How to get Microsoft Certified: Steps, Resources, and Benefits

Achieving a Microsoft certification provides access to many new career advancements and opportunities within the technology industry. Whether improving on existing skills or learning from the ground up, these certifications offer a road map to mastery.

Get a better grasp on what the overall process looks like, from choosing the correct certification and studying with the right resources, to scheduling your exam. Online courses and study groups are a great help.

Finding that balance between study time and practice test time will help you feel ready and confident on test day. Keeping abreast of any new developments in the Microsoft stack will guide you in selecting the best certifications to further your career aspirations.

By following a logical sequence of learning, you acquire skills that are relevant across the industry, greatly enhancing career opportunities. Here’s how to get there and earn certification in the most effective way possible.

Key Takeaways

• Microsoft certifications boost your career by honing your expertise and increasing your marketability. Such an improvement can lead to stronger job opportunities and higher wages.

• Certification is proof of your in-demand skills with Microsoft technologies, setting you apart from non-certified peers and demonstrating your dedication to continuing education and career advancement.

• Certified professionals unlock exclusive resources, including training materials and community support. These tools allow you to further your development and stay on the cutting edge of industry trends.

• Getting to know the various Microsoft certs is a good start toward charting your career path. Find the right certification path for you, from the foundational, associate, or expert level.

• Preparing for certification exams involves selecting the appropriate certification, utilizing study materials, enrolling in training courses, and practicing with sample tests to ensure success.

• Post your certification successes on networks like LinkedIn to help build your professional brand. This will inspire others and advance you in expanding your network within the tech community.

Why Get Microsoft Certified

By earning a Microsoft certification, you open up a world of career advancement possibilities. It provides opportunities for higher pay, promotions, and new career paths. This certification improves your career trajectory, getting you on the right path toward fulfilling your future aspirations in various Microsoft Office Specialist jobs.

Industry-wide, certified professionals are in high demand, further demonstrating the value of certification. There’s no substitute for hearing success stories from your peers, where getting certified has dramatically accelerated their career trajectory, especially in the cyber security field.

Microsoft certifications help you prove your skills and expertise. They serve as an important signal to future employers of your mastery of Microsoft technologies. This certification sets you apart from your non-certified competitors, helping you to shine in tight talent markets.

Furthermore, earning these credentials earns you respect from your peers and industry leaders, proving your dedication to continuous professional development. Getting certified unlocks a world of exclusive resources, including the ability to browse certifications and access training materials tailored to your needs.

Additionally, Microsoft makes community forums available exclusively for certified professionals. These resources help you stay ahead of the curve with trends and new technologies emerging in the industry, ensuring you remain competitive.

In addition, certified individuals save money on future Microsoft certification exams, and courseware training and learning paths — providing an incentive and ability to keep advancing their skills. Along with improved skills and productivity, the IT workforce that gets certified usually earns more money and has better career prospects.

According to Global Knowledge, certified employees make an average of 15% more than their non-certified counterparts. This monetary gain is combined with the advantage of greater job security, since certified professionals tend to have greater tenure.

Understanding Microsoft Certifications

What Are Microsoft Certifications

Microsoft certifications serve an important purpose in the tech industry. They are a measure of skill and command over the use of Microsoft products.

These certifications validate your skills and knowledge, showing you can effectively use tools like Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, and others. They are the gold standard for technical roles that need a deep level of expertise with Microsoft technologies.

Certifications are grouped into foundational, associate, and expert levels, with each group testing different skills. One of the biggest strengths of these globally recognized certifications is that they are in high demand, making them a smart career investment.

Getting certified can lead to increased income and promotions, with reports showing 35% of technical professionals experienced a rise in earnings. Certified IT professionals just plain do better—26% better than their peers.

Further, 92% of certified professionals say they have increased confidence in their skills.

Types of Microsoft Certifications

The certifications cover areas such as cloud, data, and productivity solutions. Popular certifications include MCA Azure Administrator, MCE Azure Solutions Architect, and MCE Microsoft 365 Enterprise Administrator.

These certifications help you stand out in competitive job markets. Remember, you have six months to renew a certification after it expires, with the renewal assessment accessible through Microsoft Learn.

Preparing for Microsoft Certification Exams

1. Choose the Right Certification

Picking the right Microsoft certification is a crucial first step. Align your choice with your career goals and interests. Look into job listings to see which certifications employers prefer. This helps you match your skills with the right certification.

Evaluate where you stand skill-wise and consider future trends in the industry. Microsoft’s role-based certifications reflect market demands, making it easier to find the right fit.

