Microsoft and CompTIA Help Vets Transition to IT Careers

Earlier this week, CompTIA announced it is partnering with Microsoft to enable more and greater participation for military personnel transitioning back into civilian life via the Microsoft Software & Systems Academy (MSSA).

MSSA By the Numbers (Source: Microsoft)

This team-up now means that two of CompTIA's most popular, entry-level certifications — namely Network+ and Security+ — will now be accepted as prerequisites. This program, an 18-week intensive full-time, total immersion training program, helps transitioning service members learn critical IT skills to help them take up jobs in IT after leaving the military.

Those who complete the program successfully, in fact, are guaranteed a job interview at Microsoft or one or more of its 220-plus hiring partners.

The partnership was first announced during the weekend of Aug. 19-20 at a meeting of the Veteran Employment and Education Committee, held during the American Legion National conference held in Reno, NV. Prior to the partnership's announcement, MSSA candidates had to first obtain a Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) certification or better (e.g. MCSA, MCSA, and so forth) to qualify for admission to the program (see Requirements for details).

The MSSA program currently supports four distinct learning paths for candidates, of which some accept Security+ or Network+ as prerequisites. (Language below is cited verbatim from Microsoft's MSSA page under the "Preparation" heading there, relevant CompTIA certs therein are in boldface, where the emphasis added thereby is mine.)

Server & Cloud Administration: A current CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+ or Microsoft Networking Fundamentals (MTA) certification is a prerequisite for this learning path. To gain the MTA certification, take the MTA Networking Fundamentals Training to find out how to put the many pieces together to build a functional and secure network. To access the CompTIA certification training, please check with our MSSA academic partner (ERAU or SMU) for local training partners.

Cybersecurity Administration: A current CompTIA Security+ or Microsoft Security Fundamentals (MTA) certification is a prerequisite for this learning path. To gain the MTA certification, take the MTA Security Fundamentals Training to find out how to put the many pieces together to build a functional and secure network. To access the CompTIA certification training, please check with our MSSA academic partner (ERAU or SMU) for local training partners.

Database & Business Intelligence Administration: A current Microsoft Database Fundamentals (MTA) certification is a prerequisite for this learning path. To gain the MTA certification, take the MTA Database Fundamentals Training, designed for individuals seeking to learn database fundamentals, including relational databases, database management systems and database components.

Cloud Application Development: A current Microsoft Software Development Fundamentals (MTA) certification is a prerequisite for this learning path. Take the MTA Software Development Fundamentals Training and explore introductory concepts for HyperText Markup Language (HTML), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and JavaScript.

Microsoft also points interested military at various free MVA courses to help them prepare for the pre-requisites, and cites a 26 percent discount available on exam vouchers from CompTIA for Security+ and Network+ exams.

The MSSA program is currently available at nine military bases, with six more coming online by early 2018 (see the MSSA Locations heading on the MSSA page for details). The partnership with CompTIA opens up new opportunities for transitioning military personnel.

This should be a boon to those individuals who participate in the program, which claims a 91 percent graduation rate, and an 85 percent placement rate for graduates in IT jobs. Good stuff!