The Ultimate Guide to SharePoint Server 2013 Certifications V2

2

Vlad Catrinescu www.absolute-sharepoint.com www.sharepoint-community.net

Disclaimer

SharePoint Community is not responsible for, and expressly disclaims all liability for, damages of any

kind arising out of use, reference to, or reliance on any information contained within the document.

While the information contained within the document is periodically updated, no guarantee is given

that the information provided in this document is correct, complete, and up-to-date.

Although this document may include links providing direct access to other Internet resources,

including Web sites, SharePoint-Community is not responsible for the accuracy or content of

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Links from SharePoint Community to third-party sites do not constitute an endorsement by

SharePoint Community of the parties or their products and services. The appearance on the Web site

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SharePoint Community, and SharePoint Community has not investigated the claims made by any

advertiser. Much of the content from the Introductions has been copied directly from the Microsoft

learning website.

http://www.absolute-sharepoint.com/

http://www.sharepoint-community.net/

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Purpose of the Guide

This guide is aimed at anyone who is considering studying for SharePoint Certifications either to improve their

knowledge or to validate existing knowledge about SharePoint. This guide covers certification options for all

roles on both the Business and Technical side. To achieve technical certifications Microsoft offer several exam

and certification options. For the “Business side” (Business Analysts, PMs, architects, end-users, power-users)

Microsoft currently only offers the MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist) certification path. However, we have also

included a guide that covers the Salem certifications.

Author

Vlad is a SharePoint Consultant specializing in analyzing and deploying

your perfect SharePoint Infrastructure. He also specializes into designing

and implementing High Availability and Disaster Recovery SharePoint

solutions as well as automating everything with the magic of PowerShell.

Vlad is also known in the community for founding the biggest and most

active SharePoint Community that you can find at www.SharePoint-

Community.net . Furthermore, he also blogs on his own blog at

www.absolute-sharepoint.com .

As for the Certifications, he is known for the first version of the Ultimate

SharePoint 2013 Certification Guide that has over 6000 views as well for

regularly posting SharePoint and related technologies certification news at

his own blog! You can connect with Vlad on LinkedIn here, or follow him on

Twitter!

Second Shot is back

At the end of the writing of the guide, Microsoft announced that the Second

Shot program is back until May 31, 2014! The Second Shot program allows

you to attempt an exam for free a second time, if you failed it on your initial

try! You can find out more about the Second Shot here: http://absolute-

sharepoint.com/2013/08/microsoft-exam-second-shot-is-back-until-may-

31-2014.html






http://ca.linkedin.com/in/vladcatrinescu

https://twitter.com/vladcatrinescu

http://absolute-sharepoint.com/2013/08/microsoft-exam-second-shot-is-back-until-may-31-2014.html




4


Table of Contents

Disclaimer ......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2

Purpose of the Guide ................................................................................................................................................................................... 3

Author................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 3

Second Shot is back ..................................................................................................................................................................................... 3

Illustrated Pathway to Certification ........................................................................................................................................................ 7

Developer: Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD) .................................................................................................. 7

IT-PRO / Administrator: Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) ................................................................................. 7

Advanced Certifications: MCSM/MCA .............................................................................................................................................. 8

Business Analysts/Project Managers & Solution Architects (provided by Salem) ........................................................... 8

Power User: MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist) ............................................................................................................................. 9

Yammer Certifications............................................................................................................................................................................. 9

Cloud Certifications .............................................................................................................................................................................. 10

BI Pro: Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) ................................................................................................................ 10

Certifications Breakdown ........................................................................................................................................................................ 11

Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer: SharePoint Applications .................................................................................... 11

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 11

Benefits ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 11

Learning Resources .......................................................................................................................................................................... 11

What Courses can I take? ............................................................................................................................................................... 12

How to sign up: ................................................................................................................................................................................. 12

Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert: SharePoint ...................................................................................................................... 13

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 13



How to sign up: ................................................................................................................................................................................. 14

Microsoft Certified Solutions Master/ Microsoft Certified Solutions Architect ............................................................. 15

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 15

Benefits ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 15



5


The 1st of July 2013 Change .......................................................................................................................................................... 16

The 1st of October 2013 Change ................................................................................................................................................. 16


Certified Salem™ Series: SharePoint Business Framework .................................................................................................... 21

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 21

Benefits ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 21


Interviews ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 22


How to sign up .................................................................................................................................................................................. 23

Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): SharePoint 2013 ................................................................................................................ 24

Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 24

Benefits ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 24



How to sign up: ................................................................................................................................................................................. 25

Yammer Certifications.......................................................................................................................................................................... 26

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 26

Benefits ................................................................................................................................................................................................. 26

Basic Info .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 26

Exam (Power User, Administrator) .............................................................................................................................................. 27

