News

Building a New Certification

Microsoft officially kicked off its new Microsoft Certified Architect Program during the annual TechEd Conference in Boston in June. The elite new designation uses a peer-review process "to certify individuals who can successfully produce an architecture that solves business problems by employing Microsoft products."

Following are some facts and figures about the MCA Program:

Certification level: Advanced

Areas of certification: Solutions/Software Architect, Infrastructure Architect or Messaging Architect

Target audience: Practicing solutions and infrastructure architects with strong track records in successful, large-scale IT architectural projects

Available certifications: Maximum of 3,000 worldwide over the next five to seven years

Certifications issued to date: 66

Certification prerequisites: None

Experience prerequisite: At least 10 years of applicable experience

Cost: Application, $200 (nonrefundable); admission to program, $10,000

Process: Detailed written application and supporting materials; intensive two-hour interview with four-person review board

Competencies measured: Leadership, Communications, Organizational dynamics, Technology depth, Technology breadth, Strategy, Tactical/process

Estimated prep time: 80 to 120 hours over three to six months

For more detail, go to www.microsoft.com/learning/mca

About the Author

Anne Stuart, the former executive editor of Redmond Channel Partner, is a business technology freelance writer based in Boston, Mass.

Featured

  • Microsoft Offers Support Extensions for Exchange 2016 and 2019

    Microsoft has introduced a paid Extended Security Update (ESU) program for on-premises Exchange Server 2016 and 2019, offering a crucial safety cushion as both versions near their Oct. 14, 2025 end-of-support date.

  • An image of planes flying around a globe

    2025 Microsoft Conference Calendar: For Partners, IT Pros and Developers

    Here's your guide to all the IT training sessions, partner meet-ups and annual Microsoft conferences you won't want to miss.

  • Notebook

    Microsoft Centers AI, Security and Partner Dogfooding at MCAPS

    Microsoft's second annual MCAPS for Partners event took place Tuesday, delivering a volley of updates and directives for its partners for fiscal 2026.

  • Microsoft Layoffs: AI Is the Obvious Elephant in the Room

    As Microsoft doubles down on an $80 billion bet on AI this fiscal year, its workforce reductions are drawing scrutiny over whether AI's ascent is quietly reshaping its human capital strategy, even as official messaging avoids drawing a direct line.