2. Explore Study Materials and Resources

To truly prepare, you need to be equipped with the best materials. Essential resources include books and online courses, practice exams, and Microsoft Learn for structured paths.

Community forums for shared insights and free resources from Microsoft are also valuable. Nothing beats real, hands-on experience with technology; this is especially true with Azure exams. All the topics are well-documented for more in-depth knowledge.

3. Enroll in Training Courses

Determine trusted training providers for your selected certification. Compare different formats, such as online versus in-person instruction, and select the one that best fits your preferred learning style.

Seek out available scholarships or other forms of assistance to help make training more affordable.

4. Practice with Sample Tests

Practice exams are an important part of becoming accustomed to the various formats. They serve to determine where you’re at in your level of readiness and identify areas that will require further study.

Practice exams, while not a substitute for hands-on experience, are useful and often AI-driven.

5. Join Study Groups

Benefits of study groups include accountability, diverse perspectives, and shared resources, which can enhance proficiency in key office programs and prepare learners for certification paths.

Registering for Certification Exams

Create a Microsoft Account

The first step to register for certification exams is creating a Microsoft account. Use care when entering personal information, since this will be associated with your future certification profile. After you fill out all of your information, confirm your email address.

This simple step does double duty as it not only activates your account but gets you set up to receive important information and notifications. Your Microsoft account will give you access to a certification dashboard. You can conveniently track your exam progress, view your results, and control your certifications all from there.

Schedule Exam Online

Scheduling your exam is easy. Go to the Microsoft certification homepage to select your exam. Once you feel prepared, choose a nearby test center location or come to take an exam remotely online, whichever you prefer.

Look at the calendar of available dates/times and ensure they work for your schedule. After you’ve made your selection, finalize your appointment and write down any confirmation number or information for use later. Keep in mind that you can register for exams up to 90 days in advance and can register for two exams at the same time.

Understand Exam Policies

Acclimating yourself with exam day policies is important. Understanding the policies regarding proctoring, ID requirements, and what materials you can bring will help you avoid any surprises. Know the penalties for policy infractions, including possible disqualification.

Get ready for some new, exciting, and interactive elements! Please note that it can take up to 24 hours for the results to appear in your Microsoft Learn profile. Lastly, don’t forget to bring an acceptable form of ID, as listed in our ID policy.

Taking the Certification Exam

Taking the certification exam is more than just studying for it. It’s about ensuring you’re mentally and physically ready to perform your best. A full night’s rest and healthy breakfast will make a world of difference to your focus.

Before your exam day, please make a checklist of what you need to bring—ID, confirmation of exam details, etc. These things are crucial to ensuring a seamless check-in experience at the test center. A controlled environment means you can concentrate without any technical distractions.

Exam Day Tips

Getting there early will give you time for check-in and time to get comfortable before the exam starts. We recommend you bring required identification as these are required for entry.

Avoiding test anxiety is important. Practicing deep breathing before you begin can make a big difference in keeping you calm and focused. When you first start, take your time to read each question carefully and budget your time accordingly.

This method helps to make sure you’re not cramming at the last minute to take the exam.

Time Management Strategies

Plan the amount of time you will spend on each section using the full exam time as your guide. Answer questions you are sure of before anything else, locking in those points.

A timer might be useful to keep pace and make sure you have time to come back and review answers.

Handling Exam Stress

Use stress-reduction techniques such as mindfulness to reduce test anxiety. Don’t cram for the exam; do focus on your preparations.

Find support from others who have passed.

Receiving Exam Results

How to Access Results

To view your results, sign in to your Microsoft account and go to the certification dashboard. From this area, you can see your exam results, which typically show up just minutes after you finish the exam!

It can take 24 hours for your score to update in the Certifications tab of your Learn profile. You will need to go to the exam to locate the more detailed score reports, such as subscores.

Watch the email address associated with your account for alerts. Consider checking on your certification status periodically and being aware of any renewal dates approaching at least 6 months in advance.

Understanding Score Reports

Knowing how to read your score report is an important first step in figuring out what to do next. Take a look to figure out what you did well and what you need to work on.

The report gives you a detailed breakdown of your scores by topic, so you can focus your studying more efficiently next time. For exams taken through Pearson VUE and Certiport, score reports can be viewed online.

Whatever the case, make sure to celebrate your achievements, and if you find yourself needing a retake, you’ll be able to schedule one 24 hours after your initial attempt.

