Microsoft Certificates (2): Overview
In the previous part I have discussed that I do no possess any Microsoft certificates and that that needs to change. In this part I will give an overview of what Microsoft offers so I can discuss the areas where I want to focus on in the next part.
The Basis
At the moment (May 2018, Microsoft tends to change things once in a while) Microsoft has 6 areas in which you can achieve certificates:
- Mobility
- Cloud: Platform and infrastructure
- Productivity
- Data: Management and Analytics
- App Builder
- Business Applications
For each area there are a number of levels of certification:
- MTA: Microsoft Technology Associate.
This level is for starters and to get basic knowledge on a specific subject.
This level is not available in Business Applications. - MCSA: Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate
This level is for professionals and validates the knowledge on a specific subject. It is also a prerequisite for a MCSE certification. My opinion is that these are Vocational Education / Community College level certification. - MCSE: Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert
This level is one of the higher levels and demonstrates the technical and professional skill someone has. This certification is more a University of Professional Education level.
This level does not exist in the App Builder area (see below).
There are two other levels that are specific for one area:
- MOS: Microsoft Office Specialist is only available for the Productivity area and shows that you have te skills to get the best out of (an) Office (application).
- MCSD: Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer is alleen available in the App Builder area and is the counterpart of the MCSE in the other areas.
This means that there are 18 certifications combined. Those 18 are of course further divided and the certificate “MCSE Productivity” does not mean anything as there are 8 different exams that all result in that title.
Certifications per area
Mobility
The Mobility competence has been designed by Microsoft for IT professionals who stand out as the expert in powerful, secure mobility management solutions for large organizations. Techniques such as Microsoft Intune, Azure Active Directory and Windows System Center are covered.
MTA: IT Infrastructure
Exam 98-368: Mobility and Device Fundamentals
MCSA: Windows 10
Exam 70-697: Configuring Windows Devices
Exam 70-698: Installing and Configuring Windows 10
MCSE: Mobility
Prerequisite: MCSA: Windows 10
And one of below exams:
Exam 70-695: Deploying Windows Desktops and Enterprise Applications
Exam 70-696: Administering System Center Configuration Manager and Intune
Exam 70-398: Planning for and Managing Devices in the Enterprise
Cloud: Platform and infrastructure
The Cloud competence is designed by Microsoft for IT professionals who want to respond to the growing demand for infrastructure and software as a service (SaaS) solutions built on Microsoft Azure. Windows Server Virtualization and Microsoft Azure are important topics that are reflected in these certifications.
MTA: IT Infrastructure
Exam 98-369: Cloud Fundamentals
MCSA: Cloud Platform
This certification is achieved when two of the exams below are
This certification is obtained when two of the following exams have been successfully completed:
Exam 70-532: Developing Microsoft Azure Solution
Exam 70-533: Implementing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solution
Exam 70-534: Architecting Microsoft Azure Solution
Exam 70-473: Designing and Implementing Cloud Data Platform Solution
Exam 70-475: Designing and Implementing Big Data Analytics Solutions
MCSA: Linux on Azure
Exam 70-533: Implementing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions
Exam LFCS: Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator
MCSA: Windows Server 2012
Exam 70-410: Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012
Exam 70-411: Administering Windows Server 2012
Exam 70-412: Configuring Advanced Windows Server 2012 Services
MCSA: Windows Server 2016
Exam 70-740: Installation, Storage, and computer with Windows Server 2016
Exam 70-741: Networking with Windows Server 2016
Exam 70-742: Identity with Windows Server 2016
MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure
Prerequisite is one of the following MCSA certificates:
MCSA: Linux on Azure
MCSA: Windows Server 2012
MCSA: Windows Server 2016
And one of the exams below::
Exam 70-532: Developing Microsoft Azure Solutions
Exam 70-533: Implementing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions
Exam 70-534: Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions
Exam 70-473: Designing and Implementing Cloud Data Platform Solutions
Exam 70-475: Designing and Implementing Big Data Analytics Solutions
Exam 70-744: Securing Windows Server 2016
Exam 70-413: Designing and Implementing a Server Infrastructure
Exam 70-414: Implementing an Advanced Server Infrastructure
Exam 70-246: Monitoring and Operating a Private Cloud
Exam 70-247: Configuring and Deploying a Private Cloud
Productivity
The Productivity competence is for anyone who wants to roll out Microsoft Office cloud and hybrid solutions within an enterprise environment. Microsoft Office 365, Exchange, Skype for Business and SharePoint are important topics that are covered within the relevant Microsoft certifications in this area.
