Apple Certifications (Updated)

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Apple Certifications
This link will take you to the Apple Website that has the listing of the various Apple Certifications. This includes the Creative Professionals, IT Professionals, Business and Education.

Apple Self-Paced Books
This is a link to the books that Apple recommends for the different certifications. If you buy them through PeachPit Press you can use the discount code offered on this page. Amazon's prices are about the same without the discount.

Apple FAQ page
This is a Link to the frequently asked questions page concerning Apple Certifications.

The following are some of the certifications and certification tracks offered by Apple.
Clicking on the links will take you to Apple's website where Apple has setup a table that breaks down each certification and requirements. It also includes a Skills assessment guide and a Sample Test.

Mac OS X Certifications In-Depth
This is a high level overview of the available Mac OS certifications.

Apple Certified Support Professional 10.6 (ACSP)
Exam 9L0-403 Mac OS X Support Essentials v10.6 Exam
Exam 9L0-403 is the “OS” exam for the Apple OS.

ACSP verifies an understanding of Mac OS X core functionality and an ability to configure key services, perform basic troubleshooting, and support multiple users with essential Mac OS X capabilities. ACSP certification is designed for help desk professionals, technical coordinators or power-users who support Mac OS X users, manage networks or provide technical support for the Mac in their organization.

Apple Certified Technical Coordinator 10.6 (ACTC)
Exam 9L0-403 Mac OS X Support Essentials v10.6 Exam
Exam 9L0-510 Mac OS X Server Essentials v10.6 Exam
Exam 9L0-510 is the Server exam for the Apple Server OS and requires the OS exam to attain the ACTC.

ACTC certification builds on ACSP, and verifies a foundation in Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server core functionality and an ability to configure key services and perform basic troubleshooting on Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server. ACTC certification is intended for Mac OS X technical coordinators and entry-level system administrators who maintain a small-to-medium network of computers using the Mac OS X Server. This certification addresses both the support of Mac OS X clients and the core functionality and use of the Mac OS X Server.

ACS Apple Certified Specialist - Directory Services 10.6 (ACS)
Exam 9L0-624 Mac OS X Directory Services v10.6 Exam

Directory Services: Verifies the ability to configure and manage Mac OS X computers to access directory services, and configure Mac OS X Server to provide directory Services in a mixed-platform enviroment.

ACS Apple Certified Specialist - Deployment 10.6 (ACS)
Exam 9L0-623 Mac OS X Deployment v10.6 Exam

Deployment: Verifies the ability to deploy and manage Mac OS X computers and software through the creation of installation packages and system images and the configuration of services including NetBoot and Software Update.


ACS Apple Certified Specialist - Security and Mobility 10.6 (ACS)
Exam 9L0-625 Mac OS X Security and Mobility 10.6

Security and Mobility: Verifies the ability to configure the Mac OS X Server to provide secure access to a private network, allowing select mobile devices controlled access to internal services.

Apple Certified System Administrator 10.6 (ACSA)
Exam 9L0-510 Mac OS X Server Essentials v10.6 Exam
Exam 9L0-624 Mac OS X Directory Services v10.6 Exam
Exam 9L0-623 Mac OS X Deployment v10.6 Exam
Exam 9L0-625 Mac OS X Security and Mobility 10.6 Exam

ACSA certification verifies an in-depth knowledge of Apple technical architecture and an ability to install and configure machines; architect and maintain networks; enable, customize, tune, and troubleshoot a wide range of services; and integrate Mac OS X, Mac OS X Server, and other Apple technologies within a multi-platform networked environment. ACSA certification is intended for full-time professional system administrators and engineers who manage medium-to-large networks of systems in complex multi-platform deployments.

All Apple Certifications listed here cost $200usd at Prometric as of 4/19/2010

****Please Note: See the FAQ page for the upgrade path for Snow Leopard 10.6 Certification

Xsan Administrator
Exam 9LO-622 Xsan 2 Administration Exam

Xsan 2 Administration certification verifies an in-depth knowledge of Apple's SAN file system for Mac OS X. An Xsan Administrator is responsible for implementing and maintaining Xsan in small and large computing environments, and must have an in-depth understanding of the architecture of Xsan. An Xsan Administrator is also responsible for the life cycle of Xsan, including installation, deployment, troubleshooting, and integration of Xsan into an existing IT infrastructure.

Apple Certified Media Administrator (ACMA)
Exam 9L0-510 Mac OS X Server Essentials v10.6 Exam
Exam 9LO-622 Xsan 2 Administration Exam
Exam 9LO-980 Final Cut Server Level One Exam
And one of the following electives
Final Cut Pro Level One Exam (FCP 7 exam 9L0-827 or FCP 6 certification)
Mac OS X Support Essentials (10.6 exam 9L0-403 or 10.5 exam 9L0-402)
Mac OS X Directory Services (10.6 exam 9L0-624 or 10.5 exam 9L0-620)
Mac OS X Deployment (10.6 exam 9L0-623 or 10.5 exam 9L0-619)
Mac OS X Advanced System Admin v10.5 Exam (9L0-621)

Apple Certified Media Administrator (ACMA) certification verifies in-depth knowledge of Xsan architecture, including an ability to install and configure systems, architect and maintain networks, customize and troubleshoot services, and integrate Mac OS X, Final Cut Server, and other Apple technologies within an Xsan installation. ACMA certification is for system administrators and technicians working for resellers, post houses, studios or other large facilities. To earn ACMA status, students must pass three required exams and one elective exam as outlined in the table below.

Apple Certified Macintosh Technician (ACMT)

Candidates getting ACMT certified for the first time are required to pass these exams:

Apple Macintosh Service Exam [noparse] (9L0-00[/noparse] — $150USD Tests practical knowledge of effectively and safely troubleshooting and repairing Apple Macintosh systems, including displays.
Mac OS X v10.6 Troubleshooting Exam(9L0-062) — $150USD Tests practical knowledge of Mac OS X emphasizing troubleshooting of Mac OS X version 10.6, and applies knowledge of Mac OS X 10.6 toward identifying common Mac OS X issues.

PsychoData91

This could use some updating. Some of the links are broken too

OctalDump

So the post above is badly out of date (it's been 6 years).

Apple's Certification site is here. They offer 4 basic types of exams: OS, Technician and Pro Apps and Productivity Apps.

The OS certifications current state is that Apple only offer one real OS X/macOS certification:

Apple Certified Support Professional.

Currently (November 2016) this is offered for OS X 10.11 only, and needs to be sat at an Apple Authorised Training Centre (not just any Prometric test centre). A macOS Sierra (10.12) version is expected. Apple also offer an online, unproctored exam for the "certification" of:

Apple Certified Associate - Mac Integration Basics

This is currently available in 10.11 and 10.12 versions. It is extremely basic, but also cheap, and Apple provides a PDF with sufficient information to pass the exams. Honestly, if you are working with Macs and can't pass this exam, then stop because you are likely to start a small fire. If you are paying someone to work on Macs and they can't pass this exam, then you are paying them too much.

PeachPit Press still offer "official" training guides for ACSP, and also one for Server 5.0 which no longer has a corresponding exam. ACTC (the basic server exam) was discontinued after 10.10.

Technician certifications come in two flavours: Apple Certified Macintosh Technician and Apple Certified iOS Technician. Training is either through your employer (Apple Authorised Service Centre) or by buying the training. Exams are through Prometric.