Microsoft Role-Based Certification

Last week Microsoft announced the retirement of the MCSA, MCSD and MCSE certifications (June this year) and followed that up with an announcement that there will be no more dedicated certification for Windows or SQL Server 2019 (see the Q&A at the bottom of this page).

I was initially surprised, SQL Server 2019 is what I would consider a major release and it seemed odd not to make certification for it available in the future. So what's the alternative? 

Step forward role-based certification.

Role-based certification isn't actually new, Microsoft first started focusing on this in September 2018 only now it's going to be pretty much the only route available, and I totally get it.  Yes, it sucks for those currently studying towards certification that will cease to exist in under four months, that to me seems really harsh and I can see why people are frustrated, 100%.

But for a long time I've been an advocate of people focusing their learning on the cloud. Until recently I hadn't taken an exam since the SQL Server 2005 MCTS but have since passed the Azure Fundamentals exam and I've seen lots of other people doing the same. To me it makes perfect sense; lots of businesses have either moved, are in the process of, or certainly thinking about moving to the cloud; in IT - you have to be part of that.

Role-based certification is also a great model for those new to IT. I frequently get asked how to get started in an IT career and I think role-based certification helps people visualise career paths and map out relevant certification. 100% certs don't guarantee jobs but they most definitely help to open doors.

It's all too easy for those of us who have been in a career for a long time to devalue certification and whilst I understand where that view comes from, when looking at it from the point of view of someone starting out, I'd say they're massively important, vital even.

In April 2020 the new Azure Database Administrator Associate certification starts and whilst SQL Server 2019 content will be part of this exam the title of the exam shows quite clearly what the priority is, but here's my concern. Things move really fast in the cloud, a lot faster than on premise and certainly a heck of a lot faster than exams, so can the new certification stay completely up to date be totally relevant to the roles they are based on? 

Whilst I'm surprised dedicated SQL Server 2019 certification has been binned I do like the new direction. I know the official blurb says the role based exams suit seasoned professionals too (and I'm sure they do to some degree) the biggest benefit is for those starting out on a career and for those people, I think it's a great move. 

In the defence of certification.

The usefulness of IT certification is a constant question and I don't actually think there's a definitive answer just lots of opinions, here's a couple:

https://www.scarydba.com/2019/08/26/certifications-are-a-bonus-not-a-path-to-employment/

https://itsalljustelectrons.blogspot.com/2017/04/Certified-And-Inexperienced-The-Kiss-Of-Death.html

Here's mine:

Certification is very useful.

Now I totally get why many people see them as surplus (or a bonus). I've met so many talented and highly skilled IT pros who don't have a single cert to their name and it has to be said that I've also met a few people who have an abundance of certs that haven't quite necessarily lived up to them.

There's also the age old problem of certification not equating to real-life experience, which is absolutely a fair point. At the end of the day you just cannot substitute actually doing the job, but does make certification a waste of time?

I honestly don't believe so. Although I only have one SQL related cert to my name (well I did but then it expired shortly after William the Conqueror took the helm) it proved to be an extremely valuable thing to have early on my career when it undoubtedly got me through the door to a few interviews where it was always mentioned (and subsequently led to my first "proper" DBA job).

Now it would be easy to ask that if they were that useful then why did I never take any more? In all honesty until recent times I've never really needed to but now with the emergence of so many new technologies I've hit the studying again. Taking certification in unfamiliar technology is a great way to learn because of the structured path that it provides and let's not forget the sense of achievement in actually gaining certification in something that has often started from very little knowledge.

I use the word achievement because gaining a cert really isn't easy, providing you do it in the right way. It takes hours upon hours of repeated studying, practice, not to mention an exam at the end of it which isn't everyone's favourite activity! Unfortunately though there are some short cuts available and there are people that take them but there's absolutely miles between someone who has taken a cert properly and someone who hasn't and that shouldn't devalue what certification stands for - that's not fair.

I've been on the other side of the interview table many times. For me certification really stands out and I can fully appreciate the efforts that people have taken to get it, and what it really means to them. I've interviewed people that are really trying hard to get into a role but they lack the significant experience but they've done the exam(s) to at least try to prove that they want to do it and for me that stands for a lot because I think it shows a great deal about the person, it's not just the cert.

Some people that I have met also take the certification path because they do stand for a certain level of expertise. I've seen more experienced people be very dismissive of certs, just like the MCTS which was the one I had. In fact I saw a whole social media conversation on that very subject shortly after I got mine. That really sucked because I think the point was missed; alright, I was in no way an expert (neither would I make out to be) but I'd learnt a lot, from nothing and at that time I had something to show for my efforts.

Like I said at the beginning, there is no definitive answer because many people haven't needed them and just as many have found them extremely useful. They don't substitute real world experience but then you can't really compare the two, they're completely different things but certification helps people get there, that, based on my own experience is the most beneficial factor.