The Steps to MCITP Certification

So, you've just earned your MCITP certification? Congratulations! Enjoy your new status while you can because before you know it, your credential will be up for "refreshment." Three years may seem like the distant future but it can sneak up on you. The more of the new generation of certificates that you hold from Microsoft, the more important it is to plan for the inevitable refreshment.

With each refreshment comes the need for additional Microsoft MCITP training before you take the refresh exam. This is because you will need to update your skills to the new technology. If you wait until the last minute, you won't have the chance to fully absorb the new changes and you can risk not passing the exam on the first try.

Because of this, you should come up with some sort of a plan for refreshing your MCITP certification. Microsoft is supposed to notify you before the certification expires through the Microsoft Certified Professional website, MCP newsletter, or e-mail. They are supposed to tell you what type of refresher Microsoft MCITP training you should take as well as what your options are. But what if they don't? What if you change e-mails or addresses and never get the notice?

One way to ensure that you won't forget is to use the technology you have to take charge of it on your own. This could be as simple as creating a spreadsheet detailing each certification that you hold and when it expires and then check it every first day of every month. Another idea is to create a schedule in your contact management software program complete with reminders that will pop-up telling you to take action. You can even go ultra low tech and put up a white board in your office with all of the important dates and action points. The main thing is to be aware of the refresh requirements and give yourself plenty of time to prepare so that you are not caught off guard when the time comes.