Be skeptical of the beta label. Microsoft offers five beta-based certifications (and three that were recently released out of beta), that offer skills that are compatible with some of the most sought-after IT jobs.
Two years ago, Microsoft started rolling out role-based certification exams. This has seen a shift from product knowledge towards a skills-based approach that focuses on specific job roles. This bridged the knowledge gap between previous certifications and the knowledge needed to perform specific job tasks.
These exams cost $165 USD. This is the average cost of all Microsoft exam levels, both expert- and associate-level. Certifications are a great way for IT professionals to advance their careers. This cost is worth it if you want to pursue these job titles. Here are eight Microsoft beta exams.
Current Beta Exams
Microsoft currently offers five role-based certification beta tests. These are standalone tests that cater to the needs of IT job roles that are somewhat obscure. The AZ-204 exam is a notable exception to this list. This exam replaces AZ-203, so we dedicate an entire blog post on the AZ204 beta (and eventual retirement of AZ-203)
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Start trainingAZ-220: Microsoft Azure IoT Developer
Azure IoT developers can obtain AZ-220 certification to validate their ability code and implement IoT solutions on both the cloud-edge and cloud sides. IoT developers are responsible for maintaining the devices throughout their life cycles and setting up cloud-edge code.
This exam is required for the Microsoft Certified: Azure IoT Developer Specialty certificate. This exam tests the candidate’s ability implement Azure services that are involved in IoT solutions. It includes data storage, data analysis, and data processing. For specific IoT coding tasks, languages such as C#, Node and C are required.
There is a growing demand for IoT professionals as more businesses realize the benefits IoT devices can bring to their business. It’s a lucrative career choice to become an IoT developer.
MB-500: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations Apps Developer
The MB-500 certification is the first of several that are specifically designed for Dynamics 365, Microsoft’s productivity suite. It focuses on finance and operations. These developers are responsible to develop business logic using X++, create and modify finance and operations reports and technical designs.
This exam is required for the Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations Apps Developer Associate certification. Candidates must have experience with Azure DevOps tools, LCS tools and Visual Studio. They will need to develop and test code, integrate and manage data solutions, optimize performance, and implement security.
Businesses will always benefit from developers who work with finance and operations apps within Dynamics 365. This certificate is great for people looking for job security. Finance and operations will remain key components of the business landscape.
MB-600: Microsoft Power Apps + Dynamics 365 Solution Architect
MB-600 combines Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power Apps to enable successful implementations. These solutions can be used by organizations to address their wider business and technical requirements.
This certification is required for Microsoft Certified: Power Apps and Dynamics 365 Solution Architect Expert. Candidates must have experience with the Power Platform model-driven apps in Dynamics 365. This includes Dynamics 365 Customer Service, Dynamics 365 sales, and Dynamics 365 Marketing. It is crucial to be able to facilitate design across development and configuration.