Monday, April 23, 2012

Microsoft Expert certifications: Microsoft Office Specialist Certification

Turning Motivated Individuals into Office Superstars
Discover the only performance-based certification that validates the skills needed to get the most out of Microsoft Office. Whether you want to drive your career or increase your productivity on the job, earning the Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification demonstrates the valuable expertise you need to succeed.

Level: N/A

Audience: Information workers, students

Type: Microsoft Certification

Overview

You can earn a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification on Microsoft Office programs and Windows operating systems. This certification features Web-based pretests, program-specific certification exams, and a series of Microsoft Press step-by-step books that help you demonstrate expertise in accomplishing essential job tasks across multiple programs. After earning an MOS certification, you receive access to a member Web site where you can print transcripts to demonstrate proof of certification and receive a certificate that verifies your successful completion of the exam. Additionally, professionals who earn this certification gain access to a certification logo that they can display on their resumes and other business materials.

Why get certified

Earning a Microsoft Office Specialist certification can help you differentiate yourself in today's competitive job market, broaden your employment opportunities by displaying your advanced skills, and result in higher earning potential. Microsoft Office Specialist certification can also lead to increased job satisfaction. Research indicates that certified individuals have increased competence, productivity, and credibility with their employers, co-workers, and clients.
For employers, the certification provides skill-verification tools that not only help assess a person's skills in using Microsoft Office programs but also the ability to quickly complete on-the-job tasks across multiple programs in the Microsoft Office system.

Microsoft Expert certifications: Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD)

Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) certifications provide proof of your ability to design and build application solutions in a complex business environment. MCSD certifications will be available for the next release of Visual Studio.
If you are a developer using Visual Studio 2010, we recommend earning a Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) certification on Visual Studio 2010 today. In most cases, upgrade paths will be available that will shorten your path to the corresponding MCSD certification, once it is available.

Microsoft Expert certifications: Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP)

Prove your range of real-world skills and expertise in using Microsoft technologies by earning a Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) certification.

Level: Intermediate/Advanced

Audience: IT professional
Type: Microsoft Certification

MCITP Overview

The Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) certification helps validate that an individual has the comprehensive set of skills necessary to perform a particular IT job role, such as database administrator or enterprise messaging administrator. MCITP certifications build on the technical proficiency measured in the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certifications. Therefore, you will earn one or more MCTS certifications on your way to earning an MCITP certification.
MCITP certifications will not be updated for future versions of Microsoft products. In most cases, as an MCITP, you will be eligible for special upgrade paths to new Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) certifications. Microsoft Certified Solution Expert (MCSE) is focused on an experienced professional’s ability to design and build technology solutions in the cloud and on premise.
Your MCITP certification will remain valuable as long as companies are using the technology on which it certifies.

MCITP candidate profile

MCITP candidates are IT professionals capable of deploying, building, designing, optimizing, and operating technologies for a particular job role. They make the design and technology decisions necessary to ensure successful technology implementation projects.

Why get certified?

Earning a Microsoft Certification helps validate your proven experience and helps you build your career, whether you are new to technology or a seasoned professional. The benefits you receive after earning a Microsoft Certification provide you with opportunities to connect with a vast, global network of Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCPs). Research shows that certification is a value to you and your organization:

Relevance
Helps validate real-world skills
  • 63% of hiring managers think that certified individuals are more productive on the job
  • Training and certification are necessary to maintain a high level of performance
Journey
Helps build your career
  • 43% of office workers report salary increases as a result of Microsoft Certification
  • 57% of Microsoft-certified professionals expected to receive pay bonuses this year
Community
Relationship with Microsoft and IT peers
  • Certified teams are 28% more productive*
  • Microsoft Certification provides access to unique Microsoft resources, including a community of certified professionals

Microsoft Expert certifications: Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD)

Prove your mastery of Microsoft development technologies by becoming a Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD). MCPD certifications are available for several developer tools and technologies.
Level: Two to three years of experience developing solutions by using Visual Studio, the Microsoft .NET Framework, and other Microsoft development technologies

Audience: Developer
Type: Microsoft Certification

MCPD Overview

The MCPD certification provides you, your peers, and employers with unbiased proof of your developer skills using Microsoft Visual Studio, the Microsoft .NET Framework, and other development technologies. In addition, MCPD certification provides you with access to exclusive resources and benefits, including opportunities to connect with a global network of certified developers. MCPD certification requires two to three years of relevant experience and a commitment to remaining current in best practices and technologies.
  • Learn more about the benefits of certification
  • View MCPD requirements
Announcements
MCPD certifications will not be updated for future versions of Visual Studio. As an MCPD on Visual Studio 2010, you will be eligible for special upgrade paths to new Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) certifications. Your MCPD certification will remain valuable as long as companies are using the relevant technology.

