Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 - Microsoft Certifications

Microsoft Certifications are a great way to prove that you have the required skills. Of course this in combination with practical experience is the key.

Now-a-days companies are looking for CRM resources and they would prefer candidates with certifications. There are 3 main reasons for the companies to hire candidates with Microsoft CRM 4.0 or 2011 certifications.

• In order to maintain their Gold partner status with Microsoft, the companies need to meet some basic criteria. One of them is to have minimum number of Dynamics certifications. More the number of Dynamics CRM (or any Dynamics Product) certified employees, easier it is to maintain their Microsoft partner status.
• Having so many certified developers and business analysts looks cool on the company's resume. This helps the company to pitch for Dynamics CRM work. Certified developers raise the profile of a company in the eyes of their potential customers.
• Certifications are sort of Microsoft's official recognition of the capabilities of a Dynamics CRM professional. So the companies feel safe to hire these certified individuals.

There are 4 Microsoft certifications for each Dynamics CRM version 4.0 and 2011.

Certifications for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 

1) Exam MB2-632: CRM 4.0 Applications

This certification exam measures your ability to understand and articulate how to use and implement the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Applications modules effectively, and use the terms used in the application to adequately convey solutions to other users.

Exam Topics Covered The following list includes the topic areas covered on this exam. Microsoft Dynamics CRM Concepts Sales Marketing Service Management Service Scheduling 2) Exam MB2-633: CRM 4.0 Installation and Deployment Individuals who want to obtain a certification on Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Installation and Deployment should take this exam. This certification exam measures your ability to do the following  Understand and articulate how the components are used in a Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 deployment. Understand how those components should be effectively installed and deployed to support Microsoft Dynamics CRM. This includes supporting components such as Active Directory, SQL Server, IIS, as well as the Microsoft Dynamics CRM components, which include Microsoft Dynamics CRM Server, Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Microsoft Office Outlook, Microsoft Dynamics CRM E-mail Router, and Microsoft Dynamics CRM sample data. 3) Exam MB2-631 CRM 4.0 Customization and Configuration This certification exam measures your ability to understand and articulate how to configure the application’s organizational settings and customize the application using its built-in customization tools. Exam Topics Covered The following list includes the topic areas covered on this exam. Configuring Your Deployment Customizing Forms and Views Customizing Entities and Attributes Customizing Relationships and Mappings Maintaining Organizations 4) Exam MB2-634: CRM 4.0 Extending Microsoft Dynamics This certification exam measures your understanding of important skills and areas of knowledge used in the development of extensions for Microsoft CRM 4.0. Exam Topics Covered Extension Approach Web Service Programming Custom Workflow Activities Developing Plug-ins Application Programming Certifications for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011

1) Exam MB2-868: Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Applications
This certification exam measures your ability to understand and articulate how to use, maintain and support Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 application including managing Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 marketing automation applications, Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 sales applications, Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 service management applications, and Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 services scheduling applications.

Exam Topics Covered

•     Managing Microsoft Dynamics CRM Marketing Automation Applications
•     Managing Microsoft Dynamics CRM Sales Applications
•     Managing Microsoft Dynamics CRM Service Management Applications
•     Managing Microsoft Dynamics CRM Service Scheduling Applications

2) Exam MB2-867: Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Installation and Deployment
This certification exam measures your ability to understand and articulate how to install and deploy Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 including planning the installation, installing Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Server, installing and deploying the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Email Router, installing and deploying the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Client for Microsoft Office Outlook, configuring Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011, and upgrading to and redeploying Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011.

Exam Topics Covered

•     Planning the Installation
•     Installing Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Server
•     Installing and Deploying the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Email Router
•     Installing and Deploying the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Client for Outlook
•     Configuring Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011
•     Upgrading to and Redeploying Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011

3) Exam MB2-866: Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 Customization and Configuration
This certification exam measures your ability to understand and articulate how to customize and configure Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 including configuring a Microsoft Dynamics CRM organizational structure, managing users & teams and security, customizing attributes and entities, customizing relationships and mappings, configuring auditing, managing forms & views and charts, and implementing a Microsoft Dynamics CRM solution.

Exam Topics Covered

•      Configuring a Microsoft Dynamics CRM Organizational Structure
•      Managing Users & Teams and Security
•      Customizing Attributes and Entities
•      Customizing Relationships and Mappings
•      Configuring Auditing
•      Managing Forms, Views, and Charts
•      Implementing a Microsoft Dynamics CRM Solution

4) Exam MB2-876: Extending Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011
This certification exam measures your ability to understand and articulate how to extend Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 including planning a Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011 deployment, performing common and advanced platform operations, creating custom workflow activities, utilizing Windows Workflow Foundation, creating plug-ins, implementing and programming application events, customizing application integration, and implementing web resources.

Exam Topics Covered

•     Planning to Deploy Microsoft Dynamics CRM
•     Performing Common Platform Operations
•     Performing Advanced Platform Operations
•     Creating Custom Workflow Activities and Utilizing Windows Workflow Foundation
•     Creating Plug-ins
•     Implementing Application Events
•     Programming Application Events
•     Customizing Application Integration
•     Implementing Web Resource

I hope this blog about 'Microsoft Certifications' was informative. Please feel free to leave your comments.