Certification exams are geared towards IT professionals and other technical professionals employed in office environments. The number of questions included and time to complete each exam varies. However, exam duration generally does not exceed four hours. Those individuals who successfully pass a certification exam receive the Microsoft Certified Professional, or MCP, designation.
Exam cost varies by provider and certification, but it typically runs $125. Microsoft offers a 10 percent volume discount with 20 or more exam voucher purchases. In addition, students and select staff members at academic institutions receive academic pricing.
The Microsoft certification program provides benefits for both employers and employees. Employees benefit from access to continuing training and career development tools, while employers benefit from increased employee expertise.