The Microsoft Azure certification program is one of the most popular and respected programs in the industry. The first step to becoming a certified Azure expert is to choose the right exam.
This article will break down all of the benefits that come with passing any of our certifications, while highlighting which exams are best suited to your current needs.
In order to keep pace with the growing demand for Azure certifications, we’re constantly updating our certification program to include new and evolving skills.
Our exams are updated on a regular basis, but the reality is that some of our certifications don’t change all that often. Some of our newer certifications, like more recent versions of the Azure Administrator certification, have been around for over 5 years now.
This means that some of our exams have a few more years of validity than others. The three most recent additions to the program, the 12th- and 13th-edition Azure Developer Associate exams, are valid for only 2 years from the date of their release.
As we look to the future, we’re focusing on skills that will stay relevant over time. As a result, you may start to see some certifications retired over time as these skills become obsolete or replaced with more up-to-date and relevant ones.
But don’t worry! This isn’t a step toward making things obsolete. There will always be new skills worthy of being added to the Azure certification program, either through updates to existing certifications or by creating new ones.
Math and statistics are so hot right now because they’re necessary to run simulations, analyze data, and perform statistical analyses. These skills have been around for decades, but they’ve gained significant traction in the IT field over the past few years.
The Azure Certified Math and Statistics Associate credential is one of the first of its kind, and has proven so popular that it’s one of our most recent additions to the program.
To be clear, while this is a new certification within the Azure certification family, it’s not something we’re trying to make obsolete or obsolete itself – these are skills that we think are going to be important for many years to come.
Another exciting addition to the Azure certification family is the new (and first) Azure Data Science Associate credential. While Microsoft has had modules that focus exclusively on analytics in Azure, this is now a standalone certification that targets all of those interested in working with data.
The new credential covers basic data science skills like statistics, data analysis and visualization and machine learning, while also introducing more advanced topics like on-demand job scheduling, predictive maintenance and performance analysis using Spark.
The focus of the new certification is using Azure to work with data and make more effective decisions, no matter what data science endeavor you’re working on.
This credential is also unique in the sense that it’s a competency-based certification, meaning that there are a set of competencies (or skills) that need to be mastered, rather than a single exam.
As an example, one competency might be working with Azure SQL, while another might be learning about how to use Spark for data analysis. These competencies are then broken down into a skill rating – from novice to expert.
In addition to passing an exam, candidates must also earn a minimum number of points across the different competencies.
This means that passing any exam does not guarantee that you’ll get the same skill rating as someone else who took the same exam. While the overall score and competency ratings are always visable to everyone, the specific skills that you’ve earned will only be visible to yourself.
Generally speaking, these competencies and skills are standalone ones, where you’re a certified expert in your field after passing just one or two exams.
One final note about the new Azure Data Science Associate certification: Microsoft is currently making a special offer. If you pass the 12th-edition Azure Administrator exam in Q1 2018 and the 13th-edition Azure Developer exam within 30 days of that, then you’re eligible to receive a $200 discount on your registration fee for the new Data Science Associate credential.
Passing any exam does not guarantee your success in your current role (or in your future role). But certifications have become more than just a means of acquiring industry-recognized skills – they’re also a common entry point into the IT field, and they provide an easy way for all of us to track skill development and validate our potential, no matter what field we’ve chosen. For your information, here are the current list of Microsoft Azure certifications:
Microsoft Azure Certified Architect
Microsoft Azure Certified Developer Associate – Cloud Solutions Platform
Microsoft Azure Certified Developer Associate – Database Development on Microsoft Azure – SQL and SQL CE
Microsoft Azure Certified Developer Associate – Database Development on Microsoft Azure – Reporting Services and Reporting Services CE
Microsoft Azure Certified Developer Associate – Database Development on Microsoft Azure – SQL Server and MySQL
Microsoft Azure Certified Developer Associate – Data Analytics Platforms on Microsoft Azure – BI, Power BI and Machine Learning
Microsoft Azure Certified Architect Professional (MICAA) – A 100-hour intensive course of study that aligns with the CISSP® certification curriculum. The MICAA program requires a $250 exam fee. [Available only to U.
We’re happy to have you as a customer or a student, but even happier when you go on to achieve one of these certifications!
