Do you love using Microsoft Power Platform to analyze data, build solutions, automate processes, and more? Have you considered earning your certification to validate your ability to support your team and organization with this technology? To help you plan your career journey, we’re kicking off a new series of blog posts to explore the value and benefits of Microsoft Power Platform certifications.
In this post, we’ll focus on some of the highlights of our certification portfolio, which spans from fundamentals to role-based certifications that validate key Microsoft Power Platform skills.
We’re here to help you discover the career path that’s right for you—whether you’re just starting out with Microsoft Power Platform, looking to advance, or wanting to change to a new focus. When you pass an exam and earn your Microsoft Certification, that’s a validation of your skills and experience. The combination of these and a globally recognized, industry-endorsed Microsoft Certification sends a career-building message to employers. Your certification can even give you a boost of confidence and recognition as you advance your career.
In later posts in this series, we’ll dive deeper into each of the certifications that we highlight here, to help you further explore and choose the certifications that are right for you and your career journey.
The benefits of certification
Let your skills guide you as you investigate the different Microsoft Power Platform certifications available to you. A Microsoft Certification validates that you have the skills that organizations are looking for when they hire and advance employees. These certifications provide a pathway to success by starting with the foundations and then providing multiple avenues that validate deeper technical skills. Plus, Microsoft keeps certifications up to date based on market and industry demands.
Just as you use certifications to prove your skills, organizations can use them to identify the talent they’re looking for. They can even help you achieve promotions and raises. For example, 61 percent of respondents in the 2020–2021 Microsoft Dynamics Salary Survey from Nigel Frank believe that certifications give you an edge in the job market. Many respondents reported a salary increase after they achieved a certification—an average of 22 percent.
Certifications can give you career flexibility and promising earning options. The Global Knowledge 2020 IT Skills and Salary Report found that IT professionals with certifications, on average, earn more than their peers without them. Interestingly, the survey found that the more certifications a professional holds, the higher their average salary. Certification, combined with your drive and abilities, can help to open career doors for you.
The fundamentals certification
Consider a fundamentals certification as the first milepost on your certification journey. A great way to call attention to the breadth of your Microsoft Power Platform abilities is to earn the Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Fundamentals certification (pass Exam PL-900). This baseline certification proves your flexibility in using Microsoft Power Platform skills to improve your team’s productivity.
If you’re new to the workforce, having a fundamentals certification on your résumé can set you apart. If you’re already working in your chosen career, you know that organizations need to keep pace with the digital transformation. You can use a fundamentals certification to help you prepare for role-based certifications, but it isn’t a prerequisite for any of them. To start exploring your journey to certification, check out the Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals journey map.
The app maker certification
There are as many pathways to the app maker role as there are people excited about using technology to solve problems. You could be a student, a professional, or a businessperson with deep expertise in your solution domain. You fit the profile to be a candidate for the Microsoft Certified: Microsoft Power Platform App Maker Associate certification (pass Exam PL-100) if you’re self-directed and solution-focused and you work with the maker tools of Microsoft Power Platform to simplify, automate, and transform tasks and processes for yourself and your colleagues. To start exploring your journey to certification, check out the Microsoft Power Platform App Maker journey map.
The functional consultant certification
Functional consultants understand the value of collaborative work between business and technology. There are many possible paths to this role. These professionals perform a variety of tasks, such as gathering requirements for a Power Apps project and collaborating with solution architects, designers, and business stakeholders to understand and flesh out those requirements.
Does this sound like you? To qualify for the Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Functional Consultant Associate certification (pass Exam PL-200), you could be a functional consultant, a data analyst, a developer looking to hone your consulting and configuration skills, a solution architect on a path to the solution architect certification, or an IT professional with knowledge and experience configuring Microsoft Power Platform. To start exploring your journey to certification, check out the Microsoft Power Platform Functional Consultant Associate journey map.
The developer certification
If you’re a traditional developer who customizes Microsoft Power Platform apps, you fit the profile for the Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Developer Associate certification (pass Exam PL-400). You’re driven by solving problems and creating automated solutions. You have successfully built, customized, and extended Microsoft Power Platform apps. You’re passionate about designing, developing, securing, and extending solutions with this technology. To start exploring your journey to certification, check out the Microsoft Power Platform Developer Associate journey map.
The solution architect certification
This expert certification is for highly qualified professionals with years of experience. You fit the profile for the Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Solution Architect Expert certification (complete a prerequisite and pass Exam PL-600) if you’re a solution architect, a developer, or a senior functional consultant ready to take the next step to become a solution architect. Professionals who qualify for this exam are leaders with functional and technical knowledge of Microsoft Power Platform who work with all project team members, including functional consultants, project managers, developers, and business analysts. To start exploring your journey to certification, check out the Microsoft Power Platform Solution Architect Expert journey map.
Microsoft Power Platform resources
These resources can help you get started on your journey and connect with others:
Ready to discover your career path?
Training is available for every Microsoft Power Platform certification, whether you want to review before an exam or brush up on your skills to prepare. Go to Microsoft Learn for Microsoft Power Platform (linked to earlier in this post), and decide how you want to learn and which platform best fits your learning style. You have access to a breadth of options to help grow your confidence and expertise—from self-paced learning, training events, instructor-led training, and more. It's time to take the next step to discover your career path!
And stay tuned for the next blog posts in this series to learn more about the certifications that interest you.
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