Mapping out the Newest Azure Certifications: What You Need To Know

Microsoft was busy in the fourth quarter of 2016, announcing three new, streamlined expert (MCSE) and developer (MCSD) certifications.

The new MCSE certification tracks for Cloud Platform and Infrastructure, Mobility, Data Management, Analytics, and Productivity align end-user certifications with those for Microsoft solution partner professionals.

The MCSD certification, App Builder (now retired), focuses on the validation of web and mobile app development skills.

At the MCSA level, the Cloud Platform certification became the primary path for Azure certification.

The new certifications, particularly the MCSA Cloud Platform, the MCSE Cloud Platform and Infrastructure, and the MCSD App Builder aim to increase the number of IT professionals certified in Microsoft's cloud offering. But how will they connect to existing Microsoft training and certifications?

Let's examine what Azure offers regarding certification and how these new offerings will help you succeed.

Why is the Cloud Important for IT Pros?

The cloud is a fact of life for most enterprises, and cloud-trained professionals are in great demand. Microsoft designed its cloud certification overhaul to assist IT professionals in learning more and help drive the deployment of customer solutions onto Microsoft's cloud platform.

Out with the Old, In with the New

Because of these new tracks, some MCSE and MCSD certification exams will be retired on March 31, 2017. After that date, you'll find them in the Legacy section of your Microsoft transcript.

Microsoft Certification Overhaul

The structure and prerequisites will stay the same if you've ever obtained a Microsoft certification. You must still earn an Associate-level (MCSA) certification in your track and then pass the corresponding MCSE exam(s).

The exciting aspect of these new MCSE credentials is that they don't require recertification every three years, and you advance from MCSA to MCSE or MCSD with only one additional exam.

Here's the catch (kinda). "Current" is a moving target in the new Microsoft vernacular. Since the new MCSE and MCSD recertification exams are tied to a software or platform version, your certification will always be listed as "Active," and therefore current, as long as the software or platform is current. Thus, your certification never expires (until the system changes, of course).

Every year, you may "recertify" with a new elective exam, and each one of those MCSE certifications will also be "current" until the technology goes away. If you have one MCSE, you'll always have one active one, but "current" means "recertifying" with a new elective exam every year.

For instance, in 2021, you'll still have an active MCSE record for 2017. If you didn't recertify in 2018, 2019, 2020, or 2021 with a new elective recertification exam, then you'll have a four-year gap in active certifications, which isn't bad (you'll still have the first MCSE), but it's not good.

Employers will undoubtedly conform to the newly introduced certification track, so we recommend that you recertify yearly to remain current and active in Microsoft Learning throughout your career.

This process replaces the existing recertification requirement of taking a specific recertification exam every three years to prevent your certification from going inactive.

Microsoft emphasizes the importance of keeping current in rapidly changing technologies with its new certification structure. The new paths provide a great space to learn about Azure and build expertise and credibility.

Hopping on the Cloud

CBT Nuggets offers three training courses to prepare you for the Azure-related Microsoft MCSA Cloud Platform certification. You need to take and pass two of the following to earn the MCSA:

• Exam 70-473: Designing and Implementing Cloud Data Platform Solutions (no course currently offered by CBT Nuggets)

• Exam 70-475: Designing and Implementing Big Data Analytics Solutions (no course presently offered by CBT Nuggets)

• Exam 70-532: Developing Microsoft Azure Solutions: CBT Nuggets course Microsoft Azure 70-532

• Exam 70-533: Implementing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions: CBT Nuggets course Microsoft Azure 70-533

• Exam 70-534: Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions: CBT Nuggets course Microsoft Azure 70-534

From here, the most cloud-centric path you can take is earning your Microsoft MCSE Cloud Platform and Infrastructure certification. You can take exams on developing, managing, and architecting Azure solutions, along with some exams on operating and deploying a private cloud for your organization. This path will put you right on track to becoming a cloud guru, and we can help you take the first steps.

Another path that could help you achieve cloud success is the new MCSD App Builder path. Although this path focuses on building skills for web and mobile app development, there is some emphasis on working with Azure to make this happen and using the cloud to ease up on the hardware needed to make your app ventures become a reality.

Along with our CBT Nuggets courses, MVA offers some classes you can take as preparation or as an additional topical review. The MVA courses can bolster your learning and confirm that you retained the material taught by our Azure expert, Ben Finkel.

Wrapping Up

With the continuing industry push toward the cloud, the demand for Azure-trained professionals in systems and network administration, user support, engineering and architecture, and DevOps continues to grow.

Restructuring the Microsoft and Azure certifications provides a new and effective way to learn the latest about Microsoft technologies. It emphasizes a change toward ongoing education and encourages current MCSD and MCSE holders to take electives and remain up-to-date on their certification transcripts.

If you plan to take on the cloud and pursue the new MCSD and MCSE tracks or the MCSA Cloud Platform track, your first step is to start learning. Start training today!