Microsoft to hike certification exam prices

Microsoft has warned it is about to increase the cost of exams for its certifications, but can't offer any guidance on just how high the rise will be be or when details of the hike will emerge.

Microsoft says “There will be a price adjustment on Microsoft certification exams in July 2016” and reckons that by posting news of the rises on April 25th it's giving us all fair warning.

But in correspondence with The Register Microsoft's education folks say “The details are still being determined because exam pricing tiers vary by region/currency.” We've not been given a date on which the new prices will be revealed or any hint on the likely lift in prices.

One nugget in Microsoft's post that seems notable is the revelation that the fee hike “... will apply to academic exams purchased from Pearson VUE and Courseware Marketplace” but that “It does not apply to pricing for academic volume licensing.” Microsoft offers such licences to tertiary education institutions that make its certifications a component of their courses, so the exemption shows just how keen Redmond is to make sure the students emerge waving around a Diploma and a Microsoft Certification.

All Microsoft Certified Professional, and Microsoft Technical Associate exams purchased through Pearson VUE and Courseware Marketplace will cop the increase.

The price increases apply worldwide, so Microsoft users and partners everywhere can look forward to increased costs as they seek to advance their careers or maintain the level of certification required to resell Redmond's wares. ®