• Blog
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
  • Locations
1-844-BOOTCAMP
or 1-941-218-0007
Certification Camps
  • BOOTCAMPS
    • Microsoft 365 Enterprise
      • MCE Microsoft 365 Enterprise Administrator
      • MCE Microsoft 365 Teams Voice Engineer
      • MCA Microsoft 365 Messaging Administrator
      • MCA Microsoft 365 Security Administrator
      • MCA Microsoft 365 Teams Administrator
      • MCA Microsoft 365 Modern Desktop
    • Microsoft Azure Admin
      • MCE Azure Solutions Architect
      • MCE Azure DevOps Engineer
      • MCA Azure Administrator
      • MCA Azure Security Engineer
      • MCA Windows Server Hybrid Administrator
      • MCS Azure Virtual Desktop
    • Microsoft Azure Data
      • MCA Azure Database Administrator
      • MCA Azure Data Engineer
      • MCA Azure Data Analyst Power BI
    • Microsoft Power Platform
      • MCE Microsoft Power Platform Combo
      • MCE Power Platform Solution Architect
      • MCA Power Platform Functional Consultant
      • MCA Power Platform Developer
    • Microsoft Developer
      • MCE Azure DevOps Engineer
      • MCA Azure Developer
      • MCA Power Platform Developer
      • MCA Microsoft 365 Developer
    • Microsoft Security
      • MCE Cyber Security Architect Expert
      • MCA Identity & Access Admin
      • MCA Information Protection Admin
      • MCA Security Operations Analyst
    • Combo Classes
      • Azure Admin & Azure Architect
      • Azure Developer & Azure DevOps
      • Microsoft 365 Desktop & Enterprise Admin
      • Microsoft 365 Security & Enterprise Admin
      • Power Platform Consultant & Architect
    • Amazon Web Services
      • Architecting on AWS Accelerator
      • AWS Cloud Prac Solutions & Architect Associate
      • AWS Certified Developer Associate
      • AWS Certified DevOps Engineer Professional
    • CompTia
      • CompTia A+ Essentials
      • CompTIA Cloud+ 5 Days (1 Course, 1 Exam, 1 Cert)
      • CompTIA CySA+ (Cyber Security Analyst+)
      • CompTia Network+
      • CompTia Security+
    • Information Security
      • EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
      • (ISC)² CISSP
    • Cisco
      • Cisco CCNP Routing and Switching
      • Cisco CCNA
  • Find Training
    • Training By Job Role
      • Developer
      • Administrator
      • Architect
      • Data Engineer
      • DevOps
      • Security
    • Vendors
      • Microsoft
      • Amazon
      • Cisco
      • CompTIA
      • Ec-Council
    • Microsoft Technical
      • Azure
      • Microsoft 365
      • Power Platform
      • Security
      • Messaging
      • Modern Desktop
      • Windows Server
      • SQL Server
    • Click here to find your course
  • SCHEDULE
  • Role Based Certifications
  • Pay an Invoice
Home > Microsoft Bootcamps

What are Microsoft Role-Based Certifications?

July 19, 2019

microsoft role based certifications overview

If you follow tech news, you’ve likely heard about Microsoft’s new role-based certifications, but what are they, and what could they mean for your career?

In early 2019 Microsoft launched new certifications designed to offer career-focused qualifications specifically designed to neatly align with existing job roles.

While of course these new ‘role-based certifications’ do not replace Microsoft’s existing specialist certifications, they do offer an exciting new opportunity to become Microsoft-certified in skills and knowledge integral to your specific job role.

So, what exactly are these new ‘role-based certifications’, and what does the term even mean?

In this article we’ll be taking a closer look, and providing a general overview to everything you need to know.

Why the Change?

The first thing you may find yourself asking is why the change? Microsoft’s previous certifications have been more than successful, and result in highly knowledgeable individuals, right?

Microsoft defines this need to change as “keeping pace with today’s technical roles and requirements”, and when you think about this, the reasoning for role-based certifications becomes clear.

Within any company, be this tech-based or otherwise, IT roles are no longer so general as ‘administrator’ or ‘engineer’. Instead, each of these titles have sub headings such as ‘security systems engineer’, and some even subcategorize further and further into highly niche and specific roles.

It is these specific career roles that Microsoft aims to target with the new certifications rollout, aiming to provide training that is more focused and job specific instead of a general overview of a career sector.

Are the Standard Certifications Being Phased Out?

Absolutely not! Microsoft is not aiming to replace its traditional certifications, instead the role-based certifications are aimed to offer an alternative option to those who require it.

