What is the Value of Certifications?
Even if you are not in IT, certifications are part of everyday life. For example, if you have to get your car fixed, you want the best service possible and a guarantee that the service you are receiving is done by an experienced professional. When you look for a mechanic, you expect him to hold some kind of proof that he or she is the best in the field. If he or she has a BMW certification, you know your car will be fixed in no time (or at least you hope so).
In the same way, technology certifications show expertise in the areas you are most familiar with, and in turn, transmit security to the client. Certifications will help you open doors, but it is ultimately your job to show your worth. There are so many valuable professionals with no certifications and there are so many certified “experts” with little or no knowledge of the tools they are “certified” to use.
There are several certifications Microsoft has created to allow you to show your expertise. They vary from a single product specialty to a series of skills covering a range of different technologies. There are plenty of certifications out there, and it would take more than a few pages to explain them all. When you pass your first exam you become a Microsoft Certified Professional. If you continue to take exams, you receive a premium certification. However, it is never a good idea to take more exams than you really need. As I will explain later, there may only be a few exams you need to take if you plan correctly.
The first thing you need to decide is what certifications you want to get. It is important to know that the certifications that are closely related allow you to jump from the first exam to the second exam easier than if they were not related at all. For example, the MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) and MCDBA (Microsoft Certified Database Administrator) certifications require expertise in the operating system you use (ex. Windows), so if you get your windows certification that will help you with both of the aforementioned exams. The exams are difficult, but if you plan correctly, you can make your certifications work for you.
When you are aiming for a certification and you review the contents on the web site you will find different elements: Core exams and Elective exams. How those two types of exams interact varies on the certification you are looking for. For example, lets say I want the MCSE and the MCDBA certification. One core exam on the MCSE certification path is Exam 70-290 (Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment). Luckily enough, this exam is also a core requirement for the MCDBA path, so that core exam is killing two birds with one stone. If we don’t do this kind of validation we will end up paying a lot more money to get certified, but if you do the math correctly you will be able to be just one exam away from another premium certification.
Microsoft is adding new certifications all the time so you will need to read more and verify if the exam you want to take is really worth it. Make sure you review each certification’s requirements and find the exams that match your goals (a core exam on one can be used as an elective on another).
This adds another question, which exams are easier and which ones are harder? How valuable is my certification? There are several useful web sites listed below that will help you answer those questions.
Recommendations To Get Ready
Decide Which Certification Is Right for You: Review all the available options and verify the best path.
Gain Hands-on Experience with Microsoft Products: Practice makes perfect.
Expand Your Experience with Training : Find training resources to add to your study regimen; there is a lot of free information out there.
Know What to Expect on Exams: Verify the requirements and use study guides to prepare.
Take a Trial Run with a Practice Test : Take as many as you can find; they will give you a close perspective on the knowledge you have and how prepared you are for the exam.
Take Your Required Exams: Exams are administered by independent testing organizations at locations worldwide. Schedule your exam, prepare, and good luck!
Useful Websites
How many certified professionals are required to change a bulb?
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/certified.mspx
If I get confused, where can I read more?
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/default.mspx
I am certified in notepad, how much is my certification worth?
http://www.cramsession.com/
For training information:
http://www.microsoft.com/learning
Post Contributed by: Gilberto Ramirez is Software Development Manager on the Axis in Motion Consulting Team. He has numerous premium certifications from Microsoft including Certified Trainer, Solutions and Application Developer and Professional.
Want to learn more about Gilberto, the Axis in Motion Consulting team, and Training Email Gilberto here
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