Preparing Your Competency Document video goes briefly about the documents the you should submit as a candidate for Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA) program. Below are the notes I have take while watching the video.

• Technical depth has least weight
• MCA is technology  agnostic program.
• Architect needs to have technical depth in some area of his choice.
• Architect needs to have the broad knowledge of the existing technologies on the market.
• Architect must be able to answer the question “Are you able to invest the budget smart?”
• The documents should reflect you are familiar with organization dynamics – crisis, politics, dealing with tension, etc.
• Reflect on your role as a leader – what was the impact of your work? How many followed you?
• Reflect on how you build your succession.
• Reflect on your mentoring strategies and how many you mentored.
• Reflect on your communication skills – you are tested for it during the presentation, when reading your docs, and during open question part.
• Reflect on  how you communicate with peers and people inside you projects.
• Reflect on methodologies you used to organize the project.
• Show you are able to communicate in common language – do not reinvent the toolbox to each project.
• Reflect on your strategy skills– strategic decision making, strategic thinking, being able make decision, shape decision, suggest decision to leadership based on trends in industry.

Resources

• Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA) - Preparing For The Review Board Interview Video Distilled
• MCA Review Board Interview Video Distilled
• MCA Program – Certification Process Overview
• MCA Review Board Process
• Solution Architect Competencies - Part I
• Solutions Architecture Foundations Hub
• What Do Solution Architect And Enterprise Architect Do?
• Training Resources For Aspiring Enterprise Architect