I completed my last Microsoft exam of 2019 a week ago with a successful attempt at MS-900. With December approaching and a two week vacation approaching I’m taking a little rest before diving in to preparation for my next exam. I have AZ-500 booked for the earliest opportunity at a local test centre which turned out to be February.

A year is a long time and with a couple of significant personal events in 2019 I’d forgotten how much I’d achieved.

Azure Architecture AZ-30x exams

I began the year with Exam AZ-300: Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies as my second iteration of Azure Architecture exams (having done 70-534: Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions in my first iteration). That was followed just over a month later with Exam AZ-301: Exam AZ-301: Microsoft Azure Architect Design.

I’ll be honest and say I don’t remember a huge amount about the exams (a family bereavement in April being the probable reason) but historically I’ve enjoyed them as they really make you think about how to use Azure technology.

Passing these two exams obtained Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert.

Managing SharePoint 2016 Server

I started the year with hopes to get another year for my MCSE Productivity but personal events somewhat got in the way and I struggled with this one, mainly due to it being outside of my current core working set and because the real world needed attention at the time.

I’ve got a post dedicated to this one but needless to say, my repeated attempts reduced my run rate somewhat.

Everything is an experience and I really benefit from an understanding employer who doesn’t add to the pressure I put on myself. The last time I had a challenge like this was with 70-532: Developing Microsoft Azure Solutions which was my last exam nemesis!

The low run rate meant that I missed a mini goal of grabbing the transition exam for the new MS pieces but to be honest I just had to let it go. Sometimes the pace of the transition exams doesn’t allow enough time between personal life and exam centre availability.

Passing this exam refreshed for 2019 my Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert: Productivity.

Microsoft Cloud Fundamentals

So I found myself in November and with life settling down I decided to hit two of the fundamentals exams as my employer had an initiative to get everyone through AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals and was paying a one-off bonus for this and the other cloud fundamentals exam MS-900: Microsoft 365 Fundamentals.

The first gave me a bit of a jolt as I didn’t sail it like I thought I would, so I worked harder and got a bit more of a respectable pass in the latter. (See – technically a pass is a pass but I still measure based on score!?)

Passing these exams got me certifications for Azure Fundamentals and Microsoft 365 Fundamentals.

2019 my exam year

• Number of exams passed in 2019 : 5.
• Number of exams sat in 2019 : 7.
• Certifications Gained / Refreshed in 2019 : 4.