Microsoft recognises on the job skills in IT certification

Training and certification providers faced a tough time when IT budgets fell and training requirement and demand fell sharply. Now that budgets are beginning to rise again questions are being asked about the value of certification. Has certification really evolved with the requirements of today’s business?

Alex Keay, group manager, training and certification, explains. The market was questioning the credibility of IT certifications in general because it was possible to become certified without any real-world knowledge. While this shows a level of competency it doesn’t help the IT manager when he’s hiring staff and needs them to have skills that are valid to every day working situations. By implementing more scenario-based testing with our partners we are addressing this issue and IT managers have increasing respect for the programme.

Thomas Lee, Chief Technologist, QA echoes this point. Why are Microsoft accreditations more valuable today? Because they are proof of what an IT professional can do rather than simply what he or she knows. Certification testing is now more about performing tasks than reciting knowledge. It will take time for this enhanced value of certification to filter through to IT professionals and employers alike, but what is clear is that certification based on performance does provide a strong indication of a person’s capabilities. Role-based certification reflects the integrated approach to training delivery that some organisations, like QA, have adopted. By delivering training in chunks of different types of learning i.e. hands-on labs, virtual workshops, self-paced eLearning etc., IT professionals gain practical, relevant experience that can be put into practice in the workplace as they progress through the training programme.

In May, Phil Waters, Senior Instructor at QA sat a Windows Server 2003 exam (70-292) for MCSA certification:

I was impressed by the new format of the exams. The questions were more related to real-world experience, which reflects the aim of the qualification! You can’t simply brain dump for this exam - you need to really understand the technology and its application.

Con Christofaris, Cinyras, has recently sat the upgrade exam from Windows 2000 to Windows 2003 for MCSE certification. Microsoft has dramatically improved the exam format. There is now greater emphasis on problem-solving and deductive reasoning. Although more challenging, the exams are not about just understanding material but applying knowledge.

Equally, as more IT jobs move offshore, IT professionals will be under increasing pressure to prove their worth - role-based certification provides valuable evidence of skills. Microsoft hopes that the launch of more entry level focused courses like Microsoft Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) will show people that the value of certification is to use it to help evolve your IT career and motive people to continue improving.

More information on Microsoft certification can be found on