All you needed to know about the Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 (and R2) Certification
OK, I cannot avoid this anymore. The time has come to get a formal recognition of my ability to do pretty much anything with BizTalk Server. I’ve been working with BizTalk since approx. 2002 AD, with increasing levels of success and understanding, very interesting projects, a wide range of clients, in teams or on one man gigs. I have designed and implemented good solutions from scratch, as well as understood, debugged, fixed existing ones that sucked, even delivered an eight hours a day, five days BizTalk course on Microsoft material.
I am not seeing the certification as something mandatory, but as a help for my current and potential employers to assess the value of a possible collaboration without having to understand deep technical issues.
As BizTalk technical lead at Logimethods, part of my job is to mentor and train developers on the team, helping them arrive at a level of BizTalk understanding that would allow a quick ramp-up when the time for action comes.
Since my current job is of Lead Technical Architect for Telus/Emergis, it’s been a few months since my last contact with BizTalk, other than the recent BizTalk 2009 installation and befriending. Therefore, I am looking at this certification path as a good opportunity for finding some room in my brain’s active daily buffer for some BizTalk related activities and for re-invigorating the synapses to some older dusty storage there.
Some basic details about the exam, as provided by Microsoft:
The available BizTalk exams, according to this page, are:
- Exam 70-241: MCTS: Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions by Using Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 R2
- Exam 70-235: MCTS: Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions by Using Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006
These are MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist) exams. By earning this credential, you can prove your ability to successfully implement, build on, troubleshoot, and debug a particular Microsoft technology, such as a Windows operating system, Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft SQL Server, and Microsoft Visual Studio.
Microsoft recommends these resource for the BizTalk 2006 version:
Preparation Tools and Resources: To help you prepare for this exam, Microsoft Learning recommends that you have hands-on experience with the product and that you use the following training resources. These training resources do not necessarily cover all of the topics listed in the “Skills Measured” tab.
Classroom Training
• 2933A: Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions Using Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 (5 Days)
• 2933AD: Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions Using Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 (5 Days)
• 2933AO: Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions Using Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 (5 Days)
Microsoft E-Learning: There is no Microsoft E-Learning training currently available.
Microsoft Press Books: There are no Microsoft Press books currently available.
Practice Tests
• MeasureUp
• Self Test Software
Microsoft Online Resources
Learning PlanGet started with a step-by-step study guide that is based on recommended resources for this exam.
Microsoft Learning Community: Join newsgroups and visit community forums to connect with peers for suggestions on training resources and advice on your certification path and studies.
Microsoft Online: Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 Help: Find a variety of resources that can help you learn to develop, deploy, administer, and use BizTalk Server 2006.
TechNet: Designed for IT professionals, this site includes how-to instructions, best practices, downloads, technical resources, newsgroups, and chats.
The exam for BizTalk 2006 R2 does not have any recommended resources, but the 2006 ones will still apply and you will have to get up to speed with the delta (as in the Greek letter) between BizTalk 2006 and BizTalk 2006 R2. The new features in R2 are listed here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb743854(BTS.20).aspx. Lucky me, I’ve covered most of them during my engagement at Trans Canada Pipelines, right before the Telus contract.
After answering the questions in the MeasureUp free demo, it is obvious to me that the focus is on being able to demonstrate hands-on development/configuration experience with BizTalk.
Since the recommended practice tests are not free, my next step is to look into finding some examples, so I can figure out the style, level of complexity, etc.
(to be continued)