MTA: Infrastructure
When you achieve on the the below exams you will receive the MTA Infrastructure certificate:
Exam 98-365: Windows Server Administration Fundamentals
Exam 98-366: Networking Fundamentals
Exam 98-367: Security Fundamentals
Exam 98-368: Mobility and Device Fundamentals
Exam 98-369: Cloud Fundamentals
MCSA: Office 365
Exam 70-346: Managing Office 365 Identities and Requirements
Exam 70-347: Enabling Office 365 Services
MCSE: Productivity
Prerequisite is one of the MCSA certificates:
MCSA: Office 365
MCSA: Windows Server 2016
MCSA: Windows Server 2012
And one of the following exams:
Exam 70-331: Core Solutions of Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013
Exam 70-332: Advanced Solutions of Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013
Exam 70-333: Deploying Enterprise Voice with Skype for Business 2015
Exam 70-334: Core Solutions of Microsoft Skype for Business 2015
Exam 70-339: Managing Microsoft SharePoint Server 2016
Exam 70-341: Core Solutions of Microsoft Exchange Server 2013
Exam 70-342: Advanced Solutions of Microsoft Exchange Server 2013
Exam 70-345: Designing and Deploying Microsoft Exchange Server 2016
Data: Management and Analytics
With the data management & analytics competence you show that you have the right expertise in the field of Microsoft Business Intelligence (BI) solutions in order to be able to execute BI projects. SQL Server, Business Intelligence and Querying are important topics within Data certifications.
MTA: Database
Exam 98-364: Database Fundamentals
MCSA: SQL Server 2012/2014
Exam 70-461: Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014
Exam 70-462: Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014 Databases
Exam 70-463: Implementing a Data Warehouse with Microsoft SQL Server 2012/2014
MCSA: SQL 2016 Business Intelligence Development
Exam 70-767: Implementing a SQL Data Warehouse
Exam 70-768: Developing SQL Data Models
MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration
Exam 70-764: Administering a SQL Database Infrastructure
Exam 70-765: Provisioning SQL Databases
MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Development
Exam 70-761: Querying Data with Transact-SQL
Exam 70-762: Developing SQL Databases
MCSA: Machine Learning
Exam 70-773: Analyzing Big Data with Microsoft R
Exam 70-774: Perform Cloud Data Science with Azure Machine Learning
MCSE: Data Management and Analytics
Prerequisite is one of the following MCSA certificates:
MCSA: SQL 2016 Business Intelligence Development
MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration
MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Development
MCSA: SQL Server 2012/2014
MCSA: Machine Learning
And one of the following exams:
Exam 70-473: Designing and Implementing Cloud Data Platform Solutions
Exam 70-475: Designing and Implementing Big Data Analytics Solutions
Exam 70-464: Developing Microsoft SQL Server Databases
Exam 70-465: Designing Database Solutions for Microsoft SQL Server
Exam 70-466: Implementing Data Models and Reports with Microsoft SQL Server
Exam 70-467: Designing Business Intelligence Solutions with Microsoft SQL Server
App Builder
With the App Builder competency you show that you have the right knowledge to quickly develop good software that is constantly optimized within a software development environment.
MTA: Developer
You have completed one the following exams:
Exam 98-361: Software Development Fundamentals
Exam 98-375: HTML5 App Development Fundamentals
Exam 98-380: Introduction to Programming with Block-Based Languages
MCSA: Universal Windows Platform
Exam 70-483: Programming in C#
Exam 70-357: Developing Mobile Apps
MCSA: Web Applications
Exam 70-486: Developing ASP.NET MVC Web Applications
And one of the following exams:
Exam 70-480: Programming in HTML5 with JavaScript and CSS3
Exam 70-483: Programming in C#
MCSD: App Builder
Prerequisite is one of the following certificates:
MCSA: Web Applications
MCSA: Universal Windows Platform
And one of the following exams:
Exam 70-534: Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions
Exam70-355: Universal Windows Platform – App Data, Services, and Coding Patterns
Exam 70-532: Developing Microsoft Azure Solutions
Exam 70-487: Developing Microsoft Azure and Web Services
Exam 70-488: Developing Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013 Core Solutions
Exam 70-489: Developing Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013 Advanced Solutions
Exam 70-354: Universal Windows Platform – App Data, Services, and Coding Patterns
Exam 70-496: Administering Microsoft Visual Studio Team Foundation Server
Exam 70-497: Software Testing with Visual Studio
Exam 70-498: Delivering Continuous Value with Visual Studio Application Lifestyle Management
Business Applications
The Business Applications competence of Microsoft is aimed at everyone who has gained expertise with Microsoft Dynamics technologies. Microsoft Dynamics 365 and SQL Server are important components for the relevant certifications.
MCSA: Microsoft Dynamics 365
Exam 70-764: Administering a Microsoft SQL Database Infrastructure
Exam MB6-890: Microsoft Development AX Development Introduction
MCSA: Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Operations
Exam 70-764: Administering a Microsoft SQL Database Infrastructure
Exam MB6-890: Microsoft Development AX Development Introduction
MCSE: Business Applications
Prerequisite is one of the following MCSA certificates:
MCSA: Microsoft Dynamics 365
MCSA: Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Operations
And one of the following exams:
Exam MB2-717: Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Sales
Exam MB2-718: Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Customer Service
Exam MB6-892: Microsoft Dynamics AX – Distribution and Trade
Exam MB6-893: Microsoft Dynamics AX – Financials
Sources:
Microsoft
ICT Trainingen
Global Knowledge