What Were MTA Certifications from Microsoft? + 8 Certifications to Consider Instead

As of June 2022, Microsoft retired the MTA (Microsoft Technology Associate) certifications. In its customer FAQs on why the company chose to retire the MTA, Microsoft cites a shift in the technology landscape that calls for different certification types based on the current skills desired in the job market. An MTA certification was an entry-level credential for those with no prior IT experience to build skills as a technology associate who is competent in various Microsoft-based mission-critical IT processes. 

Explore what the MTA certifications were, why Microsoft decided to retire them, and eight current certifications from Microsoft that cover the fundamentals of the Microsoft suite of tools. 

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MTA certification explained

An MTA certification was an entry-level certification that demonstrated your skills with Microsoft technologies as an IT professional. It allowed those with little to no IT skills to develop their skill set and show employers they have the necessary skills for an entry-level role in the field. It was an accessible option for anyone seeking credentials with few prerequisites. 

Each MTA certification, which spanned multiple areas ranging from Windows operating systems to using Java for programming, required passing an examination to prove you have the fundamental skills. 

Former MTA certification types

MTA certification paths were available in a range of disciplines. Each certification path combined multiple MTA exams to create the fundamental skills in one aspect of technology. The MTA paths Microsoft served were:

• IT infrastructure: Demonstrated skills in cybersecurity, networking, IT infrastructure management, or cloud computing using Microsoft technologies like Windows System Center, Office 365, and Windows Server.

• Database: Preparing for these credentials helped candidates gain skills for data-centric fields like database administration and business intelligence using Microsoft SQL Server.

• Developer: Microsoft geared these MTA certifications toward aspiring developers seeking careers as computer programmers or software engineers. 

Alternatives to the MTA certification

With the retirement of the MTA certification, Microsoft released the Fundamentals certifications as an improved alternative to gain skills for in-demand careers in Microsoft Azure, AI, Data, Power Platform, Microsoft 365, and Dynamics.  Additionally, you can still access your MTA credential if you received one before it retired in the “Certification History” of your transcript.

However, if you still want to move forward and gain in-demand skills using Microsoft technologies, start with one of their Fundamentals certifications in topics such as:

• Microsoft 365 Certified: Fundamentals

• Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals

• Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals

• Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals

• Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (CRM)

• Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (ERP)

• Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Fundamentals

• Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals

Let’s take a closer look at each certificate, its requirements, and some relevant careers.

Microsoft 365 Certified: Fundamentals

The Microsoft 365 Certified: Fundamentals certification teaches you the use cases for Microsoft 365 cloud-based products in different IT environments. The certification exam measures your knowledge of the 365 cloud, the apps and services included in Microsoft 365, its security and compliance, and its pricing, licensing, and support. 

Some apps and services to familiarize yourself with include Microsoft Outlook, Exchange, Word, OneNote, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, and Teams, as well as their project management solutions. A vital aspect of this certification is proving you understand the integration and implementation of these tools in a business environment. 

Requirements: Basic understanding of cloud-based services, no formal prerequisites 

Cost (US): $99 [1]

Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals

The Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Fundamentals certification exam measures your understanding of machine learning on Azure, the workloads of AI and computer vision, and natural language processing and generative AI features. This Fundamentals certification prepares you for further certification in Azure for data scientists and the Azure AI Engineer certification.

Requirements: No prior prerequisites, but an understanding of cloud computing and client-server architecture helps

Cost (US): $99 [2]

Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals

Microsoft Certified: Azure Data Fundamentals certification exam measures your understanding of Microsoft Azure data tools. It tests your knowledge of the core data concepts, working with relational and non-relational data sets in Azure and Azure's data analytics workload. This certification prepares you for roles and further certification exams as an Azure Database Administrator Associate or Azure Data Engineer Associate. 

