Master

Skill Level: End User Status: Active
For individuals who wish to demonstrate expertise in using specific Microsoft products, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, and Microsoft Project. Available at Core and Expert levels. Formerly named Microsoft Office User Specialist (MOUS). This program is administered by CertiPort. The program addresses Office products through Office 2003. After 2003 look at Microsoft Certified Application Specialist (MCAS) and Microsoft Certified Application Professonal (MCAP).

Microsoft Certified Application Professional (MCAP)

Skill Level: Basic Status: Pending
For individuals who work with 2007 Microsoft Office system and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server. There are a number of designations to choose from, including organizatonal support, creating and managing presentations, content management and collaboration, and budges analysis and forcasting. Each of these requires passing 1 exam.. This program is administered by CertiPort.

Microsoft Certified Application Specialist

Skill Level: Basic Status: Active
For individuals who wish to demonstrate skill with one or more Microsoft Office applications. This will eventually replace the MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist) program. This program is administered by CertiPort.

Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST)

Skill Level: Basic Status: Active
For individuals who support end users and troubleshoot desktop environments running on the Microsoft Windows XP operating system.

Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS)

Skill Level: Basic Status: Active
For individuals who implement, build, troubleshoot, and debug a particular Microsoft technology.

Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD)

Skill Level: Intermediate Status: Being phased out
For individuals who develop and maintain department-level applications, components, Web or desktop clients, or back-end data services using the .NET framework. Most of the exams for this certification have already retired or will be retired in March 2009.

Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP)

Skill Level: Intermediate Status: Active
For individuals who wish distinguish themselves as an expert in database administration, database development, or business intelligence. Each MCITP designation requires that you first earn the associated MCTS certification.

Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD)

Skill Level: Intermediate Status: Active
For individuals who wish to distinguish themselves as an expert in Windows development, Web application development, or enterprise applications development. Each MCPD designation requires that you first earn the associated MCTS certification.

Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA)

Skill Level: Intermediate Status: Active
For individuals who implement, manage, and troubleshoot existing network and system environments based on the Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003 (a.k.a. .NET) Server platforms. You can also choose to specialize in messageing or security on for Windows 2000.

Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA)

Skill Level: Advanced Status: Active
For top industry experts in IT architecture who have at least 10 years of IT architecture experience, and can build and present solutions to complex business problems. Choose from Infrastructure Architect OR Solutions Architect. Content is estimated to be approximately 25% Microsoft specific, with the rest relating to general architecture principles.

Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA)

Skill Level: Advanced Status: Being phased out
For individuals who are responsible for the logical and physical design, implementation, maintenance and administration of Microsoft SQL Server 2000 databases. Most of the exams for this certification have already retired or will be retired in March 2009.

Microsoft Certified Learning Consultant (MCLC)

Skill Level: Advanced Status: Active
For Microsoft Certified Trainers who design, develop, and deliver consultative learning solutions based on Microsoft technologies and products.

Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD) for Microsoft .NET

Skill Level: Advanced Status: Active
For developers who for individuals who code, test, and debug enterprise-level applications that utilize the Microsoft .NET framework.

Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)

Skill Level: Advanced Status: Active
For individuals who plan, implement, and support business solutions with Microsoft Windows Server 2003.

MSF Practitioner

Skill Level: Advanced Status: Active
For project leaders who are typically consultants and/or IT professionals, developers, trainers, and managers that lead organizations in the adoption of MSF (Microsoft Solutions Framework) proven practices. These cover planning, building, and deploying technology solutions in a production environment. Microsoft calls this an endorsement, NOT a certification.

Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT)

Skill Level: Instructor Status: Active
For individuals who want to be qualified instructionally and certified technically by Microsoft to deliver Microsoft Official Curriculum instructor-led courses for Microsoft Certified Technical Education Centers (CTECs) and Microsoft Authorized Academic Training Program (ATEC) institutions.

Microsoft Office Specialist Master Instructor

Skill Level: Instructor Status: Active
For individuals who are, or aspire to be, teachers or trainers of Microsoft Office desktop programs. This program is administered by CertiPort.