Microsoft Certification: The New MCTS Tracks And Exams

Microsoft is revamping its certification tracks, and willcandidates who best meet their needs. I know it's
eventually retire the familiar MCSE certificatons. Theeasy to take verbal shots at Microsoft (it'll be an
new certification setup is much like Cisco's, whereOlympic sport one day), but this new series of certs
there are specialist certifications to go along with thedoes have appeal for hiring managers, which can only
more general CCNA, then mid-level certifications suchhelp qualified candidates. Instead of the more-general
as the CCNP, and then a more-advanced practicalMCSE, which does still suffer from the
exam modeled somewhat after the coveted CCIEovercertification of NT 4.0 MCSEs back in the day,
certification.Microsoft's new specialist exams are thethese more-specific certifications will make it easier
Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS)for the job candidate to prove that they can do the
exams. As of March 2006, there were five separatejob - and easier for the hiring manager to make an
MCTS Tracks. Three of them deal with .NETinformed decision.Microsoft hasn't announced the
Framework 2.0; these are the Web Application,track that will eventually replace the MCSE, but this
Windows Applications, and Distributed Applicationstrack will be revealed with the next client-server
certifications. Each of these separate certificationsWindows release. It's up to you to stay informed of
requires the candidate to pass two exams. There isthese changes, so I recommend you visit Microsoft's
also a one-exam SQL Server 2005 certification, ascertification website often. "I didn't know" isn't much
well as a BizTalk Server 2006 single-examhelp once a certification expires!Chris Bryant, CCIE
certification.The initial question is "Why is Microsoft#12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage,
doing this?" According to their website, MS feels thathome of free CCNA and CCNP tutorials, The Ultimate
IT hiring managers today have a tough time decidingCCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study
which computer certifications best identify jobPackages.