Microsoft certifications are available in multiple levels from Fundamental, to Associate, to Expert at the top. The Microsoft Certified Expert certifications are the most advanced Microsoft certifications that can be earned, and are targeted towards professionals with 2-5+ years of experience working with the technologies covered. This article explains the difference between the different certification levels, what the Expert certifications are, and which are the most popular Microsoft Certified Expert certifications available.
What is a Microsoft Certified Expert?
Microsoft offers a couple different levels of certifications for professionals that are at different positions of expertise and responsibilities in their career. These levels start from the beginner standpoint of Fundamental certifications, to more intermediate of Associate certifications, all the way to the Expert certifications at the top.
The following are the different levels of Microsoft certifications:
- Fundamentals – Certifications targeted towards those just starting out with the technologies covered by the certification exam, such as the AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals certification.
- Associate – Certifications targeted towards professionals that are already experienced working with the technologies covered for about 2+ years, such as the Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate.
- Expert – Certifications targeted towards professionals that have advanced level of experience working with the technologies covered for about 2-5+ years, and have already earned the appropriate Associate level certification.
The following are the Expert level Microsoft certifications that are available for Microsoft Azure and Office 365 technologies:
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
- Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert
- Microsoft Certified: DevOps Engineer Expert
- Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 + Power Platform Solution Architect Expert
- Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management Function Consultant Expert
- Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365: Finance and Operations Apps Solution Architect Expert
- Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Solution Architect Expert
- Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert
The most popular Microsoft Expert level certifications are the Azure Solutions Architect, Cybersecurity Architect, and DevOps Engineer Expert certifications.
To see a list of the top most popular Microsoft certifications overall, please read our article titled “Most Popular Microsoft Azure Certifications” written by Chris Pietschmann.
Each of these Expert level certifications from Microsoft build upon the different pillars of expertise. Expert certifications consist of passing multiple certification exams in order to earn, with a prerequisite of earning an Associate level certification first. See below for a list of the prerequisites for each of these larger Microsoft “Expert” level certifications.
Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
The Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification demonstrates a candidates expertise in designing cloud and hybrid solutions that run in the cloud with Microsoft Azure services, including compute, networking, storage, monitoring, and security. An Azure Solution Architect is a professional that partners with developers, administrators, and other IT roles that are responsible for implementing Microsoft Azure solutions.
To earn the Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert certification, you must meet the following requirements:
- Prerequisite (required):
- Take 1 Exam:
Microsoft has recently changed the requirements for the Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect Expert certifications. In the past, you could earn the Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate to meet the prerequisite requirement for this certification. However, today Microsoft only accepts the Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate certification as the prerequisite you must earn before taking exam AZ-305 Designing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions to build up to earning the Azure Solutions Architect Expert certifications.
Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert
The Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert certification demonstrates a candidates expertise in helping organizations design and evolve their cybersecurity strategy to protect an organization’s mission and business processes. They will design Zero Trust strategies and architectures, including security strategies around data, applications, access management, identity, and infrastructure. A Cybersecurity Architect is a professional that continuously collaborates with leaders and practitioners in IT security, privacy, and other roles across the organization as they plan and implement cybersecurity strategies that meet the business needs.
To earn the Microsoft Certified: Cybersecurity Architect Expert certification, you must meet the following requirements:
- Prerequisites (Earn 1 of these):
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Security Engineer Associate
- Microsoft Certified: Identity and Access Administrator Associate
- Microsoft 365 Certified: Security Administrator Associate
- Microsoft Certified: Security Operations Analyst Associate
- Take 1 Exam:
- Exam SC-100: Microsoft Cybersecurity Architect
Microsoft Certified: Azure DevOps Engineer Expert
The Microsoft Certified: Azure DevOps Engineer Expert certification demonstrates a candidates whose developer or infrastructure administrator expertise is used to work with people, processes, and products to enable continuous delivery (CD) of value to the business. They are responsible for designing and implementing strategies for collaboration, coding, infrastructure, source control, security, compliance, continuous integration (CI), testing, delivery, monitoring, and feedback.
To earn the Microsoft Certified: Azure DevOps Engineer Expert certification, you must meet the following requirements:
- Prerequisites (Earn 1 of these):
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Administrator Associate
- Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate
- Take 1 Exam:
Happy studying, and good luck on those exams!
About the Author
Chris Pietschmann
Chris Pietschmann is a Microsoft MVP, HashiCorp Ambassador, and Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) with 20+ years of experience designing and building Cloud & Enterprise systems. He has worked with companies of all sizes from startups to large enterprises. He has a passion for technology and sharing what he learns with others to help enable them to learn faster and be more productive.
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Hi Chris, I passed the AZ-302 exam. Previously, I was an MCSA in Azure. What title would I put against my name now? MCSA, MCSA, or something else? Cheers, Matt
The new certs don’t really have a great acronym to use like the old ones. “MCE” is actually referenced in the Microsoft Learning site as the acronym for Microsoft Certified Educator, so that one’s out… I guess you could just put “Microsoft Certified: Azure Developer Associate” in your email signature on a new line below your name. IMO, having certification acronyms after your name never really looked great. I hadn’t done that myself in a long time.