2020 is the year for IT certification changes and updates! Multiple vendors including CompTIA, Cisco, Microsoft and Project Management Institute are making changes to their certifications, and we are here to help you stay ahead of the curve!
The most recent announcement comes from Microsoft, where they plan to retire the MCSA, MCSE and MCSD certification tracks and exams on June 30, 2020 . Microsoft has refocused their training initiatives to be geared towards role-based training and certifications that allow learners to build and demonstrate skills for applicable job roles in the industry. Overall, they are adding 34 new certifications to the Microsoft portfolio across Azure, Modern Workplace, and Business Applications. Applied Technology Academy’s Microsoft Certified Trainers are already certified and ready to train your team!
Other changes to be noted, are Cisco’s new certifications in five key technology tracks, plus DevNet, launched on February 24, 2020. Our instructor team is ready to train you successfully on CCNA 200-301, CCNP and CCIE Enterprise Core ENCOR 350-401, CCNP Enterprise Advanced Routing ENARSI 300-410, CCNP Security Core SCOR 350-701, and don’t forget SISE, SVPN, SESA, SWSA, SSNGFW, and SSFIPS!
Then there is the monumental change with the Project Management Institute’s PMP certification. On June 30, 2020 the exam will be retired and the first day to take the new exam will be July 1, 2020. The new exam will be significantly more difficult and will be dependent on your training provider utilizing PMI’s authorized material and course ware. If you have not been working with a PMI Registered Education Provider, you will need to transition to one, as independent instructors and gray market training companies will not be able to deliver PMP training after July 1st. ATA will be ready to serve you with authorized PMI training!
And lastly, there is the upcoming change to CompTIA’s CySA+ and Security+ exams and courses. The new CompTIA CySA+ (CS0-002) exam coming in Q2 2020, and once again our team is ready. Three of our instructors helped with the CompTIA beta initiative and are tested and ready to train. Then there is the upcoming change to Security+, as the new SY-601 exam will be release in the 4th quarter of 2020. Who will lead the charge in equipping and training individuals and teams on the new Sec+ exam? ATA of course! Don’t forget that CompTIA’s Cloud+ was recently added and approved on the DoD 8570 schedule as well!
There is a lot to keep track of when it comes to IT certifications. If your training provider is not helping you to plan around these industry exam changes, then they are not serving you properly. We just heard from a client that was hung out to dry by an instructor on Cisco CCNA. The independent instructor trained their team (for a pretty penny) and failed to tell them about the Cisco exam changes and deadlines. What happened? You guessed it, they had multiple students that missed the exam deadline and they now have to pay for them to be trained a second time on the new CCNA material. They will be training with ATA and not the prior instructor. Enough said.