Knowledge Assessment (Community Manager, Trainer) ................................................................................................... 28


How to sign up .................................................................................................................................................................................. 29

The Cloud: SharePoint Online Certifications .............................................................................................................................. 30

Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 30

Refresh and other exams ............................................................................................................................................................... 30


How to sign up: ................................................................................................................................................................................ 31

Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert: Business Intelligence .................................................................................................. 32



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Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 32


What Courses can I take? ............................................................................................................................................................. 33

How to sign up .................................................................................................................................................................................. 33

Graduation Instructions ........................................................................................................................................................................... 34

1. LinkedIn ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 34

2. Your curriculum vitae ...................................................................................................................................................................... 35

3. Your SharePoint-Community.Net Profile ................................................................................................................................. 35

4. Your Email Signature ....................................................................................................................................................................... 36

Thank you ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 37



7


Illustrated Pathway to Certification

Developer: Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer (MCSD)

IT-PRO / Administrator: Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE)



8


Advanced Certifications: MCSM/MCA

Business Analysts/Project Managers & Solution Architects (provided by

Salem)



9


Power User: MOS (Microsoft Office Specialist)

Yammer Certifications



10


Cloud Certifications

BI Pro: Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE)



11


Certifications Breakdown

Microsoft Certified Solutions Developer:

SharePoint Applications

Introduction

The new Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD) credential focuses

on the ability to design and build application solutions that may include

integrating multiple technologies and may span multiple versions of a

single technology. It also demonstrates a candidate's commitment to

remaining current on the latest technologies through recertification. It is

aimed at individuals with 3+ years of practical SharePoint Development.

Certification Home Page: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/mcsd-

sharepoint-apps-certification.aspx

Benefits

MCSD is number three in a new survey of the top-paying certifications for

2013. If you’re a developer with an expertise in analyzing and designing

enterprise solutions using different Microsoft languages and development

tools, this is the certification to get. Validate your expertise and raise your

earning potential at the same time.

Learning Resources

There are many Resources for the 70-480 and 70-486 exams because they

have been out for a while already. The 70-488 and 70-489 recently came

out of beta, and even if resources are limited, more and more are starting

to appear!

Community Study Guides

70-488 : http://spvlad.com/18Qqgmx

70-489 : http://spvlad.com/16GsMf7

Ultimate SharePoint 2013

Certification Guide

By Vlad Catrinescu

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Microsoft Certified Solutions

Developer: SharePoint

Applications


Expert: SharePoint


Master/ Microsoft Certified

Solutions Architect

Certified Salem™ Series:

SharePoint Business

Framework

Microsoft Office Specialist

(MOS): SharePoint 2013


The Cloud: SharePoint Online

Certifications

Graduation Instructions


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http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/mcsd-sharepoint-apps-certification.aspx

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/mcsd-sharepoint-apps-certification.aspx

http://spvlad.com/14rT6CN

http://spvlad.com/14rT6CN

http://spvlad.com/18Qqgmx

http://spvlad.com/16GsMf7



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Official Exam Ref from O’Reilly

70-480 : http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0790145373939.do

(October 2013)


(September 2013)


(January 2014)

70-489: Not announced yet.

Other Resources

SharePoint 2013 Dev Ramp-up series with Andrew Connell from

Pluralsight

Microsoft SharePoint 2013 Developer Reference from O’Reilly

Beginning SharePoint 2013 Development from O’Reilly

Developing in HTML5 with JavaScript and CSS3 Jump Start

Building Web Apps with ASP.NET Jump Start

SharePoint Community’s Videos List: http://sharepoint-

community.net/page/sharepoint-videos TIP: Make sure you use

the Filter icon to filter your results!

What Courses can I take?

From a Microsoft Certified Learning Partner:

70-480: Course 20480B

70-486: Course 20486B

70-488: Course 20488A

70-489: Not out yet!

The Microsoft Official Course (MOC) for the 70-489 exam is not out at the

moment, but should follow really soon!

How to sign up:

You can book all the four exams through www.Prometric.com at a cost of

150$ each. To achieve your MCSD it will cost a total of 600$.


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http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0790145373939.do



http://www.pluralsight.com/



http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/training-courses/learn-html5-with-javascript-css3-jumpstart-training#fbid=V_N0ZRiqqUo

http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/training-courses/create-web-apps-with-asp-net#fbid=V_N0ZRiqqUo

http://sharepoint-community.net/page/sharepoint-videos


http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/course.aspx?ID=20480B


http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/course.aspx?ID=20488A

http://www.prometric.com/


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Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert: SharePoint

Introduction

The Microsoft Certified Solution Expert (MCSE) certification focuses on the

ability to design and build technology solutions, which may include

integrating multiple technology products and span multiple versions of a

single technology, whether on-premises or in the cloud.

