The New Microsoft IT Pro Certifications and Exams

Introduction
f you have been in the IT field for any length of time, you are more than
aware of the plethora of certification providers and their certifications.
Trying to fathom what each certifications means; the worth of a certification,
and how a certification from one vendor compares to a certification from other
vendor (where applicable, ofcourse – having a certification on MS SQL cannot
readily compare to having a certification with Juniper Networks). One question
that is asked repeatedly by both employers and IT pros is whether there is value
or worth in obtaining a certification. This question comes from a number of
different quarters. To answer the question succinctly: yes, certifications are
valuable, to both employers and for IT pros. This white paper will address why
certifications are valuable. It will also cover the new Microsoft certifications
in general and the MCSA/MCSE Windows
Server 2003 to MCTS/MCITP Windows
Server 2008 upgrade path specifically

Microsoft Certifications
Reasons Why You Should Get Certified
There are a number of valid reasons why an individual should certify, and
why companies should encourage their employees to become certified and hire
certified individuals. Several studies show that companies that hire certified
individuals and encourage their employees to earn certifications do prosper
better than companies that don’t.


Top Ten Reasons To Hire a Microsoft Certified Profession (MCP)

1. Improve Project Deployments
Independent research1 has shown that organizations with a majority of their
teams certified by Microsoft reported significant improvements in delivering
projects on time and within budget.

2. Increase Customer Satisfaction
Certified staff help to increase customer satisfaction through improved
service, higher productivity, and greater self-sufficiency.

3. Improve Support Costs
Independent research2 has shown that organizations with certified staff
experience less network downtime and lower dependency on unplanned support.


4. Validate Vendor Qualifications
When outsourcing projects, certification provides assurance of vendors’
technical qualifications.

5. Gain a Competitive Advantage
Employees who hold Microsoft certifications bring more advanced skill sets
to provide higher levels of service and productivity, giving your business a
competitive advantage.

6. Benefit by Investing in Your Staff
Organizations that invest in certifying internal technicians generally
attain successful revenue results 3. 7. Increase Employee Satisfaction Employee
satisfaction and retention are higher when management facilitates employees’
career goals.

8. Objectively Benchmark Your Staff’s Talent
Certification serves as a reliable benchmark for hiring and promoting staff
employees, and ensures your organization is built on top-quality technical
talent.

9. Reward Employee Expertise
Certification recognizes and rewards productive employees by validating
their expertise. Certification also provides re-training opportunities so
existing employees can work more effectively with new technologies.

10. See Objective Results of Your Training Investments
Certification provides an excellent return on training and certification
investments by providing a standard method of determining training needs and
measuring results.

A November 2006 IDC study found that team performance increases when each new
team member becomes certified—every time.
• For each new team member who becomes a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP),
team performance increases every time.
• The skill level of a team is directly responsible for how an organization
performs in several key IT functional areas.
• When you increase the concentration of Microsoft certified team members on a
team, you directly affect team performance.
• On average, MCPs make up 40 percent to 55 percent of top performing teams.
• Seventy-five percent of managers believe that certifications are important to
team performance.
• Sixty-six percent of managers believe that certifications improve the level of
service and support offered to customers.
• "…for each additional member of a team certified, team performance increases.
Whether the increase is
from 37 percent to 38 percent of the team being certified or from 60 percent to
61 percent of the team, the team performance increases overall." IDC, Value of
Certification: Team Certification and Organizational Performance, November 2009

MCITP Online Training –
MCITP Online Certification –
MCITP Online Exams

What you need to know about Windows Server 2008 certifications

As you have probably heard for some time now, Microsoft is transitioning away
from the MCP/MCSA/MCSE certifications to the new
MCTS (Technology Specialist) and MCITP
(IT Professional) certifications and exams. The first question you will probably
have is: "Does that mean that my current MCP/MCSA/MCSE certifications are no
longer going to be valid?" and the answer is no. Your current certifications
will still be valid and will not expire. If you are currently job hunting, the
older certifications are still highly valued, as most hiring managers are used
to sorting resumes by the old certifications and it will take them some time for
them to catch on to the new line of certifications.

