More New MS Certs — MCSA, MCSE, and MCSD — Revealed

Ed Tittel — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 21:31:31 +0000

Between an e-mail from Shanti Barnes (MS Learning PR person extraordinaire) last Tuesday, June 5, and the June 7 MCP Weekly Flash that hit my inbox two days later, the IT certification landscape has been rockin’ with lots of major new outcroppings in its Microsoft parts.

The Tuesday e-mail introduced me to the first credential in the MCSD (Microsoft Certified Solution Developer) category. As you’d expect, it’s something Windows 8 related, given the immanent release of that new operating system — or more specifically, its new Metro user interface and development direction.

: Makes sense that they use Metro-style tiles for the new MS certs!

As the tile tells the name of this new credential is MCSD: Windows Metro Style Apps. It requires 3 exams to earn:

70-480: Programming in HTML5 with JavaScript and CSS3
70-481: Essentials of Developing Windows Metro Style Apps using HTML5 and JavaScript
70-482: Advanced Metro Style App Development Using HTML5 and JavaScript

FWIW, a friend of mine has been writing a book recently (like she’s probably doing that as I write this very blog) and tells me that the MS HTML5 stuff still isn’t completely baked yet with markup and interfaces still changing on a near-daily basis. Those interested in this credential might think the exams won’t be out for a bit yet, but according to Ms. Barnes (by private e-mail), they are being introduced this week at Tech-Ed, and should now be available to the general public. Interesting start to the new MCSD, no doubt!

Other new credentials that have emerged of late include the following:

MCSA: MCSA: Windows Server 2012 (now alongside MCSA: Windows Server 2008 and MCSA: SQL Server 2012)
MCSE: MCSE: Server Infrastructure (2012) and MCSE: Desktop Infrastructure (2012 & Win8) (now alongside three SQL Server 2012 credentials already announced and, of course, the MSCE: Private Cloud credential that kicked the whole “new MCSA/E/D” program off a few months back.

In the brave new parlance of Microsoft desktops and certifications that’s “a whole lotta new tiles!” Looks like the outlines of the new and hopefully improved MS Cert program are really starting to emerge. I don’t think this is anywhere near the end of this parade, but at least I’m starting to get a sense of where they’re going with all of this. Hopefully, you are too!

IT Career JumpStart » first MCSD covers Metro style apps

More New MS Certs — MCSA, MCSE, and MCSD — Revealed