Certification Homepage: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/mcse-

sharepoint-certification.aspx

Learning Resources

Both the MCSA Windows Server 2012 and the SharePoint 2013 exams

have been out for a while and there a tons of resources out there. The

Exam Ref books from O’Reilly are almost all out, as are the Microsoft

official courses! Don’t’ forget that starting January 2014, The MCSA

exams will include Windows Server 2012 R2 content so learning

materials might change.


70-331: http://spvlad.com/18L5iTn

70-332: http://spvlad.com/11p2NUT



70-411 : None

70-412 : None

70-417: http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0790145369666.do

70-331: http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0790145376954.do


Other Resources

Trainsignal SharePoint Server 2013 Core Solutions (70-331):

http://spvlad.com/162KUfO

Trainsignal SharePoint Server 2013 Advanced Solutions (70-332):

http://spvlad.com/13tTlh3


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http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/mcse-sharepoint-certification.aspx

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/mcse-sharepoint-certification.aspx

http://spvlad.com/18L5iTn

http://spvlad.com/11p2NUT





http://spvlad.com/162KUfO

http://spvlad.com/13tTlh3



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Professional SharePoint 2013 Administration :

http://spvlad.com/16EZR6M

90 days to MCSA: http://spvlad.com/10VKl2Z

70-417 JumpStart: http://spvlad.com/11p2HMM



70-410: Course 20410B

70-411: Course 20411B

70-412: Course 20412B

70-417: Course 20417B

70-331: Course 20331B

70-332: Course 20332B

How to sign up:

All the exams required for SharePoint Server 2013 have now been released and

you can take them at your nearest certified Prometric test center. You can sign up

at www.prometric.com . The cost for each exam is 150$, therefore for a new

professional it would cost 450$ for the MCSA Windows Server 2012, and 300$

for the SharePoint 2013 exams, bringing the total cost to 750$.

If you already hold an MCITP SharePoint 2010, you will only need to pass the 70-

417 for the MCSA Upgrade, so 150$, and 300$ for the SharePoint 2013 exams,

bringing the total cost at 450$

To make certification more cost efficient, Microsoft has created some packages!

So, for a MCSA Windows Server 2012 package, you would pay 382$ instead of

450$ and for the SharePoint 2013 exams you would pay 255$ instead of 300$.

This brings the total for a new certified person to 637$ instead of 750$. You can

find details of the packages here:

http://bsf01.com/microsoft_vouchers/mcse_sharepoint.aspx


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http://spvlad.com/16EZR6M

http://spvlad.com/10VKl2Z

http://spvlad.com/11p2HMM

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/course.aspx?ID=20410B#fbid=zFUZA6_G3Bm








http://bsf01.com/microsoft_vouchers/mcse_sharepoint.aspx



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Microsoft Certified Solutions Master/ Microsoft

Certified Solutions Architect

Introduction

The MCSM: SharePoint training and certification program recognizes,

develops, and validates a technology professional's ability to design,

build, and troubleshoot the most complex business solutions based on

Microsoft SharePoint Server. Our deep, hands-on, expert-to-expert

training and rigorous examination of your knowledge and practical skills

are designed to help you reduce risks, improve effectiveness, and increase

efficiency in delivering SharePoint solutions.

The MCA is a very high-level business-oriented certification with MCSM as

a requirement. You get evaluated by a MCA Review Board of peers, which

consists of Microsoft Certified Architects.

Certification Home Page: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-

us/mcsm-sharepoint-certification.aspx

Benefits

Microsoft Certified Solutions Master (MCSM) offers comprehensive

advanced technical training and certifications on Microsoft technologies

that go beyond any product training offered outside of Microsoft today.

IT professionals who successfully complete the training and certification

validate their skills as product experts who successfully design and

implement solutions that meet the most complex business requirements.

Pursuing an MCSM improves the proficiency level for experienced

practicing experts who are assigned to design and build complex or

enterprise-level solutions. Achieving an MCSM validates your deep

technical skills to design, build, install, migrate, and troubleshoot complex

enterprise solutions using Microsoft technologies.

The Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA) program helps enable the

highest-achieving professionals in IT architecture to distinguish their

expertise. These certifications are designed for architects who specialize in

using Microsoft technologies to provide solutions for enterprise

customers. Professionals who hold an MCA certification are generally


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16


recognized by Microsoft and the IT industry worldwide as individuals who

hold the highest level of professional certification on Microsoft server

products.

