Microsoft Certification - MCSE is back

In 2007 Microsoft released a new certification framework which replaced the well known and respected MCSA and premium MCSE with a pathway of technology based and role based certifications. According to Microsoft this was in response to concerns by hiring managers that the MCSE; Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer, was too vague. The new framework featured MCTS certifications, TS for Technology Specialist, and each product or technology had it's own. Microsoft added job role linked MCITP's, IT Professional certifications. Often called the Pro series they required one or more TS's and the professional series exam to gain the certification.

Industry response to the change was mixed, although the new certifications provided clarity over skill sets, there were too many ITP's and many job roles required a combination of two. Whats more there was no direct equivalent to the much loved MCSE. The closest match being MCITP: Enterprise Administrator which required a total of five exams, four TS's and one pro series to attain. This certainly made the certifications more accessible as the old money MCSE required a minimum of six exams. We also saw a shift in exam style removing the "many answers may be correct but choose the one we think is best" format and introducing a much less vague and assuming "here's a list of answers select the only one that works" system.

MCSE Built for the Cloud

The idea was to provide a larger global skill base of certified personnel. However five years after its introduction I frequently see the MCSE asked for in tech job advertisements.

It's not that Microsoft got it wrong, the MCSE was too vague, but understanding this new framework was asking too much of hiring managers.

With the surge in cloud based technologies Microsoft have re-launched their certification framework again. Demand for “cloud-ready” IT workers will grow by 26 percent annually through 2015, with as many as 7 million cloud-related jobs available worldwide, according to an IDC White Paper sponsored by Microsoft. However, IT hiring managers report that the biggest reason they failed to fill an existing 1.7 million open cloud-related positions in 2012 is because job seekers lack the training and certification needed to work in a cloud-enabled world. (Climate Change: Cloud’s Impact on IT Organisations and Staffing (November 2012)).

This re-launch coincides with new releases of many front line applications and platforms in the latter part of 2012 and early 2013; Windows server 2012, Windows 8, Exchange Server 2013, Lync Server 2013, System Center 2012 and SQL Server 2012 among them. All share common management interfaces, are extremely interoperable, designed to be virtualised and as their catch phrase says, built for the cloud.
Microsoft are certainly positioning to capitalise more than anyone in the Cloud revolution and their new certification framework is designed to assist this.

The new framework has three primary levels, from bottom to top:

2012 Certification Pyramid

The Associate: MCSA (Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate). A starting point for job seekers and those wishing to formalise existing skills. This is the foundation level and represents a pre-requisite for the MCSE. Currently five MCSA's are offered: Windows Sevrer 2012, Windows Server 2008, Windows 8, Windows 7 and SQL Server 2012.

The Expert: MCSE (Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert) and its developer equivalent, MCSD (Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer) are Microsoft’s flagship certifications for individuals who want to lead their organization’s transition to the cloud. Eight MCSE's are currently offered: Server Infrastructure, Desktop Infrastructure, Private Cloud, Data Platform, Business Intelligence, Messaging, Communication and SharePoint.

The Master: MCSM (Microsoft Certified Solutions Master) certification is for the select few that wish to validate the deepest level of product expertise, as well as the ability to design and build the most innovative solutions for complex on-premises, off-premises, and hybrid enterprise environments using Microsoft technologies. In addition to the MCSE certification pre-requisites candidates must complete a Knowledge and a Lab practical exam. Certification lasts for three years and can be renewed by completing a re-certification exam.
Currently there are four MCSM's available: Data Platform, SharePoint, Communication and Messaging.

On closer inspection many of the MCSE and MCSM levels require exams which are not yet available primarily as the technology upon which they are based is not yet released to manufacture.

Having completed three of the new MCSA's and two new MCSE certifications to date; Private Cloud and Server Infrastructure I can report that there is indeed an emphasis placed upon virtualisation and cloud based management, however this is a thin veil over what is basically another release of Windows Server and System Center exams cleverly spun by the silk weavers at Microsoft's marketing department.

Something unexpected was seen when I downloaded my certificates from the Microsoft secured site, in the top left corner of each were the words "Charter Member".
Apparently this status is awarded to the first 5,000 completing certification requirements, an incentive to attract early adopters, as the more certified professionals there are, the more software licenses Microsoft will sell.

Microsoft will make this new certification framework a success, although it stands for something different, it's still the MCSE acronym we all came to understand as the gold standard for IT certs. And now with the technology more complex and interdependent than ever, for many corporations hiring certified staff will no longer be optional.