Microsoft Virtualization And Cloud Certification Community Study Group

Microsoft Virtualization and Cloud Certification Study Group(s)

in this post…

• Study Group Proposal
• Why Get Certified
• What Are Microsoft Virtualization Certification Options?
• Browse Certification Catalog for additional certification options
• More certification information of value
• More virtualization and cloud information of value

Study Group Proposal

Do you presently hold a certification in ANY virtualization or server technology? Are you interested in obtaining a virtualization certification? In either case, I want to help create a plan for you. I have had many people ask me about an “upgrade” path from a VMWare Certification to a Microsoft Virtualization Certification. As of now, we do not have one. I would love to put together a community study program to help people with upgrading their current skills to obtain a Microsoft Virtualization Certification. Once you obtain your Microsoft Virtualization Certification (or if you already have one) we can expand on that for Cloud, then expand on that with System Center Management. Does any of this sound of interest to you? If so, let’s start a dialog on creating a plan for execution in 2011/2012. Several logical community study group needs come to mind…

1. VMWare => Microsoft Virtualization

2. Windows Server => Microsoft Virtualization

3. No Current Certification => Microsoft Virtualization

4. Any => Cloud

5. Any => Systems Management and/or Security

6. Are there others that you would like to see?

I have created a blog post to allow us to communicate needs and ideas for getting a program like this off the ground. Please visit Microsoft Virtualization And Cloud Certification Community Study Group to start the dialog. You can reply to these questions by sending me a message directly at ITProGuru@Microsoft.com or posting a comment to the study group blog post. My initial thought process is that we could create many study groups. Some of them online, some of them in person that is run by a local user group in your community.

Please answer the following questions…

1. What certifications do you currently hold (if any)?

2. What certifications are you most interested in?

3. Are you an MCT?

4. If you already have a virtualization or server certification; would you be interested in helping others in the community pass the test you already passed?

5. What is your preferred method of studying for certifications?

6. Do you currently have a “plan” to get your next certification? If so, what is it?

7. What reservations if any do you have in taking your next exam?

8. Do you know of any community groups (user groups or online groups) that might be interested in participating in a study group? If so, please provide group name, URL, contact information, etc.

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 of achieving 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.*

*IDC, “Impact of Training on Network Administration: Certification Leads to Operational Productivity,” Doc. # 220563, November 2009

What are Microsoft Virtualization Certification options?

MCTS = Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (TS is usually any ONE exam)

MCITP = Microsoft Certified IT Professional (3 exams 669+693+[659 or 652])

Server Virtualization certifications (2 options on server virtualization)

• · MCITP: Windows Server 2008 R2, Virtualization Administrator
• o This certification covers both server and desktop virtualization
• · MCTS: Windows Server 2008 R2, Server Virtualization

Desktop Virtualization certifications

• · MCITP: Windows Server 2008 R2, Virtualization Administrator
• o This certification covers both server virtualization, and desktop and application virtualization
• · MCTS: Windows Server 2008 R2, Desktop Virtualization

If you want to know more about the Microsoft Virtualization Certification check out the Microsoft Learning Homepage for Virtualization Certification

The MCTS certification is a prerequisite for the MCITP certification and helps validate your troubleshooting and deployment skills. The MCTS certification is for IT professionals with one or more years of experience. As an MCTS, you help validate your skills on implementing and troubleshooting a particular (usually one test) Microsoft technology. Learn more about the MCTS certification; you may also be interested in all MCTS options

The MCITP certification is for IT professionals with two or more years of experience. As an MCITP, you help validate your skills in deploying, designing, and maintaining Microsoft technology. Learn more about the MCITP certification or view the FAQs.

Browse Certification Catalog for additional certification options

More certification information of value

Q. Many people have asked me how long certifications are good for. The answer to that can be found in the Certification FAQs …

A. Today, most of our Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS), Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP), and Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) exams retire when Microsoft discontinues mainstream support for the related technology. The certification will still appear on your transcript but will be listed in an inactive section with an expiration date. In most cases, an upgrade path, which allows candidates to earn the certification with fewer exams (usually one), will be available for individuals who hold the certification on the previous version of the technology.

The legacy Microsoft certifications, such as Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) and Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA), currently do not expire, but some may no longer be awarded because all exams are retired or because Microsoft has ended extended support for the technology. In most cases, individuals who hold the certification on the previous version of the technology can earn the certification on the next version of the technology with one upgrade exam.

To maintain the relevance and value of our certifications and ensure that candidates possess up-to-date skills on technologies that are constantly changing, recertification may be necessary for some certifications. In these cases, the certification will remain valid as long as the candidate continues to recertify at appropriate intervals.

Note that Microsoft reserves the right to retire exams and certifications as well as change our recertification policy at any time.

• · Getting Started in Certification – FAQ
• · Preparing for and Taking an Exam – FAQ
• · Exam Development and Release Cycle – FAQ
• · Program Benefits and Member Sites – FAQ

More virtualization and cloud information of value

• · Did you miss the prior edition of the flash? If so, you can read it at Virtualization + Cloud = lots of buzz but what does it mean to IT Professionals
• · You may also be interested in … How Big Will Cloud Really Be–Virtualization vs Cloud–Which Is Bigger