Today, I passed the 2 exams for Office 365 certification (currently in beta)
- Exam 70-321: Deploying Office 365 http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?id=70-321&locale=en-us
- Exam 70-323: Administering Office 365 http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exam.aspx?id=70-323&locale=en-us
I would not disclose anything here about these tests but here are few things for you:
- Both exams are ‘Enterprise’ oriented; meaning P plan are not really covered. I think this may be a mess for small customers or partners working with SMB. Moreover, in some way, I think this is going in the wrong way as SMB are the main target for Office 365 (honestly)
- all technologies involved in Office 365 are covered in both exams: from Exchange to SharePoint, with Lync as well as ADFS, Directory Synchronization or the Office 365 administration portal
- use the Microsoft Virtual Academy (http://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/) to follow Office 365 sessions
- Office 365 for the IT Pro – Exchange Online https://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/tracks/office-365-for-the-it-pro-exchange-online
- Office 365 for the IT Pro – Lync Online, SharePoint Online & Deployment https://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/tracks/office-365-for-the-it-pro-lync-online-sharepoint-online-deployment
- Office 365 for the IT Pro – Platform https://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/tracks/office-365-for-the-it-pro-platform
- until the exams become officially launched (and maybe with related training path), you can start your training by using Office 365 (www.office365.com and start a 30 days trial), following the Jump Start training (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/office-365-jump-start-01-microsoft-office-365-overview-for-it-pros and for PDF support http://borntolearn.mslearn.net/office365/m/officecrapril/default.aspx) and off course read the Office 365 service description (for Small Business: http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=13779 and for Enterprise: http://www.microsoft.com/download/en/details.aspx?id=13602)
Now, I just have to wait few weeks before knowing if I passed or if I failed.