Current Generation of Certifications

Microsoft has released a new three-tiered certification hierarchy. It consists of three series and four credentials that introduce an entry-level Technology Series composed of the "Technology Specialist" credential, a Professional Series composed of the "IT Professional" and "Professional Developer" credentials, and the Master Series composed of the "Master" credential. There also exists a new Architect Series composed of the "Microsoft Certified Architect" program, which consists of a Review Board interview.

Technology Series (MCTS)

The Technology Specialist certifications enable professionals to target specific technologies, and are generally the first step toward the Professional-level certifications. There are currently 20 MCTS certifications, which can be roughly grouped into the following specializations, each requiring certain examinations to be passed:

Office Specializations

Managing Projects with Microsoft Office Project 2007

• Exam 70-632: Microsoft Office Project 2007, Managing Projects

Enterprise Project Management with Microsoft Office Project Server 2007

• Exam 70-633: Microsoft Office Project Server 2007, Managing Projects

Forefront Client and Server, Configuration

• Exam 70-557: Microsoft Forefront Client and Server, Configuration

Office SharePoint Server 2007, Configuration

• Exam 70-630: Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, Configuring

Office SharePoint Server 2007, Application Development

• Exam 70-542: Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 - Application Development

.NET Framework Specializations

.NET Framework 2.0 Web Applications

• Exam 70-528: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 - Web-Based Client Development
• Exam 70-536: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 - Application Development Foundation

.NET Framework 2.0 Windows Applications

• Exam 70-526: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 - Windows-Based Client Development
• Exam 70-536: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 - Application Development Foundation

.NET Framework 2.0 Distributed Applications

• Exam 70-529: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 - Distributed Application Development
• Exam 70-536: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 - Application Development Foundation

SQL Server Specializations

SQL Server 2005

• Exam 70-431: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 - Implementation and Maintenance

SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence

• Exam 70-445: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence - Implementation and Maintenance

Business Intelligence Specializations

BizTalk Server 2006

• Exam 70-235: Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions Using Microsoft BizTalk Server

Live Communications Server 2005

• Exam 70-262: Office Live Communications Server 2005-Implementing, Managing, and Troubleshooting

Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 Configuration

• Exam 70-236: Exchange Server 2007, Configuring

Windows Specializations

Windows Mobile 5.0 Applications

• Exam 70-540: Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 - Application Development

Windows Mobile 5.0, Implementing and Managing

• Exam 70-500: Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0, Implementing and Managing

Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, Application Development

• Exam 70-541: Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 - Application Development

Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, Configuration

• Exam 70-631: Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, Configuring

Windows Server 2003 Hosted Environments, Configuration and Management

• Exam 70-501: Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Hosted Environments, Configuring and Managing

Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops, Deploying and Maintaining

• Exam 70-624: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops

Windows Vista Configuration

• Exam 70-620: Windows Vista, Configuring

Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Configuration

• Exam 70-640: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring

Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure Configuration

• Exam 70-642: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring

Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration

• Exam 70-643: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure, Configuring

Professional Series

Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD)

These certifications are designed for .NET software developers and are based around .NET 3.5, Visual Studio 2008 and SQL Server 2005/2008.

Windows Developer 3.5

• Exam 70-536: Microsoft .NET Framework - Application Development Foundation
• Exam 70-505: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, Windows Forms Application Development
• Exam 70-563 (PRO): Designing and Developing Windows Applications Using the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5

ASP .NET Developer 3.5

• Exam 70-536: Microsoft .NET Framework - Application Development Foundation
• Exam 70-562: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, ASP.NET Application Development
• Exam 70-564 (PRO): Designing and Developing ASP.NET Applications Using the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5

Web Developer, Visual Studio 2005

• Exam 70-528: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 - Web-Based Client Development
• Exam 70-536: Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 - Application Development Foundation
• Exam 70-547 (PRO): Designing and Developing Web Applications by Using the Microsoft .NET Framework

Enterprise Applications Developer 3.5

• Exam 70-503: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, Windows Communication Foundation Application Development
• Exam 70-505: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, Windows Forms Application Development
• Exam 70-536: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework - Application Development Foundation - applicable to both .NET 2.0 and .NET 3.5
• Exam 70-561: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, ADO.NET Application Development
• Exam 70-562: TS: Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5, ASP.NET Application Development
• Exam 70-565 (PRO): Designing and Developing Enterprise Applications using Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5

Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP)

The Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) credential is the leading certification for Microsoft. It provides widely recognized, objective validation of your ability to perform critical, current IT job roles by using Microsoft technologies to their best advantage.

These certifications are designed for IT professionals including administrators and support personnel in addition to database specialists (both administrators and developers).

Business Intelligence Developer

• MCTS: SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence
• Exam 70-446 (PRO): Designing a Business Intelligence Infrastructure by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005

Consumer Support Technician

• MCTS: Windows Vista Configuration
• Exam 70-623 (PRO): Supporting and Troubleshooting Applications on a Windows Vista Client for Consumer Support Technicians

Database Developer

• MCTS: SQL Server 2005
• Exam 70-441 (PRO): Designing Database Solutions by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Open License 6.0
• Exam 70-442 (PRO): Designing and Optimizing Data Access by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005

Database Administrator

• MCTS: SQL Server 2005
• Exam 70-443 (PRO): Designing a Database Server Infrastructure by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005
• Exam 70-444 (PRO): Optimizing and Maintaining a Database Administration Solution by Using Microsoft SQL Server 2005

Enterprise Messaging Administrator

• MCTS: Exchange Server 2007 Configuration
• Exam 70-237 (PRO): Designing Messaging Solutions with Microsoft Exchange Server 2007
• Exam 70-238 (PRO): Deploying Messaging Solutions with Microsoft Exchange Server 2007

Enterprise Project Management with Microsoft Office Project Server 2007

• MCTS: Managing Projects with Microsoft Office Project 2007
• MCTS: Enterprise Project Management with Microsoft Office Project Server 2007
• Exam 70-634 (PRO): Microsoft Office Project Server 2007, Managing Projects and Programs

Enterprise Support Technician

• MCTS: Windows Vista Configuration
• Exam 70-622 (PRO): Supporting and Troubleshooting Applications on a Microsoft Windows Vista Client for Enterprise Support Technicians

Server Administrator

• MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Configuration
• MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure Configuration
• Exam 70-646 (PRO): Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator

Enterprise Administrator

• MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Configuration
• MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure Configuration
• MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration
• MCTS: Windows Vista Configuration OR MCTS: Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops, Deploying and Maintaining
• Exam 70-647 (PRO): Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator

Master Series

Architect Series

The Architect Series is completely different from the Technology Specialist and Professional series, composed of a five-week training session, at a cost of $25,000. Candidates are paired with an existing Microsoft Certified Architect for the duration of the program who mentor and provide guidance to complete a series of tasks. At the conclusion the candidate must submit a report and pass a Review Board interview.

The Architect Series is very similar to other industry professional certification programs, such as the Certified Practicing Engineer (CPEng) offered by Engineers Australia.
There are two primary tracks in the Architect Program:

Technology-based Architecture

There are two MCA Certifications in the Technology-based Architecture track:

• Messaging (Microsoft Exchange Server)
• Database (Microsoft SQL Server focused on OLTP

Broad Architecture

This track is designed for professionals that use a variety of Microsoft and non-Microsoft technologies to deliver customer solutions. Again there are two primary tracks:

• Infrastructure certifications
• Solutions certifications