Microsoft Certification: The New MCTS Tracks And Exams

Microsoft Certification: The New MCTS Tracks And Exams



Microsoft is revamping its certification tracks, and will eventually retire the
familiar MCSE certificatons. The new
certification setup is much like Cisco's, where there are specialist
certifications to go along with the more general CCNA, then mid-level
certifications such as the CCNP, and then a more-advanced practical exam modeled
somewhat after the coveted CCIE certification.



Microsoft's new specialist exams are the Microsoft Certified Technology
Specialist (MCTS) exams. As of March 2006, there were five separate
MCTS Tracks Exams. Three of them deal
with .NET Framework 2.0; these are the Web Application, Windows Applications,
and Distributed Applications certifications. Each of these separate
certifications requires the candidate to pass two exams. There is also a
one-exam SQL Server 2005 certification, as well as a BizTalk Server 2006
single-exam certification.



The initial question is "Why is Microsoft doing this?" According to their
website, MS feels that IT hiring managers today have a tough time deciding which
computer certifications best identify job candidates who best meet their needs.
I know it's easy to take verbal shots at Microsoft (it'll be an Olympic sport
one day), but this new series of certs does have appeal for hiring managers,
which can only help qualified candidates. Instead of the more-general MCSE,
which does still suffer from the overcertification of NT 4.0 MCSEs back in the
day, these more-specific certifications will make it easier for the job
candidate to prove that they can do the job - and easier for the hiring manager
to make an informed decision.



Microsoft hasn't announced the track that will eventually replace the MCSE, but
this track will be revealed with the next client-server Windows release. It's up
to you to stay informed of these changes, so I recommend you visit Microsoft's
certification website often. "I didn't know" isn't much help once a
certification expires!



Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of over
100 free certification exam tutorials, including Cisco CCNA certification test
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