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Microsoft Certification: Microsoft Office, Exams, Courses And Programs
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Published: March 29, 2007
Microsoft is everywhere. In nearly every office, home, school, and organization in the world, Microsoft's suite of products reigns supreme. Professionals looking to reign supreme in their careers will not only need to understand Microsoft's software, but often be certified as experts. Microsoft certification keeps information technology professionals ahead of their counterparts.
Professionals that take on the challenge of a Microsoft certification continually strive to be on the cutting edge of technology.
Microsoft certification encompasses many different areas: desktop support, system administration, database administration, application development, Microsoft security certification, and Microsoft Office certification. The company also provides specialist certification for IT professionals. Microsoft's website makes choosing certification exams a little less taxing. The Certification Overview page breaks down the certifications by technical specialization, type of software package, network or database system.
The Microsoft certification for Certified Professionals is Microsoft's most basic certification, requiring a passing grade on any of the current Microsoft certification exams. Students can choose from Microsoft certification in many different paths including Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator, Systems Engineer, Database Administrator, Application Developer, Solution Developer or from six other exam choices.
After deciding on a Microsoft certification, understanding the requirements is the next step. Job-related experience of at least six months, three core exams, and one elective exam are general requirements for most certifications. Microsoft Certified Professional, Microsoft Certified Desktop Support, and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer are a few of the many certifications available.
There are classroom courses and programs, e-learning components, and books to assist in preparing for Microsoft certification, although they are not required. The only requirement for Microsoft certification is a passing grade on the exam. Instead, courses and classes are designed to help prepare candidates for exams. These classes and prep work involve reading and hands-on activities with the technology being tested on.
Microsoft training classes are available online and in classrooms. Microsoft also provides comprehensive training materials through a division known as Microsoft Press. Test preparation and training is also provided at many local computer stores and training facilities, community college and universities and can range in price from a few hundred dollars into the thousands.
During test preparation, it's important to frequently review exam guides. Microsoft provides guides to all of their certification exams on their website. These guides will help in preparation by giving insight into the possible layout and focus of the exam. These training programs are not required to pass the exams, but any in-depth test preparation is recommended. Lasting from a day to six weeks, these programs are designed to prepare for the tests and instill confidence in the candidates.
After reviewing training and studying, Microsoft, along with many other vendors, offers practice exams to test skills. These practice tests are an invaluable way of understanding if there are any subjects or procedures that need further study or hands-on experience. To ensure that any practice tests are authentic, Microsoft has established Microsoft Certified Practice Test Providers (PTP) to help those preparing find the highest quality testing products. PTPs provide tests that are quality controlled by Microsoft and offer exam results, feedback, and a large amount of questions to ensure that as much information as possible is covered.
The Microsoft Certification exams themselves cost around $125. All of the hands-on job experience, studying, preparing and waiting is culminated into about 2-3 hours of test taking. Microsoft certification exams vary based on the subject matter ,but all are administered with computers. Some examinations will utilize servers, routers, and network equipment necessary for the certification program.
All of the exams use simulations to measure understanding of the subject matter. For example, The Microsoft certification for Microsoft Office uses simulations of Office programs and asks candidates to complete tasks to demonstrate skills., while the Windows 2000 Server certification would use a server simulation. These exams can be taken at testing centers all over the world, on college campuses, computer learning centers, and technical institutes. All of the exams are structured so that a score of 700 is considered passing, anything below that is a fail.
The Microsoft certification experience is one that is meant to raise the technological bar for professionals. Those with Microsoft certifications have the privilege of having the Microsoft logo on their business card. Microsoft certification will set them in a pool of world-class information technology experts that employers and colleagues strive to have on their team.
