On doing SharePoint certifications and becoming a Microsoft Partner

Not too many moons ago, a lot of IT people bickered on the value of certifications. Granted, the old days of obtaining MCSE for Windows Server 2000 are long gone, and maybe times were a bit different. It seemed like everyone + their dog had MCSE, and it diluted the value of actually having studied and passing the certification exams.

SharePoint certifications explained

Certifications for SharePoint are something that I’m actually happy to see and work with. For the uninitiated, there’s a total of four “real” certification exams, with the outcome of two actual certifications:

So if you are an aspiring developer, you should do 70-573 and 70-576. For the IT Pro, you should do 70-667 and 70-668.

In addition, the following certifications are highly useful for partner companies and certain individuals:

Microsoft Certified Master

If you pass all four of the core exams (70-573, 70-576, 70-667, 70-668) and ache for more knowledge, consider MCM – or Microsoft Certified Master. It’s by no means cheap ($18,500 + $125 + other costs, such as unbillable time, travel expenses etc).

Until now, the value of MCM has been two-fold: On one hand, it’s a great way of showing your expertise and mastery in SharePoint among the few. On the other hand, it’s a lot of money for something many companies fail to recognize as something special. I think the true value of MCM varies heavily based on region and the type of work you are planning on doing.

During Spring 2011 it’s been evident that MCM is gaining more recognition and thus more value for the individual aiming for MCM.

How much time should you invest?

This is a personal preference. People learn via different methods: Some prefer learning by reading or doing, others learning by listening and seeing. It’s crucial to have hands-on experience on the product rather than just literal understanding of the possibilities and features.

I normally recommend a 2 month preparation time for any of the SharePoint 2010 exams. This differs a lot as someone who has been working with SharePoint since version 2001 will have less challenges than someone who just did their first SharePoint deployment.

Studying for any of the four core exams can be done on the job, if you are prepared to invest 5 to 10 hours per week for studying.

Becoming a Microsoft Partner company

Also, while it’s nice to gain personal gratification and proof by studying and completing certifications, they are highly valuable to any company aiming to attain a Microsoft Partner competency – such as Portals and Collaboration for any SharePoint (partner) organization.

The value of becoming a Microsoft Partner as a company is pretty evident. See details here.