SQL Server, Power BI, and other Business Intelligence and data technologies
As a heads up for anyone who took the DA-100 “Analyzing Data with Microsoft Power BI” beta exam, the rescoring has been completed and the results published to your Microsoft Learn Dashboard as of this morning.
This was definitely a pleasant way to start the day this morning. Best of luck to everyone!
Got some extra time on your hands during the various stay-at-home orders? It was just announced via the Microsoft Learn Blog that the beta for the new Power BI certification exam, DA-100 “Analyzing Data with Microsoft Power BI,” is now available for scheduling. This exam is a replacement for the older 70-778 “Analyzing and Visualizing Data with Microsoft Power BI” which is in the process of being retired. Passing this exam grants the new “Data Analyst Associate” certification.
I just finished registering for a remote exam later this month. If you’re interested as well, act quickly and sign up now! These types of things don’t tend to last long (300 slots available only).
As this is a brand new exam in beta, the cost for registration is 80% of the normal cost (and upon completing the exam, you receive a 25% off coupon for taking the exam in the future if needed). Of course, being brand new, there are no study guides, so preparing for the exam is much more of a challenge than an exam that has been out in the wild for some time with plenty of published resources. Good luck!
Resources
Microsoft Born to Learn Post with Voucher Code and Registration Link
This past Thursday, Microsoft announced upcoming changes to their certification program. Notably, the program is being revamped and the previous certifications — MCSE, MCSA, and MCSD are being retired as of June 30, 2020.
This isn’t the first time MCSE and MCSA have been retired. Prior to 2012, these existed as Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator, to be retired and replaced with new tracks of similar names — Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) and Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA).
I find two things interesting with this revamp. First of all, the replacements that have been announced appear to be wholly new, not leaning on the MCSE and MCSA names of old (last time when they tried to drop the MCSE and MCSA names, they quickly brought them back.) Secondly — and more importantly in my opinion (at least in the Data Management and Analytics track), is the lack of on-premise skills mentioned in the new objectives.
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