The New Generation of Microsoft Certifications

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The New Generation of Microsoft Certifications
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13 Years of Microsoft Certifications

• 3.2M certifications granted
• 1.8M unique MCPs
• Most Growth New Entrants, MCAD, MCDST, MCSE 2003

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Customer Feedback
7 exams to become an MCSE costs too much and
takes too much time for what you get.
I have 5 years of experience with an updated
MCSE we just hired a new person (new to IT) that
also has an MCSE.
The tests should be much harder and should
involve simulations
Change what my manager thinks about the program.
I need someone who has proven hands on skills.
The certification does not take into account
everything needed to do the job.
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Design Principles
Create more targeted, relevant and cost-effective
certifications
Principle
Principle
Principle
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Targeted Flexible
Relevant Simple
Rigorous Credible

• Technology exams verify depth in using technology
• Professional exams verify relevant job role
  skills

• Advance testing technology using simulations,
  case study, and other complex methodologies
• Create straightforward exams paths that test more
  completely and accurately

• Create certifications that reflect specific job
  roles
• Create credentials that allow individuals to
  identify custom skill sets

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New Generation Framework

• BUSINESS IT SKILLS
• Proven ability to deliver business solutions
• Rigorous entry process
• Work closely with mentor
• Culminates in oral review board
• Recertification required

• PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
• Proven ability to perform on the job
• 1-3 exams
• Technology Specialist Prerequisite
• Focused on single Job Role
• Recertification required

• CORE TECHNICAL SKILLS
• Proven skills on Microsoft technologies
• 1-3 exams
• Certification retires with product support
• Focused on key product or technology
• Does not include job role skills

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Applying the New Framework
Recruit an employee with a validated level of
knowledge or for specific technology application
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Recruit develop staff in common IT job roles
with the right professional skills
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Validate skills for custom IT infrastructure,
process or project
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Architect long term IT solutions to business
problems
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New Generation Of Certifications

• CORE TECHNICAL SKILLS
• Proven skills onMicrosoft technologies
• 1-3 exams
• Certification retires with product support
• Focused on key product or technology
• Does not include job role skills

• PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
• Proven ability to performon the job
• 1-3 exams
• Recertification required
• Technology Specialist Prerequisite
• Focused on single Job Role

• BREADTH SKILLS
• Proven skills across multiple technology, job
  role and solutions
• Allows generalists, consultants and experienced
  professionals to show broad skill sets
• Allows specialists to show depth

• As a result of customer partner feedback
• More flexible to reflect the reality of todays
  IT workforce
• Reflects specific and well-understood job roles
• Allows individuals to be able to uniquely
  identify their skill set

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Certification Paths

• Integration with Visual Studio and .NET
• Native XML technology
• Interoperability via Web Services

• Integrate and Transform Data
• Analyze, Store and Mine Data
• Report and Interact with Data

• High availability
• Key security and performance
• Focus on self manageability and optimization

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IT Professional
Technology Specialist
70-442PRO Designing and Optimizing Data Access
by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
70-441PRO Designing Database Solutions by
Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
70-431 TS Microsoft SQL Server 2005 -
Implementation andMaintenance
70-444PRO Optimizing and Maintaining a Database
Administration Solution by Using Microsoft SQL
Server 2005
70-443PRO Designing a Database Server
Infrastructure by Using Microsoft SQL Server
2005
70-447 UPGRADE MCDBA Skills to MCITP Database
Administrator by Using Microsoft SQL Server
2005
70-446PRO Designing a Business Intelligence
Infrastructure by Using Microsoft SQL Server
2005
70-445 PRO Designing Business
Intelligence Solutions by Using Microsoft SQL
Server 2005 Analysis Services
Microsoft Confidential
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• 70-443 PRO Designing a Database Server
  Infrastructure by Using Microsoft SQL Server
  2005
• 70-444 PRO Optimizing and Maintaining a
  Database Administration Solution by Using
  Microsoft SQL Server 2005