Microsoft Associate certifications: Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA)

Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA)

Prove your expertise on Microsoft core platform skills by earning a Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) certification.
The Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) certification is for IT professionals and developers looking to get their first job in Microsoft technology. Whether in the cloud or on-premise, this certification validates the core platform skills needed in an IT environment. The MCSA certifications are a requirement to achieve Microsoft flagship Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) and Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) certifications.
If you are a student new to IT who may not yet be ready for MCSA, the Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) certification is the optional starting point that may be available through your university.

Microsoft Associate certifications: Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS)

Want to validate your ability to successfully implement, build on, troubleshoot, and debug a particular Microsoft technology? A Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification proves your skills on a particular Microsoft technology, such as a Windows operating system, Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft SQL Server, or Microsoft Visual Studio.
Looking to build solutions in the cloud and on premise? Prove your expertise on Microsoft core platform skills, including how to bring your business into the cloud, by earning a Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) certification, the foundation for your career in IT.

Level: One or more years of experience implementing, troubleshooting, and debugging a specific technology

Audience: IT professional or developer
Type: Microsoft Certification

MCTS Overview

Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certifications are designed to validate your skills on the features and functionality of Microsoft technologies. You can show your depth of knowledge in one specific technology, earn multiple MCTS certifications to show breadth across different products, or build on the MCTS to earn a Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) or Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) certification.
Note MCTS certifications are no longer in development. However, your MCTS certification will remain valuable as long as companies are using the technology on which it certifies. Please visit the news and announcements page for more information about certifications for future Microsoft products and technologies.

MCTS candidate profile

MCTS candidates are capable of implementing, building, troubleshooting, and debugging a particular Microsoft technology.

Why get certified?

Earning a Microsoft Certification validates your proven experience and knowledge in using Microsoft products and solutions. Designed to be relevant in today's rapidly changing IT marketplace, Microsoft Certifications help you utilize evolving technologies, fine-tune your troubleshooting skills, and improve your job satisfaction.
Whether you are new to technology, changing jobs, or a seasoned professional, becoming certified demonstrates to customers, peers, and employers that you are committed to advancing your skills and taking on greater challenges. In addition, certification provides you with access to exclusive Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) resources and benefits, including opportunities to connect with a vast, global network of MCPs.

Introduction to Cisco Certifications

The widely respected IT certification programs available through Cisco Certifications bring valuable, measurable rewards to network professionals, their managers, and the organizations that employ them.

Five Levels of IT Certification

Cisco offers five levels of general IT certification: Entry, Associate, Professional, Expert and Architect, the highest level of accreditation within the Cisco Career Certification program.


Eight Different Paths

Various tracks—such as Routing and Switching, Network Security, and Service Provider—are available, so that you can match your certification path to your job role or industry.

Resources

To prepare and learn more about IT certifications and technology tracks, read the next threads.

Cisco Specialist Certifications: Cisco TelePresence Solutions Specialist

The Cisco TelePresence Solutions Specialist certification focuses on the job-performance needs of a midcareer voice specialist or networking engineer who seeks to specialize in the planning, design, implementation (PDI) and maintenance of Cisco TelePresence deployments. Tasks include assessing network paths for rich media, evaluating call-control design options and configuring interoperability functions. 

Cisco TelePresence Solutions Specialist Prerequisites 
Valid CCNA certification.

While a valid CCVP is not a pre-requisite certification, a working understanding of CVOICE, QoS, CIPT1, and CIPT2 are highly recommended.

Cisco TelePresence Solutions Specialist Exam 
642-185 ITSI

Cisco TelePresence Solutions Specialist Exam Recertification 
Cisco Specialist Certifications are valid for two years. To recertify, take and pass the current version of the required exam(s) or pass a current CCIE or CCDE written exam.

