MCTS certifications demonstrate your proficiency in a feature area of a Microsoft product. Passing any one of the four CRM 2011 exams described earlier in this chapter will earn you a MCTS certification.

MCITP certifications demonstrate your in-depth expertise across a number of Microsoft products. There are three MCITP certifications available:

At the time of writing, the MCITP certifications were still based on Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 and Microsoft had not yet updated the MCITP certifications to include Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2011.

Whether you work for yourself as an independent consultant, or work for a Microsoft customer, or work for a Microsoft partner, earning a Microsoft Dynamics CRM certification leads the way to better career opportunities.

Microsoft partners value the certified individuals because employing Microsoft certified professionals enables them to achieve silver and gold competencies that demonstrate their commitment to, and expertise in, Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

Microsoft customers value the certified individuals because Microsoft Dynamics CRM solutions implemented, managed, and supported by the Microsoft-certified professionals have a lower total cost of ownership and a higher return on investment.

Achieving certification demonstrates the technical proficiency that validates your knowledge, adds credibility to your resume, and will help you advance in your career. When combined with real-world experience, certification will mean you are more highly regarded than other individuals with similar experience who haven't taken training or shown sufficient initiative to achieve certification.