Sources:
What it Means to be a MCP. Microsoft. 2007. Microsoft Corporation. 8 Feb. 2007. http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/benefits/def ault.mspx
Microsoft - Find Training. Microsoft. 2007. Microsoft Corporation. 21 Mar. 2007. http://www.microsoft.com/Learning/training/find/Cl assResults.aspx?CoursesAndExamsControlName=_ctl8%3 />"Microsoft Certified Professional." Wikipedia. 8 Feb. 2007. 8 Feb. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Certified_P rofessional
Related Articles
Microsoft certification encompasses many different areas: desktop support, system administration, database administration, application development, Microsoft security certification, and Microsoft Office certification. The company also provides specialist certification for IT professionals. Microsoft's website makes choosing certification exams a little less taxing. The Certification Overview page breaks down the certifications by technical specialization, type of software package, network or database system.
The Microsoft certification for Certified Professionals is Microsoft's most basic certification, requiring a passing grade on any of the current Microsoft certification exams. Students can choose from Microsoft certification in many different paths including Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator, Systems Engineer, Database Administrator, Application Developer, Solution Developer or from six other exam choices.
After deciding on a Microsoft certification, understanding the requirements is the next step. Job-related experience of at least six months, three core exams, and one elective exam are general requirements for most certifications. Microsoft Certified Professional, Microsoft Certified Desktop Support, and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer are a few of the many certifications available.
There are classroom courses and programs, e-learning components, and books to assist in preparing for Microsoft certification, although they are not required. The only requirement for Microsoft certification is a passing grade on the exam. Instead, courses and classes are designed to help prepare candidates for exams. These classes and prep work involve reading and hands-on activities with the technology being tested on.
Microsoft training classes are available online and in classrooms. Microsoft also provides comprehensive training materials through a division known as Microsoft Press. Test preparation and training is also provided at many local computer stores and training facilities, community college and universities and can range in price from a few hundred dollars into the thousands.
During test preparation, it's important to frequently review exam guides. Microsoft provides guides to all of their certification exams on their website. These guides will help in preparation by giving insight into the possible layout and focus of the exam. These training programs are not required to pass the exams, but any in-depth test preparation is recommended. Lasting from a day to six weeks, these programs are designed to prepare for the tests and instill confidence in the candidates.
After reviewing training and studying, Microsoft, along with many other vendors, offers practice exams to test skills. These practice tests are an invaluable way of understanding if there are any subjects or procedures that need further study or hands-on experience. To ensure that any practice tests are authentic, Microsoft has established Microsoft Certified Practice Test Providers (PTP) to help those preparing find the highest quality testing products. PTPs provide tests that are quality controlled by Microsoft and offer exam results, feedback, and a large amount of questions to ensure that as much information as possible is covered.
The Microsoft Certification exams themselves cost around $125. All of the hands-on job experience, studying, preparing and waiting is culminated into about 2-3 hours of test taking. Microsoft certification exams vary based on the subject matter ,but all are administered with computers. Some examinations will utilize servers, routers, and network equipment necessary for the certification program.
All of the exams use simulations to measure understanding of the subject matter. For example, The Microsoft certification for Microsoft Office uses simulations of Office programs and asks candidates to complete tasks to demonstrate skills., while the Windows 2000 Server certification would use a server simulation. These exams can be taken at testing centers all over the world, on college campuses, computer learning centers, and technical institutes. All of the exams are structured so that a score of 700 is considered passing, anything below that is a fail.
The Microsoft certification experience is one that is meant to raise the technological bar for professionals. Those with Microsoft certifications have the privilege of having the Microsoft logo on their business card. Microsoft certification will set them in a pool of world-class information technology experts that employers and colleagues strive to have on their team.
Sources:
What it Means to be a MCP. Microsoft. 2007. Microsoft Corporation. 8 Feb. 2007. http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/benefits/def ault.mspx
Microsoft - Find Training. Microsoft. 2007. Microsoft Corporation. 21 Mar. 2007. http://www.microsoft.com/Learning/training/find/Cl assResults.aspx?CoursesAndExamsControlName=_ctl8%3 />"Microsoft Certified Professional." Wikipedia. 8 Feb. 2007. 8 Feb. 2007. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Certified_P rofessional
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