Roadmap to Success: MCSA: Linux on Azure
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.
As Microsoft fully embraces the open-source world, it is now capitalizing on Linux to leverage its popular Azure cloud solution. As more organizations turn to the cloud, Microsoft is seeing a surge in the adoption of Azure, making the skills and knowledge necessary to administer it highly desirable. The MCSA: Linux on Azure certification qualifies learners for roles such as systems administrators, cloud services administrators or architects, cloud developers, IT managers, and more.
Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate: Linux on Azure (MCSA: Linux on Azure)
Released in late 2015, the Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA): Linux on Azure certification demonstrates your ability to design, architect, implement, and maintain complex, cloud-enabled Linux solutions using Microsoft Azure. The accreditation represents a partnership between Microsoft and the Linux Foundation and embodies Microsoft's recent embrace of open source.
The MCSA: Linux on Azure certification is made up of two exams, one of which is covered by CBT Nuggets training:
Implementing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions (70-533)
Linux Foundation Certified System Administrator (LFCS)
Learners pursuing this certification should be familiar with Windows Server and have experience working in an enterprise environment. The MCSA is considered an intermediate-level certification with no prerequisite training or certifications.
Exam Details
The MCSA: Linux on Azure certification is a partnership between Microsoft and the Linux Foundation.
Time allotted for the exam: 120 minutes
Number of questions: 40-60*
Passing score: 700**
Question types: Active screen; Build list; Case study; Drag and drop; Hot area; Multiple choice/Best answer; Multiple choice/Single answer; Multiple choice/Multiple answer; Short answer; Learn more about Microsoft exam formats and question types.
Exam registration: Microsoft Learning or Pearson Vue
Exam cost: $165
Skills Measured: Each exam registration page on the Microsoft website provides a list of Skills Measured (a 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. **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. As of this post's publication date, the Microsoft exam associated with the MCSA: Linux on Azure certification offers the option to include Exam Replay, but that may change. Learners should research Exam Replay availability to avoid missing out on the opportunity.
Time allotted for the exam: 120 minutes
Number of questions: N/A*
Passing score: 74%
Question types: Performance-based (candidates are asked to perform tasks or solve problems using the command line interface)
System requirements: The Linux Foundation requires candidates to provide their front-end hardware (laptop or workstation) with a Chrome or Chromium browser, reliable internet access, and a webcam and microphone to take exams.
Exam registration: The Linux Foundation**
Exam cost: $300
Domains and Competencies: The Linux Foundation's website overviews the domains and competencies required for certification.
LFCS Exam (or download the PDF)
Download the Linux Foundation Certification Preparation Guide for more information.
*The number of questions each learner sees in the exam varies widely. The Linux Foundation uses performance-based exams, meaning learners must solve problems and/or complete tasks at the command line. **Exam registration includes one free retake attempt.
Recertification
Microsoft's MCSA certifications do not expire, meaning no recertification or continuing education is necessary to keep your MCSA certification valid. MCSA certifications are lifetime certifications valid as long as the technology exists.
However, it is helpful to understand that under Microsoft's new certification structure, earning an expert-level certification (MCSE) can be accomplished by taking just one additional exam from a pool of exam options.
The Next Step
Many learners who complete the MCSA: Linux on Azure certification will often choose to continue within the Microsoft and/or Linux universes.
Next Microsoft Steps
Most learners who successfully earn the MCSA: Linux on Azure will continue on the same track, advancing their certification to the expert level with the MCSE. Under Microsoft's new certification structure, earning the MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure certification requires learners to pass just one additional exam from a pool of 10 options.
CBT Nuggets offers training for seven of the ten course options: 70-532: Developing Microsoft Azure Solutions, 70-533: Implementing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions, 70-534: Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions, 70-413: Designing and Implementing a Server Infrastructure, 70-414: Implementing an Advanced Server Infrastructure, 70-246: Monitoring and Operating a Private Cloud, and 70-247: Configuring and Deploying a Private Cloud.
Next Linux Steps
Learners who choose to continue their paths within the Linux universe have various options available to them. The Linux Foundation offers a follow-up certification to the LFCS, the Linux Foundation Certified Engineer (LFCE). Other Linux-based certification options include:
CompTIA Linux+/LPIC-1 (made up of two exams: LX0-103 and LX0-104)
LPI LPIC-2 (made up of two exams: 201 and 202)
Career Considerations
Payscale.com/ provides a helpful salary guide to help learners determine appropriate pay scales for job opportunities associated with the MCSA: Linux on Azure certification. Depending on professional experience, Payscale.com/ reports a range of salaries for employees holding any MCSA certification between $42,793 and $136,630.
Common roles for those holding an MCSA certification include systems administrator, systems engineer, network administrator, Windows system administrator, IT manager, IT director, and more.
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 have a recertification requirement. Instead, the achievement date signifies how 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
Microsoft is diving headfirst into open source and making a splash! IT pros who are Microsoft masters now have a new set of skills they can learn to take their careers in new directions levels. IT pros who are open-source gurus now have a new vendor to get to know, opening career opportunities that were previously unavailable. With the MCSA: Linux on Azure, you are prepared for a wave of exciting career options!
Watch. Learn. Conquer the MCSA: Linux on Azure!
Learn more about the CBT Nuggets Learning Experience.
delivered to your inbox.
By submitting this form you agree to receive marketing emails from CBT Nuggets and that you have read, understood and are able to consent to our privacy policy.