The 1st of July 2013 Change

July 2013 has marked a huge change in the MCSM Program. Before,

MCSM candidates had to first pass a phone interview with a SharePoint

Expert to even be considered, and then pass three weeks in Redmond,

training with the top SharePoint Experts in the world before taking the

exams. Now, one can take the exams at the local Prometric Center for

500$ the Knowledge exam, and 2000$ the lab. This brings down the

MCSM price from 18500$ to only 2500$. There has been a lot of

controversy around this topic as some believe it’s a good move from

Microsoft to make it more accessible, and others believe it diminishes the

value of the MCSM program. You can view the official Microsoft

“brochure” announcement and FAQ here: http://spvlad.com/13XBxyH

The 1st of October 2013 Change

Friday the 30th of August, Microsoft sent an email to all MCSM’s and

MCM’s to announce that the program will stop accepting new candidates

starting October first, 2013. The way the announcement was made (and

the cancelation) caused a lot of buzz on Twitter, blogs and social media

and a “petition” was started to not cancel it on Microsoft Connect that at

the time of the writing, has 780 up votes. Here is the full email that has

been sent to MCM/MCSM’s to announce the cancelation of the program.

Termination Email

We are contacting you to let you know we are making a change to the Microsoft

Certified Master, Microsoft Certified Solutions Master, and Microsoft Certified

Architect certifications. As technology changes so do Microsoft certifications and as

such, we are continuing to evolve the Microsoft certification program. Microsoft will

no longer offer Masters and Architect level training rotations and will be retiring the

Masters level certification exams as of October 1, 2013. The IT industry is changing

rapidly and we will continue to evaluate the certification and training needs of the

industry to determine if there's a different certification needed for the pinnacle of

our program.

As a Microsoft Certified Master, Microsoft Certified Solutions Master, or Microsoft

Certified Architect, you have earned one of the highest certifications available


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17


through the Microsoft Certification program. Although individuals will no longer be

able to earn these certifications, you will continue to hold the credential and you

will not be required to recertify your credential in the future. You will continue to

have access to the logos through the MCP site, and your certifications will continue

to show in the appropriate section of your transcript, according to Microsoft

technology retirement dates. If you are a Charter Member, you will continue to hold

the Charter Member designation on your transcript.

Also as a Microsoft Certified Master, Microsoft Certified Solutions Master, or

Microsoft Certified Architect, you are a member of an exclusive, highly technical

community and you've told us this community is one of the biggest benefits of your

certification. We encourage you to stay connected with your peers through the

main community distribution lists. Although we won't be adding more people to

this community, you continue to be a valued member of it. Over time, Microsoft

plans to transition the distribution lists to the community, and, with your consent,

will include your information so that it can continue to be a valuable resource for

your ongoing technical discussions.

Within the coming weeks, you will receive invitations to an updated community

site. This community site will require you to sign in with a Microsoft Account and

will replace the need for a Microsoft Partner account as is required today. From this

site, you will be able to manage service requests for the Masters and Architects

communities – such as ordering welcome kits and managing your contact

information for the distribution lists and directory - and accessing training rotation

and other community content (if applicable).

If you have not ordered your Welcome Kit, the last day to do so is October 31, 2013.

To order your Welcome Kit, please contact the Advanced Cert team

at [email protected].

We thank you for your commitment to Microsoft technologies.


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https://signup.live.com/

mailto:[email protected]


18


One of the people (Tim Sneath) responsible for the program (and the

cancelation) posted the following reply on the Microsoft Connect

“petition” that gives some insight into why the program has been

canceled, and he gives a small hint that a redesigned master level

certification might come back in the near future. Here is the reply that

earned him the title of “The MCSM assassin”.

Tim Sneath’s Microsoft Connect Reply

Thank you for the passion and feedback. We're reading your comments and take

them seriously, and as the person ultimately responsible for the decision to retire

the Masters program in its current form, I wanted to provide a little additional

context.

Firstly, you should know that while I've been accused of many things in my career,

I'm not a "bean counter". I come from the community myself; I co-authored a

book on SQL Server development, I have been certified myself for nearly twenty

years, I've architected and implemented several large Microsoft technology

deployments, my major was in computer science. I’m a developer first, a manager

second.

Deciding to retire exams for the Masters program was a painful decision - one we

did not make lightly or without many months of deliberation. You are the

vanguard of the community. You have the most advanced skills and have

demonstrated it through a grueling and intensive program. The certification is a

clear marker of experience, knowledge and practical skills. In short, having the

Masters credential is a huge accomplishment and nobody can take that away

from the community. And of course, we're not removing the credential itself, even

though it's true that we're closing the program to new entrants at this time.

The truth is, for as successful as the program is for those who are in it, it reaches

only a tiny proportion of the overall community. Only a few hundred people have

attained the certification in the last few years, far fewer than we would have

hoped. We wanted to create a certification that many would aspire to and that

would be the ultimate peak of the Microsoft Certified program, but with only

~0.08% of all MCSE-certified individuals being in the program across all

programs, it just hasn't gained the traction we hoped for.

Sure, it loses us money (and not a small amount), but that’s not the point. We

simply think we could do much more for the broader community at this level –

that we could create something for many more to aspire to. We want it to be an


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19


elite community, certainly. But some of the non-technical barriers to entry run the

risk of making it elitist for non-technical reasons. Having a program that costs

candidates nearly $20,000 creates a non-technical barrier to entry. Having a

program that is English-only and only offered in the USA creates a non-technical

barrier to entry. Across all products, the Masters program certifies just a couple of

hundred people each year, and yet the costs of running this program make it

impossible to scale out any further. And many of the certifications currently

offered are outdated – for example, SQL Server 2008 - yet we just can't afford to

fully update them.

That’s why we’re taking a pause from offering this program, and looking to see if

there’s a better way to create a pinnacle, WITHOUT losing the technical rigor. We

have some plans already, but it’s a little too early to share them at this stage.

Over the next couple of months, we'd like to talk to many of you to help us

evaluate our certifications and build something that will endure and be

sustainable for many years to come.

We hate having to do this - causing upset amongst our most treasured

community is far from ideal. But sometimes in order to build, you have to create

space for new foundations. I personally have the highest respect for this

community. I joined the learning team because I wanted to grow the impact and

credibility of our certification programs. I know this decision hurts. Perhaps you

think it is wrong-headed, but I wanted to at least explain some of the rationale. It

comes from the desire to further invest in the IT Pro community, rather than the

converse. It comes from the desire to align our programs with market demand,

and to scale them in such a way that the market demand itself grows. It comes

from the desire to be able to offer more benefits, not fewer. And over time I hope

we'll be able to demonstrate the positive sides of the changes we are going

through as we plan a bright future for our certifications.

Thank you for listening… we appreciate you more than you know.

Tim Sneath


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Learning Resources

The only specific learning resource for the MCSM program is the public

MCSM reading list that you can find here:

http://blogs.technet.com/b/themasterblog/archive/2013/01/29/mcsm-

sharepoint-recommended-reading.aspx. Other than that, the MCSE

SharePoint 2013 and the two Developer exams are a prerequisite, so there

is a lot of learning there!

They are now a bit useless for the certification, but useful for your

knowledge!

If you have other questions, you might also want to check out the SPChat

with Bill Ayers and Erwin van Hunen that answers a ton of those

questions! You can find it here: http://spvlad.com/18yJ2vK


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Expert: SharePoint



Solutions Architect


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Framework





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http://blogs.technet.com/b/themasterblog/archive/2013/01/29/mcsm-sharepoint-recommended-reading.aspx

http://blogs.technet.com/b/themasterblog/archive/2013/01/29/mcsm-sharepoint-recommended-reading.aspx

http://spvlad.com/18yJ2vK


21


Certified Salem™ Series: SharePoint Business

Framework

Introduction

The Certified Salem™ series of professional business consulting courses

and certifications focuses on your ability to master Salem™ the Sequenced

& Logical Enterprise Methodology modular framework, techniques,

strategic workshops and consulting principles for SharePoint. The Salem™

series also demonstrates a candidate's commitment to professional

business consulting techniques through assessment and certification. It is

aimed at individuals from all business and technology backgrounds and

can be used in a wide range of career scenarios.

Benefits

Salem™ is protected intellectual property and each certification includes a

full and perpetual license to practice. The framework is agnostic of both

product and version which means the unique principles, formats and

techniques applied currently to SharePoint can easily be applied to other

evolving products and platforms. In turn this defines Salem™ as a career

certification for life with principles which will not go out of date. A major

benefit is that an individual can now learn the Salem™ method which

previously was only available to Gold Partners. The benefits of a

framework that has extensive uses is explained further here:

www.sharepointcourses.net/the-uses-of-salem/

Learning Resources

All course information and booking is provided online as follows:

110: www.sharepointcourses.net/110-2/

115: www.sharepointcourses.net/115-certified-salem-master/

210: www.sharepointcourses.net/210-certified-salem-sales-expert/

310: www.sharepointcourses.net/310-presenting-the-salem-

framework-workshop/

315: www.sharepointcourses.net/315-the-salem-workshops-

sequence/

410: www.sharepointcourses.net/410-the-client-strategic-

framework-workshop/


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http://www.sharepointcourses.net/the-uses-of-salem/

http://www.sharepointcourses.net/110-2/

http://www.sharepointcourses.net/115-certified-salem-master/

http://www.sharepointcourses.net/210-certified-salem-sales-expert/

http://www.sharepointcourses.net/310-presenting-the-salem-framework-workshop/

http://www.sharepointcourses.net/310-presenting-the-salem-framework-workshop/

http://www.sharepointcourses.net/315-the-salem-workshops-sequence/

http://www.sharepointcourses.net/315-the-salem-workshops-sequence/

http://www.sharepointcourses.net/410-the-client-strategic-framework-workshop/

http://www.sharepointcourses.net/410-the-client-strategic-framework-workshop/



22


510: www.sharepointcourses.net/510-the-complete-practitioner/

Interviews

“Having recently completed the SALEM Practitioner course, I strongly

recommend this to anyone involved in SharePoint. What makes this

course so valuable is the way it breaks down a huge and sometimes

intimidating subject, into digestible and logical steps, in a very natural

way. This empowers you to follow this approach when working with

potential or existing customers on an Enterprise software delivery. I look

forward to building on this foundation with the SALEM Master

Practitioners course.”

Adam Crawford – SharePoint Consultant at Bluesource, United Kingdom

“The Salem™ framework provides not only a fantastic and complete

delivery methodology but also conceptually provides the perfect

argument towards organizations adopting a complete approach to their

SharePoint investment. The course structure and content provided me

with a deep understanding of the framework and has given me the

confidence to run workshops – it is the perfect tool for business-focused

consultants to gain (and ultimately sell) a complete approach to

leveraging all that the SharePoint platform has to offer. I highly

recommend both the course and the framework itself.”

“I found the CSP & CSM courses useful, informative and in-depth. The

Salem™ framework covers all the areas that are required to deploy

SharePoint successfully either on premise or in the cloud. The value of

using the Salem™ framework is in the repeatable logical approach that

can be used for all SharePoint engagements.”

Satnam Gidda CSM, Technical Architect - Dell Corporation

“I found the CSP course enjoyable, intensive, thought-provoking and

engaging. You get a huge amount of material both written and video; and

for each section (and there are quite a few) there is a test which must be

passed. There is a mass of reading, which worked well with the other

materials provided (e.g. slides). At the end of the course I let out a whoop,

I just love achievements! Another chink of armour added J … An added

and major benefit is that it does add an arsenal of methods; extremely


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23


useful that I can use to apply when bringing SharePoint solutions to an

organization.”

Geoff Evelyn MVP, Author & SharePoint Architect - Afren Oil


You will find a fast career map for the Salem Certification series here:

www.sharepointcourses.net/career-map/

All courses are online including the assessment tests, final certification

exam and certificate.

110: Course & Exam – Certified Salem™ Practitioner (CSP)

115: Course & Exam – Certified Salem™ Master (CSM)

210: Course & Exam - Certified Salem™ Sales Expert (CSSE)

There are currently two additional online master classes that are very useful

to learn which cover the Salem business consulting workshop sequence:

310: Online Masterclass – Presenting the Salem™ Framework

Workshop

315: Online Masterclass – The Salem™ Workshops Sequence

The masterclasses include a detailed collection of learning and training

materials. These train you how to present a specific sequence of business

consulting workshops using the Salem™ framework and methodology.

How to sign up

You can book your online Salem™ professional courses and certifications

now through www.sharepointcourses.net (also

www.salemcourses.com). The detailed course list can be found at

http://www.sharepointcourses.net/get-certified/. All courses may be paid

for securely online using PayPal through our website, by inter-bank

transfer by emailing us at [email protected] or over the phone on

+44 (0)207 788 9445.


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http://www.salemcourses.com/

http://www.sharepointcourses.net/get-certified/



24


Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS): SharePoint

2013

Introduction

Demonstrate that you have the skills needed to get the most out of

Microsoft Office by earning a Microsoft Office Specialist certification in a

specific Office program. The new MOS 2013 exam format presents a short

project the candidate must complete, using the specifications provided.

This creates a real-world testing experience for candidates.


us/exam.aspx?ID=77-419

Benefits

The MOS certification will prepare end users and power users to use

SharePoint 2013 to its fullest potential. Candidates will learn a lot about

SharePoint 2013 OOTB usage as well as how to use its features straight

from the browser.

Learning Resources

Since the 77-419 MOS isn’t really released, there are not many resources

to study out there. However, here are all the available ones at the

moment!


77-419: http://sharepoint-community.net/forum/topics/study-

guide-for-exam-77-425-microsoft-office-specialist-mos-share


MOS Exam: http://shop.oreilly.com/product/0790145363701.do

Other Resources





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http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/exam.aspx?ID=77-419


http://sharepoint-community.net/forum/topics/study-guide-for-exam-77-425-microsoft-office-specialist-mos-share

http://sharepoint-community.net/forum/topics/study-guide-for-exam-77-425-microsoft-office-specialist-mos-share






25


Microsoft SharePoint 2013 Step by Step Book :


Microsoft SharePoint 2013 Plain & Simple :



There is no direct MOC (Microsoft Official Course) for this exam, however

here are the ones that are related to this exam.

Course 55029A: Introduction to SharePoint 2013 for

Collaboration and Document Management

Course 55035A: Microsoft SharePoint Server 2013 for the Site

Owner/Power User

Course 55026A: Upgrading your End User Skills to SharePoint

2013

Course 55033A: SharePoint 2013 Site Collection and Site

Administration

How to sign up:

Unlike the rest of the Microsoft exams, the Microsoft Office Specialist

(MOS) Series is managed by CertiPort. In my opinion, the site is not as

easy to navigate as the Prometric one, and there are far less testing

centers, however we have to deal with it! The CertiPort homepage for the

MOS Exams is http://spvlad.com/1a3lfrr . According to the MS learning

Website, the exam was released March 31 2013, however according to

CertiPort it won’t be released until April 2014. The cost of the exam is 96$.


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http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/course.aspx?ID=55029A&Locale=en-us&mc=US








http://spvlad.com/1a3lfrr



26



Introduction

The Yammer Certified Professional Program transforms participants into

experts in specific areas in order to strengthen their organization’s

engagement with Yammer. Certified users receive access to specialized,

private YCN Community Groups where they can exchange ideas, learn tips

and tricks, and obtain advice from other Yammer Certified Professionals.

Certification Home Page: https://about.yammer.com/certifications/

Benefits

Like it or not, social is now one of the big pillars of SharePoint... and

Yammer is the medium. Being Yammer certified will allow you to

understand the platform and be able to implement it right. Furthermore,

as Yammer is now a part of Microsoft, I wouldn’t be surprised if Yammer

exams became a part of the Microsoft Partner Network competency

program. There are no official news about it being required yet, however

it would be a logical step from Microsoft.

Basic Info

When does the next certification program start?

You can find the start date for each program at

success.yammer.com/events/.

Are the certification programs self-paced?

Yes, most certification programs can be done at your own pace as they

consist of e-learning modules and exercises. However, note that the

Community Manager program has live components and exercises that

must be completed within a specified time period.

Are certifications available in multiple languages?

Currently the certification programs are only offered in English.

I want to get my team certified. Do you offer any discounts?

Currently there are not any discounts.

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27


Will I receive an invite from the YES team when the program is

ready to start?

Yes, following registration you will receive a confirmation email and an

invitation to the YCN.

How long is my certification valid?

Your certification is valid for one year from the date you took your exam.

Exam (Power User, Administrator)

What is the exam format? How long does a typical exam take?

The exam is a mixed format that includes multiple choice, multiple select,

hotspot questions, and true/false. The exam can take between half an

hour to an entire hour.

What kind of exam preparation is necessary?

A practice test is available to you for exam preparation.

Do I need to score a certain percentage in order to pass the

exam?

Yes, you need to score a 90% to pass the exam.

If I do not pass an exam, can I have a refund?

No, but you can take another exam for a fee of $99.

How many chances do I get to pass?

You are allowed to take the test twice.


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Knowledge Assessment (Community Manager,

Trainer)

What is the Knowledge Assessment testing?

The Knowledge Assessment that is given at the beginning of the program

is used to gage your level of Yammer knowledge. To be able to participate

in the program, you must meet at least this level of the primary features

of Yammer.

What should I review before taking the Knowledge

Assessment?

If you think you need a bit of review before taking the assessment, please

refer to the Getting Started Yaminar Series in the YCN. It will take about

an hour to watch the entire series. To save time, only watch the Yaminars

that you feel you need to review.

What is the passing score for the Knowledge Assessment?

You must pass with a 90% out of 20 questions. Each user gets two

chances to pass this assessment.

What will happen if I do not pass the Knowledge Assessment?

If you do not pass the Knowledge Assessment, you will be added to the

Yammer Fundamentals course. Once you complete this short, 30 minute

course you will then be added to your certification program.

Learning Resources

As you saw, most of the learning Resources aren’t free and you have to

pay for them. The Power User Certification is an extra 200$ as is the

Administrator. The Trainer & Community Manger training are included in

the price.

However, I was able to find some other interesting material:

Yammer Yaminars (5-10 min tutorials)

Yammer Admin Guide How to Administer Your Network Like a Pro

Yammer Starter book by PACKT Publishing


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How to sign up

You can sign up for Yammer Certifications on their website and make sure

you have a PayPal account to pay with. The prices are the following:

Yammer Power User: 99$ Exam Only, 299$ Course & Exam.

Yammer Administrator: 99$ Exam Only, 299$ Course & Exam.

Yammer Community Manager: 599$ Course and Exam.

Yammer Trainer: 799$ Course and Exam.

However, do not forget, they are only valid for 1 year! So it can get

pretty expensive!


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30


The Cloud: SharePoint Online Certifications

Introduction

Although initially considered by many IT professionals to be an epic flop,

Microsoft Office 365 is starting to gain traction. This is especially true for

smaller organizations who have found it more cost effective to operate

products such as Exchange, SharePoint, and Lync in the cloud rather than

to host the required services on premises. This assessment validates skills

learned in the Administering Office 365 for Small Businesses Jump Start.

These skills are key to administering Office 365 for Small Business clients

and are especially designed for Microsoft partners excited to achieve a

Small Business Competency through an Office 365 assessment


us/exam.aspx?ID=74-325

Refresh and other exams

On the 6th of June 2013, Microsoft Learning did a Jumpstart for their 74-

325 exam, which is in fact a refresh of the past 74-324 exam. However, the

actual exam only came out in September!

Learning Resources

There are not THAT many resources for the 74-324/74-325 exams yet,

however here is what we have:


74-324/325: http://sharepoint-community.net/forum/topics/study-

guide-for-exam-74-325-74-325-administering-office-365-for-s

Other Resources




Administering Office 365 for Small Business Jump Start:

http://spvlad.com/19wrpRQ

Microsoft Office 365 Administration Inside Out:



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http://spvlad.com/19wrpRQ






31


How to sign up

All the exams required for SharePoint Server 2013 have now been released and

you can take them at your nearest certified Prometric test center. You can sign up

at www.prometric.com . The cost for the exam is 150$.


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Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert: Business

Intelligence

Introduction

The Microsoft Certified Solution Expert (MCSE) certification focuses on the

ability to design and build technology solutions, which may include

integrating multiple technology products and span multiple versions of a

single technology, whether on-premises or in the cloud. Prove that you

have the skills and techniques needed to design, build, and deploy

solutions that deliver more data to more people across the organization.

Certification Homepage: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/mcse-

sql-business-intelligence.aspx

Learning Resources

Both the MCSA SQL Server 2012 and the SharePoint 2013 exams have

been out for more than an year and there a tons of resources out there.

The Exam Ref books from O’Reilly are almost all out, as are the Microsoft

official Courses!





70-466: none

70-467: none

Other Resources

SQL Server 2012 Querying (70-461) on TrainSignal

http://spvlad.com/12Iv09U

SQL 2012 Administrations Essentials on TrainSignal

http://www.trainsignal.com/course/181/sql-server-2012-

administration-essentials

90 days to MCSA: http://spvlad.com/10VKl2Z

Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Reporting Services



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http://spvlad.com/12Iv09U

http://www.trainsignal.com/course/181/sql-server-2012-administration-essentials

http://www.trainsignal.com/course/181/sql-server-2012-administration-essentials

http://spvlad.com/10VKl2Z





33




70-461: Course 10774A

70-462: Course 10775A

70-463: Course 10777A

70-466: Course 10778A

70-467: Course 20467B:

How to sign up

All the exams required for the MCSE BI certification have now been

released and you can take them at your nearest certified Prometric test

center. You can sign up at www.prometric.com . The cost for each exam is

150$, therefore for a new professional it would cost 450$ for the MCSA

SQL Server 2012, and 300$ for the BI exams, bringing the total cost to

750$.

To make certification more cost efficient, Microsoft has created some

packages! So, for a MCSA SQL Server 2012 package, you would pay 382$

instead of 450$ and for the BI exams you would pay 255$ instead of

300$. This brings the total for a new certified person to 637$ instead of

750$. You can find details of the packages here:

http://bsf01.com/Microsoft_Vouchers/MCSA_SQLServer_BI.aspx


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34



After you have successfully passed a certification, it’s time show it off! There are

multiple ways you can let the world know that you have achieved your

certification.

1. LinkedIn

LinkedIn has a “Certifications” section in which you can add certifications.

Recruiters will often use these to search for you! Even if you are not

actively looking for a job, it’s good to keep your profile up to date, you

never know what interesting offer might come!


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2. Your curriculum vitae

Your CV is a great place to enter your certifications! You can even include

one of the nice Certification Logos Microsoft gives out for free when you

are certified! For Example:

3. Your SharePoint-Community.Net Profile

As you probably know, we have added an “Awards and Achievements”

section on your www.SharePoint-Community.net profile. See below.


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4. Your Email Signature

Your email signature is also a nice way to display your certifications. For

Example:


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Thank you

On behalf of all the SharePoint Community Founders and Reps, I would like to thank you for taking

the time to read this document. If you are not a member of SharePoint Community yet, I would

highly encourage you to join in order to collaborate with other SharePointers around the world!

For any questions or remarks, please don’t hesitate to talk to me on twitter @vladcatrinescu or on

SharePoint Community!

Vlad Catrinescu




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