LRS Education Services is dedicated to providing quality, hands-on, information technology education solutions. As a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner for Learning we have trained over 30,000 students since opening our education center doors in 1994. We currently have two state of the art LRS Education Centers in Bloomington and Springfield, Illinois and offer over 200 information technology courses including Microsoft, Cisco and VMware.
In a recent communication from Microsoft on October 21, 2016, Microsoft began a new method of digital certification “badge” credentialing that allows Microsoft Certified Professionals (MCP’s) to share the details of their earned certifications with others through a visual digital badge. According to the Microsoft Learning Partner Newsletter, “they allow you to easily share the details of your skills with employers or clients, and broadly across social networks”.
Details from Microsoft Learning provide the process for earning and receiving your badges:
What is a digital badge?
Badges are web-enabled representations of your Microsoft certifications. Your digital badge is made of an image and metadata uniquely linked to you. This ensures that only you can take credit for your achievement.
You can share your digital badge to popular online destinations, such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. It can also be embedded in a résumé, your personal website, or an email signature. Anyone who views your badge can select it to learn more about your skills and to verify its authenticity.
Am I eligible for a badge?
MCPs who pass the exams or achieve the certifications on the following list, on or after October 21, 2016, will receive badges. Beginning in November 2016, badges will be retroactively issued to those who passed the exams or achieved the certifications prior to October 21, 2016, beginning with those certifications which are still active.
The following subsets of exams and certifications are part of the pilot badge program. Additional badges are being evaluated for 2017. More information will be available in the January update.
Microsoft exams eligible for badges:
70-473: Designing and Implementing Cloud Data Platform Solutions
70-475: Designing and Implementing Big Data Analytics Solutions
70-532: Developing Microsoft Azure Solutions
70-533: Implementing Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Solutions
70-534: Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions
70-740: Installation, Storage and Compute with Windows Server 2016
70-741: Networking with Windows Server 2016
70-742: Identity with Windows Server 2016
70-743: Upgrading Your Skills to MCSA: Windows Server 2016
MCSA certifications eligible for badges:
MCSA: Cloud Platform
MCSA: Linux® on Azure
MCSA: Office 365
MCSA: SQL 2016 Business Intelligence Development
MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Administration
MCSA: SQL 2016 Database Development
MCSA: SQL Server 2012/2014
MCSA: Universal Windows Platform
MCSA: Web Applications
MCSA: Windows 10
MCSA: Windows Server 2012
MCSA: Windows Server 2016
MCSE certifications eligible for badges:
MCSE: Cloud Platform and Infrastructure
MCSE: Data Management and Analytics
MCSE: Mobility
MCSE: Productivity
MCSD certifications eligible for badges:
MCSD: App Builder
What is the process for claiming a badge?
Claiming your Microsoft badge is very simple. After you’ve achieved a certification or passed an exam, you receive an automated email from Microsoft with general details on the Microsoft Certification Program. This is automatically followed up with an email notification from Acclaim. To claim your badge:
1. Select the link in your Acclaim email notification.
2. Create an account on Acclaim.
3. Acclaim sends you a confirmation email.
4. To confirm your account and claim your badge, select the link in that email.
Take advantage of the features that Acclaim offers:
– Share your badge to LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
– Download your badge image and URL to embed in a résumé, website, or email signature.
– Personalize your profile.
– Explore labor market insights and job opportunities.
Your digital badge is one more way that Microsoft supports the development and recognition of your professional skills. Take advantage of this new program to help accelerate your career growth.
Whether you are looking to begin your certification track or are renewing and updating, LRS Education Services offers an opportunity for students to join in on one of our two class delivery methods:
For remote students who are not able to join us in the classroom, we have a virtual connection option. This uses our online video and audio feeds to connect and interact with both the instructor as well as the in-class students. For a video on how our Virtual Training option works, click on the link.
- Microsoft On-Demand – Do you need more flexible training hours or dates than what a traditional ILT class will allow for? Microsoft is now offering expert training videos that teach the Microsoft Official Curriculum with access to live, Microsoft Official hands-on labs. The videos and labs are available 24/7 so you can train on YOUR schedule. Students will have 90 days to complete their training course and will be provided with our LRS Education Services extras: Students will have access to instructor support for questions on lecture and labs during class, free Microsoft Official digital courseware that won’t expire after the 90 day class period, and an invitation to join our Technology Community Hub hosted on Facebook where you can ask questions and have conversations with instructors and other community members.
All attending Microsoft Official Course* ILT students will have access to their labs and class recordings for up to 6 months after class. Click HERE to find out more!
Click here for a list of all of our Guaranteed to Run Courses, or to search our Online Course Catalog.
Feel free to call or email me for more information, discount availability, or how to apply Microsoft Software Assurance Training Vouchers (SATV)!
Christopher Becher
Education Consultant
P 309.664.7670 ext. 6302
F 309.662.7282
E christopher.becher@lrs.com
LRS® Education Services