Earning a Microsoft certification acknowledges your expertise in working industry, your employer, clients, and peers will recognize your MCTS or MCTIP credential as a symbol of the skills and knowledge you've gained through experience. Microsoft certification shows that you are a technical leader with the ability to successfully implement Microsoft business solutions for your organization or client.

Why Your Employees Should Be Microsoft Certified Professionals

Microsoft products give businesses the agility, speed, and reliability they need to turn the accelerating pace of change into a competitive edge, to excel and succeed. Microsoft certification assures that businesses are able to identify experts who know how to use those powerful tools and solutions to the best of their advantage.

In a 2001 survey of 225 technical and non-technical hiring managers representing companies in a variety of industries, 89 percent of respondents said they recommend Microsoft certification for candidates seeking an IT position at their company.

The New Generation of Microsoft Certifications

• Technology Series: Microsoft Technology Series Certifications offer IT professionals in implementation, building, troubleshooting, and debugging of a specific Microsoft technology. 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 IT 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.
  
  
• Professional Series: There are two certifications in the professional series:
  
  
  • Microsoft Certifications for IT Professionals (MCTIP)
    The Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) credential validates that an individual has the comprehensive set of skills necessary to perform a particular 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 credential.
    
    
  • Microsoft Certifications for Development Professionals (MCPD)
    The Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) credential validates a comprehensive set of skills that are necessary to deploy, build, optimize, and operate applications successfully by using Microsoft Visual Studio and the Microsoft .NET Framework. This credential is designed to provide hiring managers with a strong indicator of your potential job success. It requires two to three years of relevant experience and a commitment to remaining current in best practices and technologies.
    
    
• Master Series Certifications
  Master certifications identify individuals with the deepest technical skills available on a particular Microsoft product. Master certification enables experienced IT professionals to deepen and broaden their technical expertise on Microsoft server products and authoritatively differentiate themselves to employers and customers. It includes three weeks of highly intensive classroom training, three computer-based tests, and one lab-based exam per training rotation (training and exam series). Master certification is a prerequisite for all Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA) certifications.
  
  There are five MCM certifications:
  
  
  • Microsoft Certified Master: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007
  • Microsoft Certified Master: Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007
  • Microsoft Certified Master: Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007
  • Microsoft Certified Master: Microsoft SQL Server 2008
  • Microsoft Certified Master: Windows Server 2008: Directory
    
    
• Architect Series: The Certified Architect program makes it easy for companies to identify experienced IT architects who have completed a rigorous peer review process.