7 new Microsoft MCSA and MCSE certifications
Microsoft have announced the launch of 6 new MCSA certifications and 1 new MCSE certification. This demonstrates Microsoft’s commitment to a growing Azure, Big Data, Business Intelligence (BI) and Dynamics community.
These new certifications and courses will support Microsoft partners looking to upskill and validate knowledge in these technologies.
Following the huge changes announced in September, these new launches will simplify your path to certification. They'll minimise the number of steps required to earn certifications while allowing you to align your skills to industry-recognised areas of competence.
This blog will outline the new certifications Microsoft have announced, focusing on the technologies, skills and job roles they align to.
So, what's new?
MCSA: Microsoft Dynamics 365
This MCSA: Microsoft Dynamics 365 certification is one of three Dynamics 365 certifications launched. It demonstrates your expertise in upgrading, configuring and customising the new Microsoft Dynamics 365 platform.
There are currently no MOCs aligned to this certification. We have developed our own Firebrand material that will prepare you for the following two exams needed to achieve this certification:
- MB2-715: Microsoft Dynamics 365 customer engagement Online Deployment
- MB2-716: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Customization and Configuration
This certification will validate you have the skills for a position as a Dynamics 365 developer, implementation consultant, technical support engineer or system administrator.
This certification is a prerequisite for the MCSE: Business Applications.
MCSA: Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Operations
The second of these three Dynamics 365 certs is the MCSA: Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Operations. Here, you’ll get the skills to manage a Microsoft SQL Server database and customise Microsoft Dynamics 365.
On this course, you’ll cover the following MOC:
The second part of this course, of which there is currently no MOC, will cover Firebrand's own material.
To achieve this certification you’ll need to pass the following exams:
- 70-764: Administering a SQL Database Infrastructure
- MB6-890: Microsoft Development AX Development Introduction
Earning this cert proves you have the technical competence for positions such as Dynamics 365 developer, solutions architect or implementer.
Just like the MCSA: Microsoft Dynamics 365, this certification is also a prerequisite to the new MCSE: Business Applications certification.
MCSE: Business Applications
Earning an MCSE certification validates a more advanced level of knowledge. The MCSE: Business Applications certification proves an expert-level competence in installing, operating and managing Microsoft Dynamics 365 technologies in an enterprise environment.
In order to achieve this certification you’ll be required to pass either the MCSA: Microsoft Dynamics 365 or the MCSA: Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Operations. You’ll also be required to choose one of the following electives to demonstrate expertise on a business-specific area:
- MB2-717: Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Sales
- MB2-718: Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Customer Service
- MB6-892: Microsoft Dynamics AX Distribution and Trade
- MB6-893: Microsoft Dynamics AX Financials
Earning your MCSE: Business Applications certification will qualify you for the roles such as Dynamics 365 developer, implementation consultant, technical support engineer, or system administrator.
MCSA: Big Data Engineering
This MCSA: Big Data Engineering certification demonstrates you have the skills to design and implement big data engineering workflows with the Microsoft cloud ecosystem and Microsoft HD Insight to extract strategic value from your data.
On this course you’ll cover the following MOCs:
- 20775A: Perform Data Engineering on Microsoft HDInsight – expected 28/6/2017
- 20776A: Engineering Data with Microsoft Cloud Services – expected 08/2017
And take the following exams:
- 70-775: Perform Data Engineering on Microsoft HD Insight – available now in beta
- 70-776: Engineering Data with Microsoft Cloud Services – expected Q1 2018
This course is aimed at data engineers, data architects, data scientists and data developers.
Earning this MCSA acts as a prerequisite, and your first step, to achieving the MCSE: Data Management and Analytics credential.
MCSA: BI Reporting
This MCSA: BI Reporting certification proves your understanding of data analysis using Power BI. You’ll learn the skills to create and manage enterprise business intelligence solutions.
The MOCs you’ll cover on this course include:
In order to achieve the certification, you’ll take the following exams:
- 70-778: Analyzing Data with Power BI - expected Q1 2018
- 70-768: Developing SQL Data Models
This certification is aimed at database professionals needing to create enterprise BI solutions and present data using alternative methods.
This certification is a prerequisite for the MCSE: Data Management and Analytics credential.
MCSA: Cloud Database Development
This MCSA Cloud Database Development certification will prove you have the skills to build and implement NoSQL solutions with DocumentDB and Azure Search for the Azure data platform
This certification covers the following MOCs:
- 40441: Designing and Implementing Cloud Data Platform Solutions
- 20777: Implementing NoSQL Solutions with DocumentDB and Azure Search – expected in August 2017
In order to achieve the certification, you'll have to pass the following exams:
- 70-473: Designing and Implementing Cloud Data Platform Solutions
- 70-777: Implementing NoSQL Solutions with DocumentDB and Azure Search – expected in Q1 2018
This course is aimed at specialist professionals looking to validate their skills and knowledge of developing NoSQL solutions for the Azure data platform.
This certification is also a prerequisite certification to the MCSE: Data Management and Analytics credential.
MCSA: Data Science
This course will teach you the skills in operationalising Microsoft Azure machine learning and Big Data with R Server and SQL R Services. You'll learn to process and analyse large data sets using R and use Azure cloud services to build and deploy intelligent solutions.
This certification covers the following MOCs:
- 20773A: Analyzing Big Data with Microsoft R – in development, expected May 2017
- 20774A: Perform Cloud Data Science with Azure Machine Learning – in development, expected June 2017
To achieve this certification you’ll be required to pass the following exams:
- 70-773: Analyzing Big Data with Microsoft R – available now in beta
- 70-774: Perform Cloud Data Science with Azure Machine Learning – available now in beta
This certification, which is your first step to the MCSE: Data Management and Analytics cert is best suited to data science or data analyst job roles.
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