IT Learning, Training and Certification

Friday, 19 September 2014

Updates to the MCSA Tracks for Windows Server 2012 and SQL Server 2012

Effective from Monday the 15th of September, Microsoft have updated their MCSA tracks for the MCSA SQL Server and the MCSA Server 2012. This makes the MCSA similar to the MCSA for Server 2003 and MCDBA in that you now have options and electives to gain the certification where up to now for Windows Server 2012 and SQL Server 2012 you had to go to do additional exams to diversify your credentials and skillsets. This change now give you the option to have an elective as part of your 3 exam track to MCSA.

MCSA Windows Server 2012
For the MCSA Windows Server 2012 this will give the option to diversify your credential with a choice of Office 365, Hyper-V or Administration of a SQL Server 2012 skillsets.

The Exam 74-409: Server Visualization with Windows Server Hyper-V and System Center will also give you a specialist designation so if that one is part of your track you will be both MCSA Windows Server 2012 and Microsoft Specialist certification in Server Visualization.

MCSA SQL Server 2012

For the MCSA SQL Server 2012 this will allow you to enhance your skillets with Windows Server 2012 or C# Programming skills.

The Exam 70-483: Programming in C#, will also give you a specialist designation so if that one is part of your track you will be both MCSA SQL Server 2012 and Microsoft Specialist certification in Visual Studio.

This change to the certification paths is a positive step allowing you to adapt to some extent your path to match your goals and have a well rounded skillset after completing the MCSA without having to sit additional courses and exams.

Monday, 8 September 2014

How to book a Microsoft exam with Pearson VUE

Over the last week or so there have been a few questions about how to book a Microsoft Exam through Pearson VUE online. The booking method is different from the how it was booked through the Prometric site. So here is a quick blog post on how to book and what the changes are.

Microsoft where with both Prometric and Pearson VUE up to 2007 when they changed to be solely with Prometric and Cisco went to Pearson VUE only. Starting September 4th 2014 Microsoft are beginning the move to Pearson VUE with the deadline of December 31st for all Microsoft exams to be exclusively available through Pearson VUE. For our testing center this allows us to dedicate our resources to Pearson VUE testing and upgrade and increase the capacity of our Pearson VUE Select testing center.

Why is Microsoft Making the Change??? (From the MS/Pearson VUE FAQ)

"Microsoft has a long history of testing with Pearson VUE and its Certiport business. Between the two businesses, Microsoft has worked with Pearson VUE for more than 15 years. Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) and Microsoft Technology Associate (MTA) academic exams will continue to be delivered via the Certiport test center network as they have been up to this point. However, Microsoft is expanding its relationship with Pearson VUE beyond its Certiport delivery to include delivery of the Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) exams and MTA exams through Pearson VUE Authorized Test Centers beginning September 4, 2014. Over the months and years ahead, Microsoft plans to introduce other innovations designed to enhance the candidate experience as part of this expanded relationship with Pearson VUE."

So for those who need a little guidance on how to book your exam through the new process I have put together a small Step by Step Guide ):

To get started you will need to navigate to your preferred exam and login to your Microsoft Account. Firstly open your browser and go to https://www.Microsoft.com/learning or just click the link :)

Find your exam through the “Certifications & Exams” section

When you select an subject or certification you will go to a page similar to the below.

From here click on the required exam that you are requesting to book/schedule.

You are then presented with the details for the exam including the rate excluding VAT and Card charges, from here select Pearson VUE.

Select your booking method, for scheduling for a date at a public testing centre select “I will be scheduling for a future date at a test centre” and click “Next”

Select your preferred exam/testing language, and click “Next”.

Tip: If Your first language is not available and are testing in a different language you may be able to take advantage of special consideration, generally extra time, to see if you can avail of this phone VUE directly (In Ireland from a landline only it is 1800 552 131)

Confirm that the exam details are correct on screen if not select “Previous” and change as appropriate if you are happy to proceed select “Schedule this Exam”

Your address that you have registered with your Live Id will be listed, if you are looking for the closest testing centre from here click “Search” or alternatively enter your preferred location and click “Search”. This will give you a list of the closest testing locations.

Following this you will be given a list of test centres by distance to your entered location or address. You can now check which testing centre you wish to take it at and click next.

You are then given a list of available dates at that center, you can click on the individual date to get a list of available times.

You then click on the most appropriate time slot and this will bring you to the order screen.

This "My Order" screen lists the details for the exam, language, duration, location, date, time and total cost with tax/VAT.

Next it will bring you to a screen to confirm your personal details, then agree to policy, credit card details, submit order and finally you are given your receipt.

Tip: Print out the receipt if you need to claim this back from your employer.

Note: If you do not agree to terms and conditions you will not be able to continue to book the exam.