• 70-441 PRO Designing Database Solutions by
  Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
• 70-442 PRO Designing and Optimizing Data Access
  by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005

• 70-431 TS Microsoft SQL Server 2005 -
  Implementation and Maintenance

• 70-445 PRO Designing Business Intelligence
  Solutions by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
  Analysis Services
• 70-446 PRO Designing a Business Intelligence
  Infrastructure by Using Microsoft SQL Server
  2005

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Disclaimer Dates presented here are not final
and are subjected to change anytime without
notice
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Certification Paths

• Distinguished Focused towards specific developer
  job roles
• Technical Depth Exams specific to the technology
  
• Relevant Validating applicable professional
  skills required for the job role

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Whidbey Certification Family

Web Application Developer (70-547)
Web Client Development (70-528)
Microsoft .Net Framework 2.0
Foundation (70-536)
Windows Application Developer (70-548)
Windows Client Development (70-526)
Enterprise Application Developer (70-549)
Distributed Application Development (70-529)
Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS)
Microsoft Certified Professional Developer
(MCPD)
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Web Developer

• 70-547 PRO Designing and Developing Web
  Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET
  Framework

• 70-536 TS Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 -
  Application Development Foundation
• 70-528 TS Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 -
  Web-based Client Development

Windows Developer

• 70-548 PRO Designing and Developing Windows
  Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET
  Framework

• 70-536 TS Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 -
  Application Development Foundation
• 70-526 TS Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 -
  Windows-based Client Development

Enterprise Application Developer

• 70-549 PRO Designing and Developing Enterprise
  Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET
  Framework
• Requires all 3 Technology Specializations

• 70-536 TS Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 -
  Application Development Foundation
• 70-529 TS Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 -
  Distributed Application Development

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Disclaimer Dates presented here are not final
and are subjected to change anytime without
notice
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New Logo and Visual Identification
The new generation will be composed of
Credentials
Certifications
Many Certifications
3 Series
4 Credentials

• Easier to understand and to identify the right
  individuals

• Easier to distinguish for hiring, promoting, and
  consulting
• Cost effective paths

• Simple framework to understand

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Benefits

• Rigorous, flexible curriculum to enhance
  technical knowledge and skills
• A framework that helps you differentiate yourself
  in the marketplace
• Targeted and flexible - invest in the areas that
  are important to you or your employer
• A proven benchmark for managers in making
  successful recruiting staffing decisions
• Tighter integration into the Partner program
• Certified current in both technology job role
  
• Choice in training study materials -
  assessments, books, training, and eLearning in
  a variety of form factors for both self-paced and
  instructor led

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What About Current Certifications?

• Current certifications do NOT expire
• MCDBA, MCAD, MCSD
• Current credentials in SQL Server 2000 or Visual
  Studio .NET continue to be recognized by
  Microsoft, and you are not required to perform
  any action to maintain them
• Upgrade paths for the new Microsoft SQL Server
  2005 and Visual Studio 2005 credentials
• MCDST, MCSA, MCSE
• No change still the premier IT Pro credentials
  for Microsoft
• Upgrade paths will be available with Longhorn
  Server
• MCP
• No change - MCP credentials are not affected by
  the new certifications
• Get certified in Visual Studio 2005, SQL Server
  2005, or BizTalk Server 2006, please review the
  credentials requirements
• MCT
• No change unless you want to teach a course on
  SQL Server 2005 or Visual Studio 2005
• For those courses, you must attain the relevant
  Professional series certification

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Upgrade Paths
Convenient upgrade paths for current credential
holdersExams will focus on professional skills
and technology not covered in current credential
paths
MCDBA 431447
MCSD 553 554
Enterprise Application Developer
MCAD 552
Windows Developer
MCAD 551
Web Developer
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Get Certified Resources

• Visit http//www.microsoft.com/mcp for complete
  exam details learning plans
• Free skills assessments at http//www.microsoft.co
  m/assessment
• Free e-Learning at http//www.microsoft.com/learni
  ng
• Related courseware starting February 2006
• Related MS Press titles starting Spring 2006

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