| Microsoft is revamping its certification tracks, and will | | | | candidates who best meet their needs. I know it's |
| eventually retire the familiar MCSE certificatons. The | | | | easy to take verbal shots at Microsoft (it'll be an |
| new certification setup is much like Cisco's, where | | | | Olympic sport one day), but this new series of certs |
| there are specialist certifications to go along with the | | | | does have appeal for hiring managers, which can only |
| more general CCNA, then mid-level certifications such | | | | help qualified candidates. Instead of the more-general |
| as the CCNP, and then a more-advanced practical | | | | MCSE, which does still suffer from the |
| exam modeled somewhat after the coveted CCIE | | | | overcertification of NT 4.0 MCSEs back in the day, |
| certification.Microsoft's new specialist exams are the | | | | these 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 separate | | | | job - and easier for the hiring manager to make an |
| MCTS Tracks. Three of them deal with .NET | | | | informed 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 Applications | | | | track will be revealed with the next client-server |
| certifications. Each of these separate certifications | | | | Windows release. It's up to you to stay informed of |
| requires the candidate to pass two exams. There is | | | | these changes, so I recommend you visit Microsoft's |
| also a one-exam SQL Server 2005 certification, as | | | | certification website often. "I didn't know" isn't much |
| well as a BizTalk Server 2006 single-exam | | | | help 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 that | | | | home of free CCNA and CCNP tutorials, The Ultimate |
| IT hiring managers today have a tough time deciding | | | | CCNA Study Package, and Ultimate CCNP Study |
| which computer certifications best identify job | | | | Packages. |