Microsoft Certified Architect Discontinued

Microsoft recently announced the discontinuation of two Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA) certifications: Solutions and Infrastructure. Effective May 1, 2010. Already certified achitects are encouraged to migrate to either:

• IASA’s CITA-P Certification; or
• Open Group's AOGEA

This recognizes that a profession's certification is better runned not from within a product or technology vendor.

TOGAF 8 Certified

I just got from the OpenGroup the confirmation of my TOGAF 8 certification.

OpenGroup IT Architecture Certifications

Two certification programs for IT architects are available from the OpenGroup:

• IT Architect Certification (ITAC)
• Certified TOGAF Practitioner

ITAC is architecture method/framework agnostic and concerns only with architect's skills and experience. The TOGAF certification on the other hand confirms an individual's knowledge of the TOGAF method for Enterprise IT Architecture and its body of knowledge.

ITAC certification requires application and review by a board. TOGAF certification can be obtained by attending a course or passing an exam.

In both cases certification is valid for a period of time (ITAC 3 years, TOGAF 1 year), although in both cases extending the certification seems to be a question of paying a fee.

Also in both cases individuals will show up in a public on-line certification register at the OpenGroup site.

ITAC is also comparable with Microsoft's certification program for IT Architects. A key similarity is the use of a board of IT Architects to evaluate applicants. In the Microsoft program, though, about 25% of the requirements come from Microsoft-related technologies. ITAC is agnostic in terms of technology, frameworks, methods, and products. Another big difference is the number of years of experience asked, Microsoft requiring 10 years whereas for the OpenGroup 3 years is goed.

BizTalk Cert... Lost and Found!

So.... I finally got that BizTalk cert to show up in my transcript.

I have no idea whether it was Microsoft, Prometric or Twice IT that had it wrong. But it's there now, happily.

Got my BizTalk 2006 certification

Last friday I passed Microsoft exam 070-235. So I'm now entitled Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) on BizTalk 2006.

It wasn't very difficult. I got a pretty nice score actually.

Unfortunately the certification isn't showing up in my transcrit page yet. According to the Microsoft MCP site it may take upto two weeks. I guess I'll just have to wait...