The tech industry has a massive, growing gap in skill supply & demand. By 2020 there will be 4,500,000 unfilled computer science jobs worldwide.
By 2020 there will be 4,500,000 unfilled computer science jobs worldwide.
Current challenges in the market today:
- Tech skills expire quickly
- Unprepared means unproductive
- Complacency leads to lost direction
This changing landscape creates many new opportunities and some of these opportunities include the need for cloud experts, new technologies mean greater efficiencies and good leaders are in demand to address the changes that are taking place in the industry. Certifications give the workforce an edge by taking careers to the next level. When organisations employ certified individuals the candidate screening process becomes simplified, employees tend to reach full productivity a lot sooner and, they offer longer tenures, on average. Certified individuals earn 15% more, on average, than staff without certification and have higher productivity for server, database, and application teams. Teams are nearly 20% more productive and can support more complex and evolving technologies and security issues. Empowered employees raise the bar by giving back.
So the purpose of this post is to inform customers about the changes that Microsoft has made to its certification paths. Here are the current certification paths as we come to know it:
Azure Certifications
The Cloud Platform and Core Infrastructure track prepares individuals for the following job roles:
- Cloud Administrator or Architect
- Cloud Specialist, Cloud Engineer in Linux
- Network or Computer Systems Administrator
- Computer Network Specialist
- Network or Computer Systems Administrator
- Computer Network Specialist
- Cloud Administrator
- Cloud Architect
- Computer Support Specialist
- information Security Analyst
The Productivity track prepares individuals for the following job roles:
- Software as a service (SaaS) Administrator
- Cloud Applications Administrator
- Network or Computer Systems Administrator
- Computer Network Specialist
- Software Developer
- Software Quality Engineer
The Data Management and Analytics track prepares individuals for the following job roles:
- Business Intelligence Developer
- Database Administrator or Infrastructure Specialist
- Database Developer or Database Analyst
- Machine Learning or Data Scientists and Data Analysts
- BI and Analytics Manager or Integration and BI Developer
- Big Data Developer or Data Scientist and Data Engineer
The App Builder track prepares individuals for the following job roles:
- Software Developer and Software Quality Engineer
- Web Developer and Web Administrator or;
- Application Developer or Back-end Web Developer
Proven success with badges
Completing certain challenges and exams earns badges for professional profiles. The digital badge allow customers to share the details of their skills in a way that is simple, trusted, and verifiable. And 26% of badge earners report they’ve been hired as a direct result of their badges.
Introducing New Microsoft Azure certifications
Explore role-based certifications that prepare you for an Azure career.
Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator
An Azure Administrator is responsible for implementing, monitoring, and maintaining Microsoft Azure solutions, including major services related to compute, storage, network, and security. Get certified today.
Exam AZ-100: Microsoft Azure Infrastructure and Deployment
AZ-100T01: Managing Azure Subscriptions and Resources (1-day)
AZ-100T02: Implementing and Managing Storage (1-day)
AZ-100T03: Deploying and Managing Virtual Machines (1-day)
AZ-100T04: Configure and Manage Virtual Networks (1-day)
AZ-100T05: Manage Identities (1-day)
Exam AZ-101: Microsoft Azure Integration and Security
AZ-101T01: Migrate Servers to Azure (1-day)
AZ-101T02: Implement and Manage Application Services (1-day)
AZ-101T03: Implement Advanced Virtual Networking (1-day)
AZ-101T04: Secure Identities (1-day)
Exam AZ-102: Microsoft Azure Administrator Certification Transition
(This exam is intended only for candidates who have taken Exam 70-533: Implementing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions). If you have not taken Exam 533, you will not earn a
certification by taking this exam – This exam is intended only for those candidates who have taken exam 533:Implementing
Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions. If you have not taken exam 533, you will not earn a certification by taking this exam. This exam is available for a limited time only and is
scheduled for retirement on June 30, 2019).
Microsoft Certified Azure Developer
Microsoft Azure is the cloud for modern business. Expand your Azure development skills to meet future business needs with these certifications.
Exam AZ-200: Microsoft Azure Developer Core Solutions (beta)
AZ-200T01: Select the appropriate Azure technology development solution (1-day)
AZ-200T02: Develop for Azure storage (1-day)
AZ-200T03: Develop Azure Platform as a Service solutions (1-day)
AZ-200T04: Implement security in Azure development solutions (1-day)
Exam AZ-201: Microsoft Azure Developer Advanced Solutions (beta)
AZ-201T01: Develop for an Azure Cloud Model (1-day)
AZ-201T02: Implement Azure development integration Solutions (1-day)
AZ-201T03: Develop Azure Cognitive Services, Bot, and IoT solutions (1-day)
Exam AZ-202: Microsoft Azure Developer Certification Transition (beta)
(This exam is intended only for candidates who have taken Exam 70-532: Developing Microsoft Azure
Solutions. If you have not taken Exam 532, you will not earn a certification by taking this exam -This exam is intended only for those candidates who have taken exam 532:
Developing Microsoft Azure Solutions. If you have not taken exam 532, you will not earn a certification by taking this exam. This exam is available for a limited time only and
is scheduled for retirement on June 30, 2019).
Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect
Master the skills needed to design solutions that run on Azure. A Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect must have expertise in compute, network, storage, and security.