While it is true that Microsoft regularly retires old courses, firm favorites such as the core MCSE and MCSA are going nowhere.

The courses most likely to be affected by the introduction of the role-based certifications are those niche certifications which will be covered by the new courses, or those which reflect processes that are now deemed out of date.

Examples of some of the courses retired in late 2018, for example, include:

  • MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure
  • MCSA: Cloud Platform
  • MCSA: Linux on Azure

What’s new with the role-based certifications?

Microsoft has made navigating the new role-based certifications simple, breaking them down into four clear headings:

  • Apps and Infrastructure
  • Data and AI
  • Modern Workplace
  • Business Apps

In terms of the courses found under these headings, and who they may appeal to, we’ve created a simple table below to help give some insight:

Pathway Courses Careers
Apps & Infrastructure Azure-focused certifications Tailored to careers that work with building, developing, as well as securing Azure infrastructure, as well as providing troubleshooting solutions.
Data & AI Azure based, but focused on data work Data scientists, business analysts.
Modern Workplace Covering products such as Microsoft 365, Office 365, SharePoint, OneDrive, Team, and Azure AD Tailored to careers focused on operational efficiency and organizational collaboration.
Business Apps Microsoft Dynamics 365 Functional consultants

Role Based Certification Levels

The new role-based certifications also come with all new certification levels, designed to make Microsoft certification more approachable to a range of skill levels, as well as give employers a more detailed picture of a prospective employees’ proficiency.

While this did occur within the older system, with the MTA being viewed as entry-level, MSCA as intermediate, and MSCE as advanced, the new system provides greater clarity and helps simplify the distinctions which are as follows:

  • Level 1: Fundamentals
  • Level 2: Associate
  • Level 3: Expert

MTA/Fundamentals

The MTA now represents level 1 of Microsoft’s new role-based certification ladder, and qualifications at this level are ideal for those taking their first steps in IT.

They have no required pre-qualification, and will cover the basics of technological understanding, both practical and in theory. Put simply, they set participants up with a strong foundation of which they can build upon.

MCA Associate

This intermediate level is ideal for those who have some prior experience working with technology, or who already have some theoretical knowledge of it. If you have this, then you can skip over the fundamentals level certificate, and begin your certification journey at associate level.

Certifications at this level will work with more advanced skills, and an MCA/Associate must be taken before individuals can gain an expert level qualification.

MCE Expert

This is the highest-level qualification that participants can gain, and is tailored to IT professionals seeking career progression, or to specialize at an advanced level. Participants must have already achieved an associate level certification before undertaking and expert level course.

Final Thoughts

Oftentimes, a shake up in the infrastructure of a business that is already operating well can send shivers of doubt through us. We can all think of times when a business has needlessly introduced new measures, which unintentionally hindered the previously smooth operations we so enjoyed.

In the case of Microsoft’s new role-based certification system, however, this could not be further from the truth.

With this new qualification system, Microsoft is offering a great improvement, simplifying course levels, and aligning their certifications to best suit careers, instead of general overviews.

All in all, the role-based certifications off an exciting opportunity thousands of budding professionals are sure to seize with both hands.

Get Certified Fast

Take Certification Exams While Attending Boot Camp Training. Interact Face-To-Face With Vendor Certified Trainers.

96% of our students pass their certification on the first attempt with our camps.

View Bootcamps

Search our Blog

Popular Blog Posts

Azure Certifications Guide
Microsoft Certifications Guide
What is MCSE?
MCSA VS MCSE
How long to get MCSA Certified

Latest Blog Posts

  • Microsoft Azure Certifications Guide (2022 Update)
  • What are the Highest Microsoft Certifications?
  • What is the Microsoft Data Scientist Certification?
  • How Do I Become A Microsoft Certified Developer?
  • The Best IT Certifications in 2023

About

  • About Us
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
  • Blog

Bootcamps

  • SQL Server
  • Microsoft 365 Enterprise
  • Windows Server
  • Microsoft Azure Admin
  • Windows Client
  • Exchange Server
  • System Center
  • Microsoft Developer
  • Information Security
  • CompTia
  • Cisco

Vendors

  • Microsoft
  • Amazon
  • Cisco
  • CompTia
  • Ec-Council

Job Role

  • Developer
  • Administrator
  • Architect
  • Data Engineer
  • DevOps
  • Security

Registration

  • More Info
  • Register for a Bootcamp
  • Pay Invoice

Copyright © 2023 Certification Camps. All rights reserved.

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy