Certifications
The Skilling Philosophy#
“The ’learn-it-all’ will always do better than the ‘know-it-all,’ even if the ‘know-it-all’ starts with much more innate ability.” — Satya Nadella, Hit Refresh
In the technology industry, tradition is a fleeting comfort. Innovation is the only constant. I’ve lived through several seismic shifts in how we build and deploy software, and if there is one thing thirty years in this field has taught me, it’s that the certification is not the goal — the learning journey is.
A Graveyard of Great Tech#
A look at my historical transcript reveals a “Who’s Who” of once-dominant technologies that have since faded into the digital sunset. At various points in my career, I was a Certified Lotus Notes & Lotus Domino Developer and a Certified Novell Administrator (CNA). At the time, these were the gold standards. Today, they are artifacts. If I had stopped at “knowing” those systems, my career would have ended with them.
Defining the Bar with GrandMasters#
My passion for this journey eventually led me to the other side of the table. Working with GrandMasters, I’ve had the privilege of helping shape the certification path for others. I served as the Lead Item Writer for the Microsoft C# and Windows Phone 7 exams. Even though those specific exams are retired, the experience of defining what “competence” looks like in a language as foundational as C# remains a highlight of my professional journey.
Why I Keep Testing#
Certifications expire, and that’s a feature, not a bug. The renewal process forces a “learn-it-all” discipline. Whether it’s mastering Agentic AI, deep-diving into the Model Context Protocol (MCP), or architecting on Azure Local, the badge is simply the receipt for the work put in to stay relevant.
By the Numbers#
| 🎓 Modules | 🧭 Learning Paths | 🏆 Active Certs | ✅ Exams Passed | 📜 Legacy Certs | 🕐 Training |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 515 | 93 | 44 | 67 | 22 | 376 hr |
🔗 View my official Microsoft Learn transcript
Expert & Specialty#
Azure Solutions Architect Expert
Sep 2020
DevOps Engineer Expert
Feb 2019
Azure Virtual Desktop Specialty
Mar 2022
12 Associate Certifications — Azure, M365, Dynamics 365
Azure Administrator · Azure Developer · Azure Data Engineer · Azure Data Scientist · Azure AI Engineer · Azure Network Engineer · Azure Database Administrator · Information Protection and Compliance Administrator · Security Operations Analyst · Identity and Access Administrator · Power BI Data Analyst · Dynamics 365 Customer Service Functional Consultant
2 Fundamentals Certifications — never expire
Azure Data Fundamentals · Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals
Historical Achievements#
These certifications represent technologies that shaped the industry — and my career — even though the platforms themselves have moved on.
Exam Authoring — Lead Item Writer: Microsoft C# Exam · Lead Item Writer: Microsoft Windows Phone 7 Exam
Certified Lotus Notes & Lotus Domino Developer · Certified Novell Administrator (CNA)
MCSD / MCSA / MCPD — App Builder · App Builder Charter Member · Web Applications Charter Member · SQL 2016 Database Development · Web Applications · Universal Windows Platform · Cloud Platform Charter Member · Web Developer 4
Microsoft Specialist — Architecting Azure Solutions · Developing Azure Solutions · Programming in C# · Programming in HTML5 with JavaScript and CSS3
MCTS — .NET Framework 4 Web Applications · .NET Framework 4 Service Communication · .NET Framework 4 Data Access · SQL Server 2008 BI Development · BizTalk Server 2010 Charter Member
MTA — Security Fundamentals · Web Development Fundamentals · Windows Development Fundamentals · Database Fundamentals · HTML5 App Development Fundamentals · Software Development Fundamentals (C#)
Foundation — Microsoft Certified Professional
Certifications current as of April 2026. For the latest, check my Microsoft Learn transcript.