- Enterprise Project Management Solution
- What certifications are available?
- Know the lingo
- Reference: Microsoft Project Certification Matrix
What certifications are available?
There are currently three Microsoft EPM platforms out in the market today: 2003, 2007, and 2010. There are three sets of exams for each platform. I’m not going to bother describing the 2003 certifications, as they will be retired soon enough.
Microsoft offers a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification if you pass any one of the Project exams for 2007 or 2010. To obtain a MCITP certification, you will need to pass at least three exams related to Project 2007, and you probably will need either two or three exams related to Project 2010 (though the official word isn’t available at this time). My suspicion is that it will require the two 2010 exams described below, and possibly something related to SharePoint, such as the 70-667 Microsoft SharePoint 2010, Configuring exam. When the word is out, I’ll post an update in the comments below.
If you will only work with Microsoft Project apart from Project Server, or will only be using Project Server (and not administering it), then a MCTS is really all you will need.
Pursue the Microsoft Certified Information Technology Specialist (MCITP) only if you will be a Project Server administrator or providing implementation and configuration services to your own organization or other companies.
2010 Exams
70-177: Configuring Project Server 2010: Project Server 2010 certification exam is already available, released in June, 2010. This exam’s focus is on installing, managing, configuring, and administering the server solutions. Expect questions like how to backup and restore the server, or how to configure OLAP cubes. If you will just be using Project Server, don’t take this exam! If, however, you will be administering a Project Server environment, this exam is just what you need to ensure you have a solid understanding of the product.
70-178: Microsoft Project 2010, Managing Projects: This Microsoft Project 2010 exam enters its beta release in November, and will likely release to the public by the end of the year. Its focus is on using the Microsoft Project desktop client, with questions that relate to both Standard and Professional versions. Expect questions on things like how to build a resource-loaded schedule with dependencies, set up a resource calendar, share the Timeline view, or how to synchronize a project schedule with a SharePoint task list.
2007 Exams
Four Enterprise Project Management exams are available for the Project 2007 suite of products:
- 70-632, Project 2007, Managing Projects: This exam focuses on those who will use only the desktop version of Project Standard 2007 or Project Professional 2007.
- 70-633: Project Server 2007, Managing Projects: This exam focuses on those who will manage individual projects in a collaborative environment using Project Server.
- 70-634: Project Server 2007, Managing Projects and Programs: This exam focuses on how to integrate several different projects into a program (defined as a collection of related projects that are managed together).
- 70-639: Configuring Project Server 2007: This exam focuses on how to install, configure, and support Project Server. Only those people who will serve as Project Server administrators should take this exam.