New Generation Certifications - Give me a Pulse...

Published 22 October 06 10:56 AM

So I can look at statistics all day long about how the new generation exams and certifications are being accepted, but I thought I could get a better feel by just asking.

So - some questions.

  1. Do you feel as though you understand the new certification strategy?
  2. Do you feel as though you understand the reasoning behind the new certification strategy? 
  3. Have you taken any of the new exams?  If so, how are they similar or different to the MCAD/MCSD exams?
  4. If you have taken both TS and PRO exams for a given subject area, did you sense a distinction between the TS and PRO exams in terms of the information being tested?
  5. Do you believe that the new certification strategy makes Microsoft certifications more relevant, less relevant, or unchanged to your job and/or career?

Ok - so that's probably enough to get a discussion going.  Feel free to either post responses as comments to the blog or email me via the link.

by hdierking
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# Zack said on October 25, 2006 2:20 PM:

Hi Howard, I'm not sure you remember me, I'm friends with Tim and we had dinner once when you were Birmingham for a visit.

Couple questions:

1) Where can I find out about the new certs?

2) Whats the best way to study for them?

3) Which certs would you recommend for someone looking to go down the software architecture path?

4) How do the new certs handle the problem of people grabbing brain dumps and just getting a meaningless piece of paper?  Thats why I haven't gotten a certification sooner, most of my peers regard them as worthless since cheating is so rampant.

# _howard said on October 25, 2006 3:05 PM:

Hi Zack!

1) So you can start learning about the new program here - http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/newgen/default.mspx.

2) Take a look at the prep guide for the specific exam that you are interested in taking - that web page (ex: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-536.asp).  There are lots of learning resources for each page.

3) For systems architecture, I would go up through the Enterprise Application Developer track (http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcts/distapps/default.mspx).

4) Short answer - they don't at the moment.  We still have the multiple choice form factor for exam items.  That said, we are doing a lot of work internally on this problem.  More on this subject in another post.

# Stan Segers said on November 1, 2006 5:01 AM:

Hi Howard,

Feedback based on the MCITP: DBA

1. Yes

2. I don't recall ever having read the (complete) reasonig.

3. Can't compare to the dev-tracks. I think the 431 is pretty broad without going deep (compared to the MCSE elective modules). 443 with the testlets was rather well aimed. I didn't like the 444, too little info per question and or too general questions to meassure the skills in my opinion.

4. Yes

5. For me personally, unchanged. For the majority of customers I work with, it's an improvement.

# Zack said on January 5, 2007 3:08 PM:

Thanks, Howard, I finally got some spare time to start looking at getting certified again and your advice will surely help!

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About hdierking

I am currently the Editor-in-Chief for MSDN Magazine. I joined Microsoft in 2006 as a product planner with the certification team at Microsoft Learning. Prior to that, I spent my career as a developer and later as an architect. My main technology passions include pretty much anything on language theory, agile development, and service-oriented architecture.
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