Current IT Certification

I.T. certification is ever-changing. It often doesn't move forwards as quickly as many believe though. Many Microsoft certifications for example have been around for over a decade, BUT the certification will have been updated many times inside that.

Over the last couple of years Microsoft in particular have been overhauling their certification tracks.

Long-time qualifications such as MCDBA (Microsoft Certified Database Administrator) have been replaced by newer more specialised and focused tracks using the MCTS & MCITP group qualifications; Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist and Microsoft Certified Information Technology Professional.

Programs are also often subdivided into individual MOC tests (Microsoft Official Curriculum.)

The MCAD/MCSD (Microsoft Certified Applications/Solutions Developer) programs have also now been superceded by the MCPD (Microsoft Certified Professional Developer) programs, and are available in 'Web' or 'Application' specialities.

If all this sounds confusing; don't worry. It isn't actually that complicated and the only important thing really is that you are on the right one!

Far too many training companies are still training towards the old certifications, which means you'll end up with an out-of-date qualification and maybe worse: you might not be able to find anywhere to sit the actual exam without converting it to the new syllabus.

It's an expensive business for a training company to keep up to date with Microsoft, CompTIA, Cisco and Adobe certifications. Make sure your training provider isn't leaving you behind!

Sometimes, being bang up-to-date isn't that important, and in some areas it is totally critical. Here is a summary of old certification vs new certification tracks:

MICROSOFT Certification Area	Old Certification Track	New Certification Track
Database Admin & Management	MCDBA	MCITP:DBA & MCTS SQL
Applications/Web Programming	MCAD/MCSD	MCPD

With Network Administration and Engineering, the MCSA & MCSE tracks have recently been updated also. Commercially, the 2003 track is pretty much accepted as current, although Server 2008 has now been released. By the time someone starting a certification program now comes round to finishing, 2008 will be far more prevalent. Ensure that when you're training with an MCSA/MCSE 2003 program that it incorporates some kind of 2008 update element down the line.

CompTIA Certification: The current versions (as of January 2009) are:

CompTIA A+ (2009 exam syllabus) JUST UPDATED (Exams 220-701 & 220-702)

CompTIA Network+ (2009 exam syllabus) JUST UPDATED (Exam N10-004)

CompTIA Security+ (2008 exam syllabus)

CompTIA Server+ (2005 exam syllabus)

CompTIA Linux+ (2005 exam syllabus)

Adobe Certification changes yearly with each release of a new package update, so industry tends to be more lax on being up-to-date with this.

For instance, Adobe CS3 (Creative Suite 3) was the 2007-2008 version and towards the end of 2008, Adobe CS4 was released. Since it will take you the best part of a year to do an in-depth Adobe and Web program, you are automatically going to be in the situation where you get to the end and find a new version has been released! But since changes tend to often be minimal and generally consist of new additions rather than major changes to the current way of doing things, you can just pick up the extras when you get there.

The LearningLolly team has been helping people find the right certification track for years. The bigger question is often trying to choose which job or area will interest you the most while fulfilling your goals of career development.

Download your FREE Information Pack & E-Book on IT Careers and the industry - to help you evaluate and find the best possible route for you.

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