Thanks to everyone who provided their feedback!
Yes, we take cheating seriously.
You’ve seen me talk about brain dumps and appropriate test center behavior. (We'll discuss proxy testers in my September blog post.) It is an unfortunate facet of the exam business that some people will try to find ways to cheat on an exam, or engage in other fraudulent activity that gets them a certification, without earning it. Because we want everyone to have a fair testing experience, we take fraud in test-taking very seriously. Seriously enough to ban cheaters from our program all together.
This approach may seem Draconian, but to those who study and prepare legitimately for their exams, it probably seems fair. I mentioned once how a good number of ITCC Survey respondents told us that cheaters should be dealt with harshly. A cheater undermines the hard work a candidate has put into their test preparation. We work with our exam delivery providers to provide a secure environment that makes cheating difficult, and employ a variety of methods for catching fraud outside of a test center. We monitor diligently and constantly evaluate our security policies and procedures to stay one step ahead of the bad elements.
All candidates are required to accept the exam policies before they test, which outlines behavior we consider in violation of that agreement, and the possible consequences. The full policy, including an appeals process, can be found on our exam policies page: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/certification-exam-policies.aspx
For these reasons, when we catch and verify an incident of fraud or cheating, we don’t tolerate it. The cheater is banned from registering for any Microsoft exams, now or ever. We may also take away their certifications. It’s a pretty harsh way of dealing with nefarious test-takers, but we think our hard-working MCPs appreciate it.
Hi Born To Learn community! I’m the Product Manager for the Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) certification. I look forward to connecting with you through this blog to share noteworthy information regarding MTA. In this first post, I’d like to tell you about how we keep MTA exams relevant in a world where technology constantly changes.
As the MTA Product Manager, I’m often asked if MTA exams validate current technology concepts even if the exams reference older versions of the technology. The answer is “Yes!”
MTA exams are regularly reviewed to ensure that they are relevant in today’s environment, regardless of the technology version that’s new in the market. All Microsoft certification exams are reviewed regularly for relevance, technical accuracy, and psychometric soundness. MTA exams are no different.
Remember--MTA exams test users on fundamental technology concepts that span multiple technology versions. Even if the Windows Server and Database exams reference 2008 versions in the questions, the concepts being tested are still relevant in newer versions (e.g., 2012). We will update the versions referenced in the exams over time as we conduct our ongoing reviews.
Sometimes we find references that are outdated or no longer relevant. In those cases, we may remove the question, remove the reference to the outdated technology in the question, or rewrite the question. For example, the MTA Gaming Development exam currently references XNA technology. With the gaming industry moving away from XNA, the MTA gaming exam is being revised to reflect more current technology.
Whether you are the person taking the exam or whether you’re an instructor, you can be confident that we’re watching MTA exams carefully to ensure they are relevant and current.
Last month I talked about a survey that the IT Certifications Council, an industry group in which I participate, conducted on “Attitudes Around Cheating.” We got more than 1000 verbatim responses to our question: “What other methods do you suggest to combat cheating?” After pouring through them, I got a good sense of what candidates feel helps thwart fraud in the testing environment. I’m very grateful to have had access to all this insight.
A lot of answers indicated that respondents didn’t know cheating was a problem, or even possible. Some thought current measures did a good job of preventing cheating already. More than one answer expressed surprise that anyone would even think of cheating. All good news, and I’m glad to hear that.
The overwhelming sentiment was that fraud and cheating prevention starts in the testing center. I’ve talked before about what to expect in an exam environment , and it sounds like the majority of our test-takers expect the same. Cameras focused on the test takers came up as a suggestion quite frequently. That seems to be a practice that most find to be an acceptable part of the test-taking experience.
The next biggest theme was design of the tests themselves to make cheating harder. I won’t get into specifics here, but clearly some of our candidates are quite savvy when it comes to knowing how to prevent stealing of test answers via the test itself. The thieves, unfortunately, are also quite savvy, which is why I won’t delve into test-design specifics. But the suggestion that true prevention is to prevent it from the beginning is right on track, and one of my bigger focuses.
Personal integrity was mentioned a few times. The notion is that cheating will never cease and that people need to change attitudes about how they earn a certification. The industry could help with more education, policy enforcement, and making it harder to cheat. A few suggestions stemmed around improving the quality of training as a deterrent for cheating. All stimulating suggestions as well.
Of course, internet fraud (brain dumps and proxy testers) played a part in the answers. Let me dispel one myth that surfaced a few times in these answers: the testing companies do NOT voluntarily make answers available to brain dumps. That’s what makes them a violation in the first place. They have stolen our intellectual property, and they are absolutely on everyone’s radar as contributors to the problem of cheating.
There were some creative responses too about costs of exams, availability of training, timing of exams, punishments such as public shaming (and other…interesting…suggestions for cheaters I won’t mention in polite company), and the recommendation that more pie might help curb the cheating.
Lemon meringue or apple?
Name: Jean-Paul van RavensbergMC ID: 9784598Location: the NetherlandsTwitter: @JPvR_NLBlog: www.jpvr.nl
I began my Microsoft certification journey recently to demonstrate my abilities to the IT industry. I came in contact with a Microsoft Trainer at school who told me about the benefits of certification. It inspired me greatly to get certified before starting my career after finishing school. I didn't felt I had reached the level I needed during school, and it felt like I can do a lot more. I set a couple of certification goals this year:
Step by step, I studied every day for a couple of hours. Next, I had to choose between the 70-410/411/412 exams or the upgrade exam, 70-417. I knew I had little knowledge of Windows Server, but was driven to achieve it. During 90 Days to MCSA, I started studying the book, "Exam Ref 70-417: Upgrading Your Skills to MCSA Windows Server 2012." Having read this, I realized I hadn't learned as much as I could because I lacked experience with Server 2008 or Server 2012; and, of course, they expect knowledge about it in the book.
So, I continued with the TrainSignal videos. It has helped so much to access all the 410/411 and 412 training videos online. Learning from videos, I found, works best for me. I've watched all the videos and imitated the scenarios in my lab. It makes you feel confident working in the Windows Server environment. My lab consists of:
Besides school, I have been self-employed from the age of 17. I build websites for individuals and businesses and manage a number of SMB (Small and Medium businesses) networks.
I am hoping to complete my exam goals before the 60Days2MCSE starts! In the future I hope to work for a great company as a network administrator, with a large number of servers in my control.
My three tips:
An ambitious IT pro asked us on Twitter: "Which exam would you recommend for someone moving over from Comptia A+ and Net+?" MCT Ed Baker responds with the key differences between CompTIA and Microsoft certifications, and charts a roadmap for a smooth transition to MCSA and MSCE certifications. If you'd like to connect with Ed for more advice, please leave a comment or check out his Born to Learn profile.
The world of IT certification is a minefield of disinformation and confusion when it comes to where to start and what path to take. There are many good reasons to choose one way or another. It would take many more than my allotted space to do justice to the subject but here goes!
CompTIA provide a series of vendor neutral examinations based primarily on technology rather than a specific product. As an example, the often ignored Server+ deals with Linux and Windows Servers and the technologies supporting both platforms. All vendors provide examinations based on one or more of their products which may or may not include generic technology topics as well.
CompTIA A+ is a traditional starting point for many to launch an IT career and it follows that they then continue on the CompTIA path. CompTIA is a not for profit organisation with members including Cisco, Dell and Microsoft all focussed on raising the skill levels of IT industry employees.
Most of Microsoft’s certification tests are based on one or more of their products specifically and are aimed at a number of levels of skill.
Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA)
The Microsoft Technology Associate programme (MTA) is aimed at college students and entry level IT industry employees. Originally only available to students, it is now available in the commercial market through Prometric test centres. The tests are typically 45 minutes long and contain around 35 questions. Predominantly multiple choice and fairly short in content. This is an excellent way for a non-IT employee to break into the Microsoft Certified Professional arena. There are currently twelve certifications that include, Networking, Security, Servers, Operating Systems, Databases, and software development in various flavours. These are the only Microsoft tests that are not solely product-based. More detail about the MTA programme and available examinations can be found here.
Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA)
The next level is the Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) This certification typically requires two or three examinations and is available for a specific product, for example the MCSA Windows Server 2012 requires three and the MCSA Windows 8 requires two. Currently there are three product areas Server, Client and SQL server. There is not enough space to list them all and their merits but the programme details can be found here. Examinations at this level can contain a wide variety of different question types and can vary from 90 minutes to well over 3 hours long in some cases. Some discussion and demonstrations of question types can be found here--look for Exam Formats and question types.
Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE)
At the top of the tree for the mere mortal IT Pro is the Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE). This certification has a prerequisite of MCSA in a product area and then a couple of additional examinations. These certifications are not single product based but can examine a whole area of technology, but always using Microsoft products. There are no Product titles or version numbers in these qualifications. The other major difference is that to maintain this certification you are required to take an examination every three years to re-certify. The MCSE Programme details are here. There are currently eight MCSE certifications in specific industry areas such as Communications, Messaging or Server Infrastructure and each relates to a series of product solutions within the Microsoft portfolio.
So that is the Microsoft certification portfolio, almost; there are some developer specific certifications which can be found here. The Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) programme is definitely the one to take if you are interested in a career in software development and is on a par with the MCSE programme for certification level.
So if John is not a developer, where should he start?
Without knowing if John is already in an IT role, it is difficult to make such decisions on his behalf, but his exam history does help a little to determine what his proven skills are.
Having taken the CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ certifications which include three long detailed tests, I would recommend that John goes straight for the relevant MCSA for his technology specialism. Let’s assume that John has experience with Windows Servers and wants to become a Server administrator or equivalent. The exams he needs to take are the 70-410, 70-411 and 70-412 (details here) these are for the Windows Server 2012 track which is, in my opinion the one he should start on. The most recent relevant certification is often the one an employer is looking for.
Born to Learn is full of exam tips and tricks and I recommend that John concentrate hard on both exam technique and study. There are a great many differences between the exams in CompTIA and Microsoft certifications. When I teach CompTIA topics I am often heard explaining that there is nothing difficult to learn in this, but there is an awful lot to learn. The exam requires a very good level of memory recall. There are no long questions or answers it is simply multiple choice and the recently added simulation questions. For example the difference between processor types and sockets requires a lot of learning.
Microsoft examinations are a whole new level of test and the item types again (detail here) are completely different. They often require a lot of reading and assimilation of information to provide the solution. For this reason there are far fewer questions in each test and the answers often require a long time to think about so the tests are longer too.
Whichever you decide, good luck and if you need any help choosing the community of some 20,000 Microsoft Certified trainers (MCT) will always be happy to offer helpful advice and guidance on a route through this minefield.
Click to download the certification roadmap poster (PDF)
About the Author:
Ed Baker is an MCT, MCSE, MCSA and holds CompTIA A+, Net+, Server+, Security+ and many other certifications. Ed teaches in Microsoft IT academies and at commercial learning partners. Ed is a 20 year veteran of the IT industry and in his spare time he raises money for good causes through Freemasonry and marathon running.
For those who are familiar with the popular Self-Paced Training Kits from Microsoft Press, you may have heard that they are being replaced by two new series called Training Guides and Exam Refs. I had previously written a number of Training Kits with the aim of doing an all-in-one book. Training Kits were designed to included theory, practice tests, and had some hands-on labs that you could work through in your own home lab.
The new Training Guides and Exam Refs are different. In a way, they split the Training Kits down the middle. The Exam Refs, as the name implies, are more squarely focused on the specific exam and are something that you’d probably use in the latter part of your study as a revision aid. The Training Guides are aimed more at the job role tasks to which a specific certification is meant to map. In this post, I will share with you some of my thought process when writing the newly published Training Guide: Administering Windows Server 2012.
For an experienced system administrator with working knowledge of Windows Server 2012, the objectives of exam 70-411 theoretically map to your areas of knowledge. Of course, everyone’s job is different, so there will be some exam objectives that may not be relevant to your current role. Training Guides break down the exam objectives as they apply in the job role and contain real world advice along the way, as opposed to strictly interpreting the exam objectives through the lens of a test taker.
When I put together a Training Guide, I am assuming that the reader meets the exam prerequisites. This means that I assume you aren’t coming into the topic fresh. You might not know all the ins and outs of certificate services, for example, but I don’t have to spend a couple of pages explaining what a certificate server is and why you might want to deploy one in your environment.
Another key thing you should understand is that the Training Guide provides an overview of the technologies covered in the exam’s objective domain. Where possible, I provide a link to the source documentation so that you can go deeper on particular topics if you want or need to.
Training Guides (at least the one I’ve written) also have a strong practical component, and this may be one of the biggest things you get out of reading one. Each person learns a little differently, but most systems administrators learn well by doing. Performing a task in your own lab will probably give you a better handle on it than reading about it or answering an exam question.
One thing I tried to do with this Training Guide is to write a practical exercise that touches on all of the little points that make up an objective. From a self-study perspective, this has the following benefits:
Although Training Guides will assist you in preparing for the exam, it is not a complete exam preparation solution. This is a really important point. If you are preparing for the exam, you should use additional study materials, such as practice tests, Exam Refs, and forums such as the study groups here on Born to Learn.
It’s also important that you have real world experience. That means that you should have actually done the stuff listed on the objectives where possible, not just read about it in a book. You’re much less likely to pass an exam on Administrating Windows Server 2012 if you’ve never managed a server in a production environment.
Finally – though we do our best, errors do creep into the best texts. When thousands of eyes read over a text they find things that the author, editor, tech editor, and proofreader miss. If you buy the books through O’Reilly, they have an excellent errata system that allows us to insert corrections into each reprint.
Good luck on your exam!
As you may have already heard, the next versions of Windows, Windows Server, and System Center have been announced! (See Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012 R2, and System Center 2012 R2.) In light of these exciting product announcements, you may be wondering how the updates will affect the corresponding certifications.
The impact of each product update to its certification may vary. We encourage you to check the certification you are interested in obtaining for more details via http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification-overview.aspx.
Whether you have started on the path to earning your certification or are just about to begin, we recommend that you continue moving forward. For Windows 8, Windows Server 2012 and System Center 2012 certifications, the exams you take now will still count towards your certification.
Speaking of training, Jump Start courses for Windows Server 2012 R2 and System Center 2012 R2 are now available!
Read our FAQs to find out more: