The Microsoft Technology Associate program is offered only through schools.
With school back in session, Microsoft is looking to drum up interest for its newest entry-level certification program geared for students as young as high school. The program, announced in July, is dubbed the Microsoft Technology Associate certification. Schools sign up to be providers by buying a license that allows them to administer up to 1,000 exams per year.
Microsoft says that the program is targeted at high schools and vocational programs, although it also hopes to get colleges on board.
When it comes to colleges, the idea is that a bachelor’s degree in computer science, information technology or electrical engineering isn’t enough to land a job in these economic times. A vendor certification, which shows that a person has some level of competence with a particular technology, is also needed to get an employer’s attention, Microsoft’s PR materials say.
Although my instinct is to balk at such an idea, I’m forced to admit that there may be some truth to it. In Computerworld’s 2010 Salary Survey, one major finding was that hiring managers are having a hard time finding qualified folks with the specific skills they need. This is true even though there is an exceptionally large pool of job candidates out there, between those who remain out of work, and those who are dying to leave their current jobs. What makes this exceptionally odd is that the skills most in demand seem to be the ones that most IT professionals should already have in abundance: network administration, virtualization, wireless, application and Web development, and help desk and desktop support. But 47% of managers said a shortage of qualified applicants was their top hiring challenge. Go figure.
There are three tracks to the new MTA cert (see chart): IT Pro (i.e. administration), software development and database.
The IT Pro track, for instance, includes “security fundamentals,” “networking fundamentals,” and “Windows Server administration fundamentals.” Although most of the hands-on work in all three classes centers on working with Windows Server 2008 (what else?), the course does promise to prep the student in true fundamentals. For instance, the networking fundamentals class claims it will teach the student to understand routers, switches, LANs/WANs, IPv4 and IPv6, DNS, DHCP and a number of other networking protocols.
If you are an IT professional, there isn’t much reason for you to pursue or think about the MTA program — unless you are enrolled in an educational facility that offers the tests, or have a kid in high school who is kicking the tires of an IT career. The certificates are geared toward people with no IT knowledge whatsoever.
Microsoft also knows that if it can become a person’s baseline for a technology experience, the person is more likely to remain a user as he/she ages. (How many people over 40 do you know who have never used anything but Windows — and have a cow if asked to figure out any new use interfaces?) Microsoft has earned itself an enormously bad reputation among the high school and college set — who are likely to see it as the Evil Empire. By getting younger students exposed to its servers, development platforms and databases, it could change their minds. Then again, maybe it will only cement their world view.
UPDATED 09/14/10:
Here are a few more stats from a Microsoft spokesperson on the program, based on some questions I asked via e-mail last week.
Q: How many high schools participate in MTA? How many colleges? What other institutes offer the new cert?
A: To date, over 130 academic institutions in 18 countries around the globe have active MTA licenses. Collectively these schools have administered over 750 MTA exams, and counting! Among these licensed institutions are 14 high schools.
Q: Why do a MTA instead of the MCTS? Is it cheaper or easier or does it help count “toward” the MCTS exams?
A: MTA is the recommended first step in Microsoft IT Certification. MTA is a stepping stone to MCTS certifications. MCTS validates skills application whereas MTA validates fundamental knowledge, providing students with confidence and a solid foundation to continue with more advanced technology training such as MCTS and entry level technology positions such as internships. MTA helps students explore technology career paths with a low investment of time and money. MCTS exams validate intermediate product and technology skills and are considered the first of the MS IT “Career” Certifications.
Q: There’s an MTA called “networking fundamentals” but it’s really training on Windows Server 2008, right? That is, it doesn’t provide an overview of things like Ethernet or IP or routing or switching.
A: The MTA site shows more details, but this exam validates some fundamental networking knowledge that is important for all networking professionals. It does cover routing, switching and specializes in some Windows specific content. Networking Fundamentals: Understanding Network Infrastructures: Internet, intranet, extranet, LAN, WAN, wireless, topologies, access methods. Understanding Network Hardware: Switches, routers, media types. Understanding Protocols and Services: OSI model, IPv4, IPv6, names resolution, networking services, TCP/IP.
I like the idea of feeding in-depth technology training to the youngest members of our workforce. This bodes well for a workforce that has to compete on a global scale these days. Could the help desk replace the pizza place as the new minimum wage, high school job? Does this option reduce the temptation for companies to outsource the help desk overseas? Would you, as an IT professional, like to see that?
