Roadmap to Success: MCSD Azure Solutions Architect

Roadmap to Success is a series of posts designed to help learners better understand certification pathways, career opportunities associated with those certifications, and the next steps beyond certification.

UPDATED: This article was updated on May 9, 2017, to reflect relevant changes to the MCSD Azure Solutions Architect certification curriculum.

The MCSD Azure Solutions Architect certification has gained momentum as Microsoft continues gaining market share in the cloud space. Microsoft Azure training has exploded in popularity worldwide. Many indicators seem to signal that this certification will continue to increase its popularity and desirability among employers. Generally, this certification will qualify learners to architect, develop, and administer Microsoft Azure solutions.

MCSD: Azure Solutions Architect

CRITICAL UPDATE: Microsoft restructured its certifications. The MCSD: Azure Solutions Architect certification was formally retired on March 31, 2017, and replaced by the MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure.

The Azure certification will equip learners with the skills and knowledge to develop and implement infrastructure and architect Azure solutions. The MCSD: Azure Solutions Architect (Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer) certification is made up of three exams, all of which are covered by CBT Nuggets training:

• 70-532: Developing Microsoft Azure Solutions;

• 70-533: Implementing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions; and

• 70-534: Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions.

The MCSD Azure Solutions Architect certification is distinguished from other MCSD certifications because it demands a broader scope of skills and abilities beyond programming and programming languages. Because it is a Solutions Architect certification, learners must demonstrate their expertise as developers, IT pros, DevOps practitioners, designers, and architects.

Learners pursuing this certification path should have one or more years of web development experience (including .NET, PHP, Ruby, or Python), a solid understanding of basic networking concepts, and familiarity with the basic structure of the Microsoft Azure platform. Related areas of expertise could include cloud services and/or virtualization.

Exam Details

The following exam details apply to each exam that makes up the MCSD: Azure Solutions Architect certification. Please note that with the Microsoft certification restructure, these exams can be used to qualify for credit toward other Microsoft certifications, including the MCSA: Cloud Platform, MCSA: Linux on Azure, MCSD: App Builder, and MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure.

70-532, 70-533, and 70-534 Exams

• Time allotted for the exam: 2 hours (120 minutes) per exam

• Number of questions: 40-60* per exam

• Passing score: 700** per exam

• Question types: Multiple choice; multiple choice/multiple answer; scenario

• Exam registration: Microsoft Learning or Pearson Vue

• Exam cost: $165 per exam

• Skills measured: Each exam registration page on the Microsoft website provides a list of Skills Measured (free resource) to guide your study and preparation.

*Microsoft does not publish the exact number of questions associated with its exams. Therefore, the number of questions a learner will see varies on a case-by-case basis. **Because the number of questions varies, it is not necessarily true that learners must earn a simple 70% to pass the exam.

Microsoft exams have a reputation for being challenging. Many learners must take an exam more than once to achieve success. Fortunately, Microsoft is aware of the challenges associated with their exams and often provides an Exam Replay, allowing learners to retake exams at a fraction of the cost. Please note that the Exam Replay may not always be available. Learners should research Exam Replay availability to avoid missing out on the opportunity.

Recertification

Microsoft MCSD certifications are valid for two years. According to Microsoft, recertification exams are available for all MCSE and MCSD specialties. Recertification exams cover material from the exams taken to earn the credential, particularly emphasizing the most recent technology and process changes. With the new elective exam structure for continuing education, learners can take an elective exam each year to "re-earn" the certification.

The Next Step

The MCSD Azure Solutions Architect certification is a building block, opening up DevOps, Cloud, app development opportunities, and more! Azure is just the beginning! Learners who earn their MCSD Azure Solutions Architect certification most typically also consider the following:

• AWS: Certified Solutions Architect Associate (made up of one exam: AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate)

• AWS: Certified SysOps Administrator Associate (made up of one exam: AWS Certified SysOps Administrator Associate)

• CompTIA Cloud+ (made up of one exam: CompTIA Cloud+)

• MCSE: Private Cloud (made up of five exams: 70-410, 70-411, 70-412, 70-246, and 70-247) **Please note: this certification was retired by Microsoft and replaced by the MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure

Career Considerations

Payscale.com/ provides information to help learners determine appropriate pay scales for job opportunities associated with the MCSD certification. Depending on experience, an MCSD certification employee can earn between $47,928 and $150,070. Typical roles or titles for those with an MCSD include software engineer, senior software engineer, software developer, senior software engineer/developer/programmer, and software architect.

Microsoft Certifications

Microsoft certifications are laid out as a pyramid, with each level of certification leading learners to higher, more specialized, complex certifications. At the base of the Microsoft pyramid, IT professionals develop the foundation of knowledge with the MTA (Microsoft Technology Associate).

The next levels are the MCSA (Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate) and MCSD (Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer), which include many of Microsoft's most popular certifications among IT professionals, including Server 2012, Office 365, and Azure. Finally, the MCSE (Microsoft Certified Solution Expert) represents the highest level of certification offered by Microsoft and allows learners to develop specializations related to MCSA-level content.

As Microsoft describes it, the new MCSE and MCSD certifications (MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure, MCSE: Mobility, MCSE: Data Management and Analytics, MCSE: Productivity, and MCSD: AppBuilder) are aligned to Centers of Excellence, used by the Microsoft Partner Network to identify technical competencies that are widely recognizable by both Microsoft partners and customers.

These credentials do not require recertification. Instead, the achievement date signifies how well you keep up with technological changes.

Each year, you can renew the certification by passing an exam from the list of electives, demonstrating your investment in broadening or deepening your skills in a given Center of Excellence. A new certification entry is added to your transcript each time you earn the certification.

This process replaces the existing recertification requirement of taking a specific recertification exam every two years (MCSD) or every three years (MCSE) to prevent your certification from going inactive. Learn more about the new Microsoft certification structure.

Begin exploring other Microsoft training and certification options to open more professional development opportunities.

Concluding Thoughts

Cloud skills, in general, and Azure skills, in particular, are in high demand. IT professionals can use the MCSD Azure Solutions Architect certification to advance their careers in powerful ways. Earning the Azure certification will equip and empower learners for a rapidly expanding field within the IT industry. Start training today!

Watch. Learn. Conquer the MCSD!

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