Microsoft Discontinues the MCA Certification

On May 1, 2010, about five years after the program's inception, Microsoft has discontinued the more vendor-neutral arms of its Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA) program in favor of focusing on the certifications more tightly linked to Microsoft technologies. According to Microsoft, the need for broad-based IT architect certification programs is now being met by other organizations, and thus Microsoft is removing itself from that particular arena. The MCA certifications that focus on Microsoft technologies will still be offered, and in fact several additional technology designations are in the works.