Keep in mind, your passing score is based on a scaled score, not a 70% or any other percentage. Don’t forget to use this opportunity to set new goals and plan how you’ll achieve them in future years.

Maintaining Microsoft Certifications

Maintaining your Microsoft certification is an important part of ensuring that you remain on the cutting edge of your profession. Certifications validate your technical experience and expertise, helping you stand out as a professional.

It’s important to recertify these credentials on a regular basis in order to keep deriving value from them. 92% of certified professionals report increased confidence in their skillset, and 27% have experienced upward mobility in their careers, including promotions.

Renewal Requirements

Each Microsoft certification has specific renewal requirements. Role-based and specialty certifications expire after one year, and you have six months to renew them from the date they expire.

You can renew by taking an assessment on Microsoft Learn. It’s important to know the timeframe for each renewal to keep your certifications valid. Ensure you have the necessary documentation or proof of continued education ready for renewal.

Regularly checking your certification status helps avoid any lapses.

Continuing Education Options

Microsoft provides many continuing education options. Joining a webinar, attending a workshop, or enrolling in an online course will deepen your expertise.

In addition to the access it provides, engaging with the Microsoft community opens up new networking and learning opportunities. Think about getting other certifications that will round out your skills.

For instance, the AI-102 exam is currently required for some of these credentials, having replaced AI-100 in 2021. The average cost for these exams is about $165, although this may vary.

Sharing Certification Achievements

Not only can sharing your Microsoft certification achievements with your network help you find new professional opportunities. This step is an important one in providing proof of your expertise and can capture the eyes of employers looking for skilled talent.

In fact, seventy-seven percent of professionals receive tangible benefits within six months of getting that certification. How you share these achievements can really make a difference! Microsoft Learn has simplified sharing your accomplishments directly to Twitter and LinkedIn. You’ll require a public Learn profile in order to verify your credentials.

Update Professional Profiles

Updating your professional online profiles is a critical first step to maximizing the value of your new credentials. It all begins by updating your LinkedIn profile.

Include a special section on your resume to showcase your certifications. Telling your employer or clients about your newly acquired skills helps improve their trust and confidence in your abilities.

Consider these certifications as conversation starters in any networking scenario to help establish your skills and knowledge.

Leverage Social Media Platforms

Social media, if your organization has a presence, can be an incredibly powerful tool to share your achievements as well. Social media platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter, and the new certification-friendly platform Acclaim are perfect for this.

Enlist with others and join online communities focused on Microsoft certifications to meet and engage with similarly minded professionals.

It’s a simple fact — using relevant hashtags increases your visibility. Interacting and engaging with posts from Microsoft and certified classmates allows you to develop your network.

Conclusion

Becoming Microsoft certified can help you find new opportunities. It enhances your overall skill set and helps your resume stand out. You’re all set to start getting certified—from learning about the different types of certifications available, to preparing and taking your first exam! Every step takes you further down the path to becoming a Microsoft master. Once you’ve passed the exam, be sure to promote your achievement. Showing off your accomplishments can have a profound impact on your career. Regularly updating your certification helps you maintain your competitive edge. Want to get started today? Explore the exciting world of Microsoft certifications and get started on your path! Your hopeful future self will thank you for it!

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I get Microsoft certified?

Earning Microsoft certifications can help you further your career goals, especially in roles related to key office programs. They prove your proficiency, make you more employable, and can even lead to better salaries.

What types of Microsoft certifications are available?

Microsoft offers a wide range of certifications for various roles and skill levels, including Microsoft Office Specialist jobs, covering Azure, Microsoft 365, and Dynamics 365 for administrators, developers, and solution architects.

How can I prepare for a Microsoft certification exam?

Take advantage of Microsoft’s official study guides and practice test exams to prepare for certification paths, as practical experience with key office programs is crucial.

How do I register for a Microsoft certification exam?

Sign up using the Microsoft Certification Dashboard to browse certifications. Register for your exam of choice, select a local test center or online option, and pay your exam fee.

How long does it take to receive Microsoft exam results?

Results are usually ready in just a few minutes after you finish the exam, and you'll receive an email confirmation with the exam details page specifying your detailed results.

How do I maintain my Microsoft certification?

Ensure you are aware of Microsoft’s continuing education requirements. Further, some certifications need to be renewed or involve taking new exams to ensure their continued validity.

How can I share my Microsoft certification achievements?

Utilize Microsoft’s Certification Dashboard to browse certifications and publish your digital badge on LinkedIn, showcasing your proficiency in key office programs to prospective employers.