Exam AZ-300: Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies (beta)
AZ-300T01: Deploying and Configuring Infrastructure (1-day)
AZ-300T02: Implementing Workloads and Security (1-day)
AZ-300T03: Understanding Cloud Architect Technology Solutions (1-day)
AZ-300T04: Creating and Deploying Apps (1-day)
AZ-300T05: Implementing Authentication and Secure Data (1-day)
AZ-300T06: Developing for the Cloud (1-day)
Exam AZ-301: Microsoft Azure Architect Design (beta)
AZ-301T01: Designing for Identity and Security (1-day)
AZ-301T02: Designing a Data Platform Solution (1-day)
AZ-301T03: Design for Deployment, Migration, and Integration (1-day)
AZ-301T04: Designing an Infrastructure Strategy (1-day)
Exam AZ-302: Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Certification Transition (beta)
(This exam is intended only for candidates who have taken Exam 70-535: Implementing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions). If you have not taken Exam 535, you will not earn a
certification by taking this exam – This exam is intended only for those candidates who have taken exam 535: Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions. If you have not taken exam 535, you will
not earn a certification by taking this exam. This exam is available for a limited time only and is scheduled for retirement on June 30, 2019).
Transition Exams
Transition exams are intended for people who have already demonstrated skills in the content domain by passing the existing exam(s) which are being replaced by the new role-based certification exams. Transition exams cover the delta between the current certification and the skills and concepts in the new certification. Microsoft does not want to retest people on content for which they’ve already demonstrated competence by passing the existing exam.
Transition exams cover new content, content that wasn’t covered in-depth, and content on aspects of the technology that have likely changed since the original exam. As a result, the transition exam is not shorter than a typical exam but is more focused on the key tasks and skills that were not assessed in the existing exam or certification that is being replaced. If you have passed one of the following exams:
- 70-533: Implementing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions
- 70-532: Developing Microsoft Azure Solutions
- 70-535: Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions
You can take the corresponding transition exam:
- AZ-102: Microsoft Azure Administrator Certification Transition
- AZ-202: Microsoft Azure Developer Certification Transition (beta)
- AZ-302: Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Certification Transition (beta)
Working toward an MCSE: Cloud Platform & Infrastructure?
Microsoft has announced that through December 31, 2018, you can continue to work toward your MCSE: Cloud Platform & Infrastructure (and the associated MCSA certifications—MCSA Windows Server 2012, MCSA Windows Server 2016, MCSA Linux on Azure, and MCSA Cloud Platform). Effective January 1, 2019, your options will be to pursue the new MCSE: Core Infrastructure certification, which includes MCSA Windows Server 2012 and MCSA Windows Server 2016, or to pursue Azure job role certification via the new certifications.
So in essence, the Microsoft certifications are being re-imagined, simplified and job role focused. Over the next few months, Microsoft will roll out new features that will integrate your certifications directly into the Microsoft Certification Dashboard where you can find your MCP ID, view your score report, schedule an exam and so much more. Microsoft certifications are taking on a new look, one that better suites your technical or developer job role. Now you can skill up and stand out with new role-based training and certification. These job-role based certifications are focused on the industries “cloud-first strategy”.
Microsoft has already launched the Azure Administrator Developer and Solutions Architect and will soon announce the Azure DevOps Engineer certification by end of the year. Microsoft will also announce the new Microsoft 365 Administrator and Modern Desktop Administrator job-role certifications by end 2018. Find a learning path that suites your role, prepare for the exams with a series of Courses. Practice tests are also available at CTU to help boost your confidence.
Progressive Modern Learning
Microsoft learning – learn Microsoft technologies and role-based concepts in a bite-size environment.
Online course – a flexible self-study structure that offers technical content delivered by industry leaders, where you can build practical job skills with a focus on the role-based certification you are pursuing – a great supplementary tool.
Instructor-led training – get deep technical skills along with hands-on learning in a group environment that will certainly increase your chances of passing those international exams. Lab based classroom environments are still the number one delivery method of choice because it enhances your learning experience.
UPCOMING EXAM RETIREMENTS | REVOLUTIONALISED TO EMBRACE ROLE-BASED CERTIFICATIONS
Exams scheduled to retire December 31, 2018
- 70-496: Administering Visual Studio Team Foundation Server
- 70-497: Software Testing with Visual Studio
- 70-498: Delivering Continuous Value with Visual Studio Application Lifecycle Management
- 70-532: Developing Microsoft Azure Solutions (replacement exams: AZ-200 and AZ-201)
- 70-533: Implementing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions (replacement exams: AZ-100 and AZ-101)
- 70-535: Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions (replacement exams: AZ-300 and AZ-301)
Exams scheduled to retire March 31, 2019
- 70-346: Managing Office 365 Identities and Requirements (replacement exams: MS-100: Microsoft 365 Identity and Services and MS-101 Microsoft 365 Mobility and Security, beta exams are planned for late 2018)
- 70-347: Enabling Office 365 Services (replacement exams: MS-100: Microsoft 365 Identity and Services and MS-101 Microsoft 365 Mobility and Security; beta exams are planned for late
2018) - 70-695: Deploying Windows Desktops and Enterprise Applications (replacement exams: MD-100: Windows 10 and MD-101: Managing Modern Desktops; beta exams planned for late 2018)
- 70-697: Configuring Windows Devices (replacement exams: MD-100: Windows 10 and MD-101: Managing Modern Desktops; beta exams are planned for late 2018)
- 70-698: Installing and Configuring Windows 10 (replacement exams: MD-100: Windows 10 and MD-101: Managing Modern Desktops; beta exams are planned for late 2018)
