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- Microsoft certifications are valuable
because these demonstrate you have the knowledge
and skill to support one of the most widely used
operating systems and software.
These certifications cover a foundational knowledge
across a variety of topics,
including a variety of skill levels.
Microsoft offers a range of certifications in each one
of their paths.
For service desk,
these core certifications are recommended.
The Microsoft Office Specialist,
the Microsoft Certified Professional
and the Microsoft Solutions Expert.
All the information regarding certification testing,
pricing, exam formats can be found at Microsoft
as this will provide the most updated information
on certification topics, registering for exams
and information on exam formats as well.
The Microsoft Office Specialist has three ranges
of certification.
The Specialist designed for new technicians and students,
Expert designed for those seeking advanced skills
and Master those seeking core mastery level skills.
This certification is valuable as it covers a foundation
in Office programs.
This certification is great for all types
of general service desk support and for individuals
who wish to demonstrate expertise in using
Microsoft Office programs and Windows operating systems.
The key topics covered across all levels
are Microsoft Office 365, Microsoft Office,
Exchange, Skype for business and SharePoint.
To earn the Microsoft Office Specialist Certification,
you must pass one of the following specialist exams.
Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access,
Outlook, SharePoint, OneNote or Office 365.
To earn the Microsoft Office Expert Certification,
you must pass either the Word expert exam
or the Excel expert exam.
To earn the Microsoft Office Master Certification,
you must pass the Word expert, Excel expert
and PowerPoint exams.
You must also pass an elective exam,
either Access, Outlook, SharePoint, OneNote or Office 365.
The Microsoft Certified Professional is a certification
that shows expertise in a wide variety
of Microsoft products.
MCP qualifying exams include all of the exams required
in the Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate the MCSA,
the MCSC, the MCSD and Microsoft Specialist certifications.
Microsoft Technology Associate exams
and Microsoft Office special exams
do not qualify for MCP certification.
After you become an MCP,
this qualifies you for taking the expert certifications
including Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert.
The Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert certification
has a variety of programs.
The recommended starting program certification point
for the service desk is the MCSC business applications.
Which includes the MCSC for business applications,
Cloud and platform structure, data management and analytics,
mobility and productivity.
The MCSC business applications covers a foundation
of learning and skills for service desk support
for the following technologies.
The Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Microsoft SQL server.
And Microsoft provides two steps to achieving
the MCSC certification.
Step number one,
earn an MCSA in either Microsoft Dynamics 365
or 365 for Operations.
And step two, pass one required exam.
Remember, these are just three of the certifications
that fit for the service desk industry.
And as you grow in your career and look into other areas
of information technology,
there are many other certification programs to review.
Microsoft offers these certification program paths
along with the business applications, mobility,
cloud platform and infrastructure, productivity,
data management and analytics and App Builder.
Which are based on different technologies like server,
desktop, applications, database and developer.
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