Why did Microsoft move to an entirely new line of certifications?
They were trying to get away from
the "one title fits all" mentality of the MCP/MCSA/MCSE tracks. For example, I
could pass the 70-270 Windows XP exam and achieve the MCP certification. You
could take the 70-291 2003 Network Infrastructure exam, a much more difficult
exam and also achieve the MCP certification. When sorting through resumes, how
does a hiring manager know that your MCP achieved through a more difficult exam
is worth more than my MCP achieved through an easier exam? They don’t – hence
the change to the new line of certifications.

The MCTS (Technology Specialist) designation is technology specific, so for
example, a MCTS in Windows Vista Configuration can be easily distinguished from
a MCTS in Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure Configuration. The MCTS
credential expires when Microsoft technical support for that product expires,
whereas there is no expiration for a MCP certification (because it is so
generic).

The MCITP (IT Professional) designation is role specific. For example, a
MCITP Sever 2008 Administrator is
distinguished from a MCITP Server 2008 Enterprise Administrator as a role that
is more akin to a junior level administrator. The MCITP certifications don’t
expire but will have continuing certification requirements to stay current.

So What is gold membership

The Complete package
will allow you to download whatever exam files you need, at any time. Unlimited
Lifetime Access. Unlimited downloads and updates to all current exams.

After Purchasing this package you can
have access to all the exams files, unlimited access package. You will also have
access to all future exams added and all updates. Which Included all the product
available in Certkingdom.com and also future products also.

Our Gold Level Members get….
1. Life time membership
2. Unlimited access to all exams material
3. Instant downloads
4. Unlimited updated for life
5. Get hand on the every new study material
6. 24/7 customer support

So where do you get started with the Windows Server 2008 certification
process?

That depends on whether or not you are currently certified as a Windows
Server 2003 MCSA/MCSE (MCP doesn’t count). If you are already 2003 MCSA/MCSE
certified, there is a direct upgrade path to Server 2008 MCTS/MCITP. If you are
not Windows 2003 MCSA/MCSE certified, then you will have to take all the core
and required Server 2008 exams. Here’s a table that breaks it down for you:

Exams required to achieve MCTS & MCITP Certifications

As you can see from the table, the 70-648 and 70-649 exams will only upgrade
you to a MCTS designation, and you have to take additional exams to achieve
MCITP. The 70-648 exam is taken in lieu of 70-640 and 70-642 but you must
already be a Windows Server 2003 MCSA. The 70-649 exam is taken in lieu of
70-640, 70-642, and 70-643 but you must already be a Windows Server 2003 MCSE.

• There are no upgrade paths for those who hold a Messaging or Security
  specialization in Windows Server 2003.
• There is no upgrade path from Windows Server 2000 certifications – another
  reason to finish out the Windows Server 2003 track if you are already on it.
• Server 2008 Upgrade
  Takes you from a Windows 2003 MCSA/MCSE to a Windows Server 2008 MCTS/MCITP.
  If you are Windows 2003 MCSA certified, you need to pass 2 exams (70-648,
  70-646) to achieve MCITP Server 2008 Administrator and if you are a Windows
  2003 MCSE you need to pass 3 exams (70-649, 70-647, 70-620) to achieve MCITP
  Server 2008 Enterprise Administrator.
   
• MCSE 2008
  Takes you from Windows NT4/2000/no certifications to a Windows Server 2008
  MCTS/MCITP. You will need to pass 3 exams (70-640, 70-642,70-646) to achieve
  MCITP Server 2008 Administrator and 5 exams (70-640, 70-642, 70-643, 70-647,
  70-620) to achieve MCITP Server 2008 Enterprise Administrator. 70-646 is not
  required but you can optionally take it.

It has taken Microsoft five years to get to a new round of certifications.
There is a plethora of Windows 2000/2003 certified MCPs/MCSAs/MCSEs out there
competing for jobs. Achieving the 2008 certification early on will help
distinguish you from all of the other currently certified professionals. I
expect our classes will fill quickly as Certkingdom alumni finally have a new
Microsoft certification to achieve.

I look forward to seeing you in class and helping you achieve your Windows
Server 2008 certifications.