Microsoft Certification Changes

So Microsoft is dropping the MCSE moniker in favor of “Microsoft Certified IT Professional” (MCITP) in flavors for specific Microsoft products or technologies. The MCP moniker is now “Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist” (MCTS). Basically, the MCTS is the entry level certification on a Microsoft product or technology, and MCITP is the advanced certification. At the top level there is the “Microsoft Certified Architect” (MCA) which is a whole other animal. That’s all fine, well, and good with me - I was one that never liked the “Engineer” designation anyway. Here are the currently available MCITP certifications:

• IT Professional: Business Intelligence Developer
• IT Professional: Consumer Support Technician
• IT Professional: Database Developer
• IT Professional: Database Administrator
• IT Professional: Enterprise Messaging Administrator
• IT Professional: Enterprise Project Management with Microsoft Office Project Server 2007
• IT Professional: Enterprise Support Technician

The other big change, beyond the names, is that certifications will now expire after three years. For the most part, rather than tying MCITP certifications to specific products, Microsoft has chosen product agnostic names for these certifications (I’m not sure why they chose to specifically call out Project Server 2007, but that’s not one I’d likely be after, so it’s irrelevant to me anyway). To renew your certification, you will be required to take the current MCTS exams for your area of expertise. So the MCTS exams under the MCITP certifications will rotate out as products age, but the MCITP certificate name will remain constant. Many people won’t, but I like this approach. It reduces the number of certifications someone has, and if they have any of the new MCITP certifications, you know they are up to date. I like the idea of reducing the number of certifications because I personally have the following:

• MCITP: Enterprise Messaging Administrator
• MCTS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Configuration
• MCSA: Security on Windows Server 2003
• MCSE: Security on Windows 2000
• MCSE: Security on Windows Server 2003
• MCSE: Messaging on Windows 2000
• MCSE: Messaging on Windows Server 2003
• MCSA: Messaging on Windows Server 2003
• MCSA on Windows Server 2003
• MCSE on Windows Server 2003
• MCSE on Windows 2000
• MCSE on Windows NT 4.0
• MCP+I
• MCP

I am not going to list these on a business card or email signature, and most people couldn’t care less about my experience with NT 4.0. So after getting the new MCSE equivalent certification, I would be simplified to:

• MCITP: Enterprise Administrator
• MCITP: Enterprise Messaging Administrator

Much better, and should carry more weight in time.

You’ll notice that “Enterprise Administrator” is not on the list of currently available MCITP certifications. Neither is “Server Administrator”. The “Enterprise Administrator” (MCSE equivalent) and “Server Administrator” (MCSA equivalent) certifications are based on Windows Server 2008, which is obviously not available yet, so neither are the certifications. Upgrade exams will be available for both the MCSE and MCSA path. Trika from Microsoft Learning notes on her blog that the MCSE/MCSA upgrade exams will be available October 29, 2007, but these exams only get you part of the way. Below is a summary of all the exams needed to get the new “MCITP: Enterprise Administrator” and “MCITP: Server Administrator” certifications.

Now get studying…

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Starting Fresh (No Upgrades)

MCITP: Server Administrator (3 Exams)

• 70-640 (MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring)
• 70-642 (MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring)
• 70-646 (MCITP: Windows Server 2008 Administrator)

MCITP: Enterprise Administrator (5 Exams)

• 70-640 (MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring)
• 70-642 (MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring)
• 70-643 (MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure, Configuring)
• 70-620 (MCTS: Microsoft Windows Vista, Configuring) OR 70-624 (MCTS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops)
• 70-647 (MCITP: Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Administrator)

Upgrading from MCSE 2003

MCITP: Enterprise Administrator (3 Exams)

• 70-649 (MCTS: Upgrading Your MCSE on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008, Technology Specialist)
• 70-620 (MCTS: Microsoft Windows Vista, Configuring) OOR 70-624 (MCTS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops)
• 70-647 (MCITP: Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Administrator)

MCITP: Server Administrator (2 Exams)

• 70-649 (MCTS: Upgrading Your MCSE on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008, Technology Specialist)
• 70-646 (MCITP: Windows Server 2008 Administrator)

Upgrading from MCSA 2003

MCITP: Enterprise Administrator (4 Exams)

• 70-648 (MCTS: Upgrading Your MCSA on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008, Technology Specialist)
• 70-643 (MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure, Configuring)
• 70-620 (MCTS: Microsoft Windows Vista, Configuring) OR 70-624 (MCTS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops)
• 70-647 (MCITP: Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Administrator)

MCITP: Server Administrator (2 Exams)

• 70-648 (MCTS: Upgrading Your MCSA on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008, Technology Specialist)
• 70-646 (MCITP: Windows Server 2008 Administrator)