Thursday, 9 May 2013

Want to learn to develop Windows 8 Apps, for free?

And get yourself ready for the 70-480 exam not free anymore L

Microsoft have some great content up on the Microsoft Virtual Academy to help you self-study and up skill yourself. In this post I am covering the free tools that Microsoft have out there for helping you learn and develop in HTML5 with JavaScript and CSS3, mainly for the purposes of developing Windows 8 Store apps.

Software

Firstly you need the software on your local machine to practice on and develop. Microsoft provide a light free versions of Visual Studio 2012. These are called Express editions and there are a few versions targets at different functionality Web, Windows 8, Windows Phone etc… Don’t worry about the 30 day trail and activation you will need to get an activation key but this is free. They are limited compared to the full versions but more than enough to get started and to develop some great Windows 8 Store apps. You can get your copy below:

http://www.microsoft.com/visualstudio/eng/downloads#d-2012-express

eLearning

Now you have your installation installed and ready to go. How do I learn? Microsoft have done a great job of putting together resources to help you learn, up skill and certify for Visual Studio 2012. My favourite resource at the moment is Microsoft Virtual Academy, the relevant video to get you started in developing Windows 8 Apps using HTML5 with JavaScript and CSS3. They have a track with CBT nugget style videos from MS Evangelists Jeremy Foster and Michael Palermo. The course focuses on using HTML5/CSS3/JavaScript to implement programming logic, define and use variables, perform looping and branching, develop user interfaces, capture and validate user input. Once you sign up you can also vie with other Microsoft Virtual Academy students both in your local region for bragging rights in the top ranking weekly. If you want to take it to the next level this course also covers the topics for the 70-480 Exam Programming in HTML5 with JavaScript and CSS3.

https://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/training-courses/learn-html5-with-javascript-css3-jumpstart-training

eBook

To expand on and reinforce what you cover on the videos Microsoft have also provided an ebook/manual “Programming Windows 8 Apps with HTML, CSS and JavaScript”. This is a full ebook not just a couple of sample chapters it is a full book aimed at getting you up to speed and developing your first apps.

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/microsoft_press/archive/2012/10/29/free-ebook-programming-windows-8-apps-with-html-css-and-javascript.aspx

Code Samples:

For inspiration and demonstration there are many code samples and examples of apps.

For Windows 8 sample apps: (Broken down C++,C#, JavaScript and VB.NET)

http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/windowsapps/Windows-8-Modern-Style-App-Samples

For snippets of code, mini apps and examples of functionality there is codeSHOW:

http://codeshow.codeplex.com/

If you have any legit, free resources please post them.

Last Chance to upgrade your MCSA 2003 or MCSE 2003

This July 31^st will be the last day to upgrade your MCSA 2003 to MCSA 2012 and or upgrade your MCSE 2003 to MCSA 2012 so can you upgrade to MCSA 2012 and what is the best path?

If you have completed the MCSA 2003 or MCSE 2003, you have few options.

Option 1: Upgrade just to MCSA Server 2008:

Take and pass exams 70-648 and 70-646.

For prepping up for the exam there are lots of resources out there. There are MS Press books, Official MS courses and eLearning courses to help you prep.

Once you have passed both exams you are then a MCSA Server 2008 and now have another choice to make to either stay at that point or to upgrade your newly achieved MCSA 2008 to MCSA 2012.

Option 2: Upgrade your 2003 all the way to 2012

Once you complete the upgrade to 2008 as mentioned in Option 1 you can then upgrade your MCSA 2008 to MCSA 2012 with one exam, the 70-417 Upgrading Your Skills to MCSA Windows Server 2012. Passing the 70-417 will give you the MCSA 2012, provided you already have the MCSA 2008/MCITP:SA

Option 3: To start from scratch from the MCSA 2012 track.

To achieve the MCSA Server 2012 without prerequisite certification you can take 3 exams 70-410, 70-411 and 70-412. There are currently loads or resources out there for this including free and paid resources MS Press books, Official Training MeasureUp sample exams as well as MCSA in 90 day programmes and Virtual Academy videos.

Although this is not really an upgrade option, it same number of exams, 3, as doing the MCSA 2003 Upgrade to 2008 to 2012 and is focused on one version of the technology.

Which option is best for you?

Well a lot depends on you, the question that will really decide is “Can you complete the 70-648 before the 31^st of July” if not then your only option is option 3. If you can get it done the choice is yours to either get the MCSA 2008, and/or MCSA 2012 or just to start from scratch for the MCSA 2012.

The opinion of some of our Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCT’s) is to go straight for the MCSA Server 2012. They reasoned that it is easier to focus on a singular technology version and to the longevity it provides compared to the older technology.