How to Become a Microsoft Certified Professional?

Posted on 06/09/2021 by Niko Venev

Whether you work in a corporate environment or for a small business, obtaining a Microsoft certification will undoubtedly support your career ambitions. Earning a Microsoft certification can demonstrate your specialized skills to employers, increase your pay rate, and even lay the groundwork for a promotion. While determining whether to pursue a Microsoft certification can be an easy decision to make, recent changes to the processes of earning and renewing certifications have made it necessary for students to review policies and prepare themselves for updated exams and renewal assessments.

Which Microsoft Certification Is Best?

The type of Microsoft certification that you should aim to earn can depend on your professional status or goals. For example, an entry-level employee may find that pursuing a Microsoft 365 Fundamentals or Microsoft Office Specialist certification will help them perform basic workplace duties. While some Microsoft training classes help familiarize you with the fundamentals of programs, earning an official certification can set you apart from other applicants in the job market.

For those who are a little further in their careers, role-based or specialty certifications are available. Some individuals earn these certifications with the goal of becoming developers or administrators. In addition, there are other certifications that don’t fall into the aforementioned categories, such as Microsoft Certified Educator and credentials of the technical variety. Many of the skills needed to earn these certifications are covered in our Microsoft training courses.

Some of the most common certifications that Microsoft offers are:

• Fundamentals
• Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)
• Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA)
• Microsoft Certified Educator (MCE)

Microsoft role-based certifications include:

• Microsoft 365
• Microsoft Teams
• Microsoft Power Platform
• Dynamics 365
• Microsoft Azure

Specialty Microsoft certifications include:

• Azure IoT Developer Specialty
• Azure for SAP Workloads Specialty
• Windows Virtual Desktop Specialty

How Do I Get Microsoft-Certified?

The pathways to earn Microsoft certifications can differ depending on the type of certification that you want to work toward. Generally, you’ll want to start by choosing a certification, then look at the skills you’ll need, take training courses to make sure that you’re prepared, and pass the certification exam.

You should be aware that Microsoft certifications are valid for only one year; in the past, they were valid for two years. The new rules ensure that you’ll always be up to date with changes in Microsoft’s software. To start preparing for your certification exam, consider taking Microsoft training classes that cover the concepts and skills that you need to learn. At Certstaffix Training, we offer online and in-person courses that help you prepare for Microsoft’s exams. Our Microsoft training courses are taught by a live instructor with expert knowledge of the software and use hands-on exercises to ensure that you thoroughly understand the material.

How Long Does it Take to Become a Microsoft Certified Professional?

The time commitment to earn a Microsoft certification varies depending on the specific pathway. While a basic certification may only require a few weeks of preparation, a more advanced certification can require years of experience as well as other certifications as prerequisites. In addition, preparation courses can add to the time that it will take to earn a certification, especially if they’re not set up to teach you what you need to know efficiently. Certstaffix Training courses are designed to help you get the skills you need as quickly as possible, often in just a few days, so you don’t waste time.

Once you’ve earned a certification, you can enjoy Microsoft’s streamlining of certification renewals. Months before your certification is set to expire, you’ll be reminded of the need to renew. Then, you’ll just need to review the changes in your area of expertise since you were certified before taking an assessment to renew your certification.