Role-Based Certifications
Overview
With the retirement of the MCSA: Office 365 certifications on March 31, 2019 and the release of the new Microsoft 365 certifications, the next generation of Microsoft certifications is here. And, it is truly a new generation. For the first time, Microsoft certifications will focus on building the skills required for actual job roles rather than focusing on features and services of the Microsoft software product itself. As a result, Microsoft is calling these new certs “role-based” certifications.
Job Task Analysis (JTA)
The first step in creating role-based certifications is what Microsoft calls Job Task Analysis (JTA). This is the process of identifying the specific job skills (or “job tasks”) for the job roles for which Microsoft will offer certifications. To accomplish this, Microsoft engages in in-depth research with customers and the tech community in general to develop an extensive list of job tasks for each role.
Training and Certification
Once all JTA’s are established, Microsoft determines which of these JTA’s are included in the certification requirements. Microsoft then builds the curriculum that aligns with these JTA’s. The result is the new generation of training and certifications designed to upskill Microsoft IT Professionals and Developers to fill specific job roles.
New Microsoft 365 Role-Based Certifications
Microsoft 365 is one of the first technologies with the new certification structure. Microsoft 365 is a combination of Office 365, Windows 10 Enterprise, and Enterprise Mobility + Security that can empower your team to be creative and collaborative, while efficiently and securely achieving your organization’s business goals. These new certifications will replace the previous Office 365 certifications. The initial job role that will align with the new Microsoft 365 certifications is:
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Administrator
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Administrators evaluate, plan, migrate, deploy, and manage Microsoft 365 services. They perform Microsoft 365 tenant management tasks for an enterprise, including its identities, security, compliance, and supporting technologies.
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Administrator Expert Certification
The certification related to the Microsoft 365 Enterprise Administrator is the Microsoft 365 Certified: Enterprise Administrator Expert.
The Certification Path for this is comprised of at least three exams. You must pass two Microsoft 365 Enterprise Administrator certification exams and obtain one of the new Microsoft 365 workload certifications. (See below for more information on “workload certifications”).
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Administrator Exams
The two exams are:
- Exam MS-100: Microsoft 365 Identity and Services
- Exam MS-101: Microsoft 365 Mobility and Security
The Learning Path for these two exams consists of one 5-day course and one 4-day course that have names and numbers corresponding to the certification exams:
- MS-100: Microsoft 365 Identity and Services
- Tenant and Service Management
- Identity Management
- Office 365 Management
- MS-101: Microsoft 365 Mobility and Security
- Device Management
- Security Management
- Compliance Management
Click here for upcoming Microsoft 365 class dates at Centriq for these courses.
Microsoft 365 Workload Certifications
Microsoft has announced several workload certifications and expects to announce additional certifications in 2019. The first such certifications announced are:
Microsoft 365 Certified: Modern Desktop Administrator Associate
Microsoft 365 Certified: Security Administrator Associate
- Exam MS-500: Security Administration
Microsoft 365 Certified: Messaging Administrator Associate
- Exam not yet announced
Microsoft 365 Certified: Teamwork Administrator Associate
- Exam not yet announced
The certification preparation courses for these workload certifications have not been released by Microsoft yet. Centriq will offer these courses upon their release. Click here to check availability.
Transition Exams
There are no Transition Exams for current MCSA certifications. However, if you have your MCSE: Productivity certification, that certification plus passing Exams MS-100 and MS-101 will earn you the Microsoft 365 Certified: Enterprise Administrator Expert.
Retired MCSA: Office 365 Certification
The MCSA: Office 365 certifications (70-346 and 70-347) retire on March 31, 2019. You will no longer be able to earn this certification after this date. If you earn it prior to that date, it will remain in the Active Certifications section of your transcript after that date.
We understand that this is a lot of information. If you have any questions about any of the new Microsoft Role-Based Certifications, please reach to our team and we will help you find the right path.
Learn about all our M365 training classes here.