Requirements: No prerequisites, but knowledge of relational and non-relational data and data workloads is helpful

Cost (US): $99 [3]

Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals

Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals certification teaches IT professionals the foundational workings of Azure. It covers the Azure architecture components such as the computing, networking, and available storage services. The exam covers Azure architecture and concepts, cloud concepts, and Azure data management and governance. 

The exam measures various aspects of your understanding of Azure data centers, including its resources, subscriptions, networking, containers, virtual machines, storage options, and security. 

Requirements: No formal prerequisites, but knowledge of IT infrastructure, database management, and software management are essential prior skills to have

Cost (US): $99 [4]

Read more: Azure Certification: What It Is, Career Benefits, and How to Get Certified

Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (CRM)

The Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (CRM) certification is for business owners and those who want to understand the customer engagement apps in the Dynamics 365 suite. It teaches you about target customer journeys, assistance in the sales lifecycle, how to fulfill orders, and how to use Copilot as an assistant in each Dynamics app. The exam tests your understanding of Dynamics 365 Customer Insights, Sales, Customer Service, and Field Service applications. 

Requirements: No formal prerequisites 

Cost (US): $99 [5]

Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 365 Fundamentals (ERP)

The Microsoft Certified: Dynamics 385 Fundamentals (ERP) is for IT and finance professionals who want skills in Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management, Finance, Commerce, Human Resources, and Project Operations. The exam measures your ability to work with these applications in an IT and business environment.

Requirements: Recommended knowledge of IT and finance or business operations

Cost (US): $99 [6]

Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Fundamentals

Microsoft Certified: Power Platform Fundamentals certification shows your skills in app development using Power Apps, Dataverse, and Power Automate. The examination tests your ability to describe the business solutions of Power Platform, how Power BI and other apps work, and the solutions that work with Power apps such as AI. 

Requirements: No prerequisites 

Cost (US): $99 [7]

Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals

The Microsoft Certified: Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals certification measures your understanding of Microsoft’s security, compliance, and identity concepts in its cloud-based solutions. This certification is for those with little IT experience, business professionals, and learners who want to prove their knowledge of Microsoft cloud services. The examination measures your skills in each security, compliance, and identity category. 

Requirements: An understanding of Azure, Microsoft 365, and Microsoft SCI solutions

Cost (US): $99 [8]

Read more: What Is Cybersecurity and What Career Opportunities Does It Offer?

How to study for Microsoft Fundamentals Certifications

Microsoft provides study guides for each certification exam detailing the percentage of each topic on the exam, summaries of the topics, and additional links to resources to learn those topics. The guide also links to practice exams and accommodations. Each certification page also includes courses from Microsoft that cover the topics on the exam. 

Coursera also offers many Microsoft Fundamentals exam prep options. Check out some of the Specializations below:

• Microsoft 365 Fundamentals Specialization

• Microsoft Azure Fundamentals AZ-900 Exam Prep Specialization

• Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals Specialization

• Microsoft Azure Data Fundamentals DP-900 Exam Prep Specialization

• Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals AI-900 Exam Prep Specialization

The Azure, Power Platform, Azure Data, and Azure AI Fundamentals Specializations each grant you 50 percent off the cost of your Microsoft certification examination when you pass all courses on Coursera.

Next steps

You may not be able to get an MTA certification, but you still have plenty of options. Microsoft retired the MTA certification in June 2022 and began a new series of Fundamentals certifications. If you are an aspiring IT professional and want to demonstrate your mastery of in-demand skills for an entry-level position in IT fields that work with Microsoft products, consider beginning here.

Also, try one of the Coursera Exam Prep Specializations to gain the skills needed to pass a Microsoft Fundamentals examination. For example, if you’re looking to move beyond the Fundamentals, try the Microsoft Azure Security Engineer Associate (AZ-500) Professional Certificate, Microsoft Azure Data Engineering Associate (DP-203) Professional Certificate, or the Microsoft Azure Developer Associate (AZ-204) Professional Certificate, all of which are on Coursera.