Tech certification demand is at a all-time high as people recognize the value of these training courses. What can a Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) certification do for you?
All Microsoft certifications are an asset within the IT industry no matter where you are in your career. They can make all the difference in creating new opportunities, changing the course of your career, getting promoted, and increasing your salary.
The Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) certification is one of the most fundamental, critical options for everyone who is just emerging in the broad world of IT.
While Microsoft certifications in any specialized area are extremely valuable no matter where you are in your career, the MTA certification is especially crucial for anyone who is just starting out.
Why it’s Important
Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCPs) are in high demand throughout the field in every sector and many of them started their path as MTAs.
MTA certification is an entry-level certification that helps potential candidates stand out to recruiters. If you are currently a student, it may even improve your GPA, further bolstering your appeal.
Passing the MTA exam means that you have met the basic requirements that demonstrate a thorough understanding of fundamental concepts in IT. While anyone can say this on their resume, few can prove it. It is a recruiter’s nightmare to bring a promising new candidate on board only to find that their actual Microsoft aptitude is nowhere near what is required for the job.
Some compare the MTA certification to entry-level Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification as it does share some similarities. Anyone who wants to work with Microsoft technology at any level must have mastered a basic understanding of Microsoft and its major programs.
Though the MOS training is focused more on proficiency in specific Microsoft applications, MTA training covers a broad range of technical concepts and knowledge.
Building Your Foundation
As with any beginner-level certification, an MTA is the first step towards many more specialty certifications that you will pursue as you build your career. In addition to proving your knowledge and skills, having your MTA certification also reflects ambition and drive.
In a survey evaluating employers’ perceptions of IT training and certification, 86 percent of recruiters said that certifications in IT are either medium or high priority. An impressive 91 percent indicated that they consider certifications as part of their criteria during the hiring process in another survey conducted by Microsoft.
When it comes to asking IT professionals about their experience with certifications, additional research from Network World revealed that 60 percent of them said gaining a certification led to a new job.
MTA certification can also serve as an important stepping-stone if you want to shift gears slightly in your IT path. There are some specialization options that you can select depending on your specific interests.
For instance, if you are more inclined towards studying databases, you can choose a track more focused on that, or if your interests lie in software development, you can follow a software track. Whichever track you choose, MTA certification can help establish the direction of your budding IT career with a solid foundation.
What You’ll Learn
Some of the most popular and arguably the most valuable MTA certifications are those that set the stage for specialization.
The MTA IT Infrastructure Windows Server course will prepare you with everything you need to know for confident Windows Server installation and management. You will gain insight into network hardware, infrastructure, protocol, and services, as well as server installation, performance, and more.
The MTA Database SQL Server training covers essential basics of working with SQL Server, including core concepts in understanding databases, how to create and alter databases, and understanding database storage.
If software is more intriguing, a MTA Intro to Programming course will introduce you to software development, object-oriented programming, and both web and desktop applications. You will begin to create your own coding and learn the beginning essentials of software development.
Again, MTA certification is meant to prove that you have established a fundamental understanding of key concepts in IT. All of these training courses will give you the tools you need to foster further growth in the field and give you the base on which you can build your specialization.
MCPs have almost guaranteed employability due to their expertise with Microsoft technology. Nearly every organization, large and small, utilizes Microsoft platforms and applications.
They need the right people who understand the technology, even if only at a basic level. MTA certification shows without question that you have mastered the fundamental concepts of Microsoft technology and it can offer a critical foot in the door for entry-level candidates.
For those looking to shift their IT career in a fresh direction, a MTA certification can also be the first step towards that new path. In sum, the MTA certification is highly valuable and can carry plenty of unique benefits in many applications.