Cisco Specialist Certifications: Cisco Rich Media Communications Specialist

The Cisco Rich Media Communications Specialist certification validates an IT professional's ability to successfully design, implement, and support integrated voice, video, and web collaboration in a converged network.

Cisco Rich Media Communications Specialist Prerequisites 
Valid CCNA certification or any CCIE Certification can act as a pre-requisite. 

Cisco Rich Media Communications Specialist Exams 
  • 642-481 CRMC
  • 642-437 CVOICE
Cisco Rich Media Communications Specialist Recertification 
Complete one of the following recertification options every two years:
  • Re-take and pass all exams for each Specialist certification indicated on the specific certification page. Please note: this includes ALL exams whether refreshed or not.
  • Pass a current CCIE or CCDE written exam
Achieving or recertifying CCDE or any CCIE automatically extends your active Specialist certification(s) up to the point of expiration of the last certification achieved.

Cisco Specialist Certifications: Cisco VPN Security Specialist

The Cisco VPN Security Specialist certification recognizes security professionals with the skills and knowledge to configure, maintain, troubleshoot, and support various VPN solutions, using Cisco IOS Software and the robust Cisco ASA adaptive security appliance. Cisco VPN solutions are widely deployed in many networks today. Many enterprises and service providers deploy these numerous VPN solutions at any given time for their various customers and organizations—from simple point-to-point tunneling to multilayer dynamic high-availability VPNs.

Cisco VPN Security Specialist Prerequisites 
CCNA Security

Cisco VPN Security Specialist Exams
  • 642-637 SECURE v1.0
  • 642-647 VPN v1.0 (Last day to test: May 28, 2012)     OR    642-648 VPN v2.0
Cisco VPN Security Specialist Recertification 
Cisco Specialist certifications are valid for two years. To recertify, pass ONE of the following before the certification expiration date:
  • Pass a 642-XXX Security professional-level written exam, or
  • Pass the current CCIE written exam, or
  • Pass the current CCDE written exam, or current CCDE Practical Exam
  • Pass the Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) interview AND the CCAr board review

Cisco Specialist Certifications: Cisco Network Admission Control Specialist

The Cisco Network Admission Control Specialist demonstrates the hands-on skills necessary to install, configure and operate the Cisco NAC Appliance. By applying their knowledge of the Cisco NAC solution, the Cisco Network Admission Control Specialist demonstrates the skills and knowledge needed to effectively identify, isolate and clean infected or vulnerable devices that attempt to access the network.

Cisco Network Admission Control Specialist PreRequisite
Valid CCNA Security or CCNA + SND or any CCIE Certification can act as a pre-requisite.

Cisco Network Admission Control Specialist Exams
642-591 CANAC

Cisco Network Admission Control Specialist Recertification
Complete one of the following recertification options every two years:
  • Re-take and pass all exams for each Specialist certification indicated on the specific certification page. Please note: this includes ALL exams whether refreshed or not.
  • Pass a current CCIE or CCDE written exam
Achieving or recertifying CCDE or any CCIE automatically extends your active Specialist certification(s) up to the point of expiration of the last certification achieved.

Cisco Specialist Certifications: Cisco IPS Specialist

The Cisco IPS Specialist certification recognizes security professionals who can deploy, configure, and troubleshoot the Cisco Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) to work well in a complete security solution. Additionally, the Cisco IPS Specialist is the foundation for individuals who can operate and monitor Cisco IOS Software and IPS technologies to prevent, understand, and respond to intrusion attempts.

Cisco IPS Specialist Prerequisites
Valid CCNA Security or CCNA + SND or any CCIE Certification can act as a pre-requisite. 

Cisco IPS Specialist Exams: 
642-627 IPS v7.0

Cisco IPS Specialist Recertification
Complete one of the following recertification options every two years. To recertify, pass ONE of the following before the certification expiration date:
  • Pass a 642-XXX Security professional-level written exam, or
  • Pass the current CCIE written exam, or
  • Pass the current CCDE written exam, or current CCDE Practical Exam
  • Pass the Cisco Certified Architect (CCAr) interview AND the CCAr board review