Ever since the days of the paper MCSE, there has been some debate over the value and worth of a certification. There was a time when having an MCSE was a qualifier - that immediately differentiated you from the masses and aided in you securing a job. Then the Paper-MCSE's arrived - the Reconstruction Era carpet baggers of the certified world. They quickly devalued certifications to the point where many employers just didn't count the MCSE with as much credit as it deserved. This has now changed and just in time. Microsoft has debuted a new certification that immediately ends paper certifications and will be highly regarded in addition. The new "Master's" series was announced this week in Redmond, WA. Now - does this mean you get a Coveted Green jacket with a MS logo if you ever achieve this certification? The poor MCSE was first supplanted by the new MCITP certification (and MCTS to a lesser extent) - and now it has been pushed even further down the "Certification Ladder"
What is to be made of the new Microsoft Certified Master certification and is there really a need for yet another "high" level new certification? In short - Yes. At the pinnacle of Microsoft's certifications is the MCA - the Microsoft Certified Architect. The MCA is highly touted, but it is requires as much "soft-skills" as it does technology based skills. What differentiates the new Master's series is that is a 100%, hard-core, technology deep-dive certification! You are the Luke Skywalker of Exchange 2007 when approaching the Yoda Exchange masters.
Now why do I believe this is needed? Because the MCITP (and the earlier MCSE) does not adequately differentiate between the "I-just-passed-the-236-test" and those who know Exchange 2007 inside-and-out. The program is aimed at the IT Pros who are already highly skilled and experienced. The initial Master Certifications will be on Exchange 2007, SQL 2008 and Windows Server 2008 and it is not something to be taken lightly. It will involve three weeks of intense training followed by an intense hands-on test. This is what I believe sets the Masters certification above the MCITP and what will lead to its' success. If I am client hunting for an Exchange Consultant to rollout Exchange 2007 and I have my choice between two companies - one with an MCITP on Exchange and one who has the Master Certification on Exchange - who do you think I am going to pick? The shop with the MCITP can say they have years of experience (and probably do), but the company that has someone on staff who has earned the Master's certification will most likely get the contract and that is why I believe this certification is needed and will differentiate the overage IT Pro from a Master.
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Randy Muller, MCT, MCSE, MCSA, MCDST, is currently an instructor with Global Knowledge, specializing in teaching Certification Boot Camps as well as courses on Exchange, Server 2008 and Office Communications Server.
Global Knowledge offers a comprehensive catalog of Microsoft courses:
Microsoft 2003 MCSE Boot Camp
MCITP: Server Administrator Boot Camp
MCITP: Enterprise Administrator Boot Camp
MCITP: Database Administrator Boot Camp
More Microsoft courses
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Much Improved
I just downloaded the braindump for all the Masters courses and the questions ARE harder!
The most difficult one to answer was "Why is Exchange better than a Pastrami Sandwich on Sourdough?"
This improves upon the previous question of "Why is Exchange better than VaxMail?"