Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Microsoft Learning: Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA)

Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA)

Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA)

Prove your expertise in systems administration on Windows Server operating systems by earning a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) credential. This credential helps you advance your career by showing customers and employers that you have the skills necessary to successfully manage and troubleshoot network environments running on Windows server systems.

Level:

One to twelve months of experience in working with a desktop operating system, a network operating system, and an existing network infrastructure

Audience:

IT professional

Type:

Microsoft Certification


The Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) credential validates your ability to manage and troubleshoot network environments in the Windows operating system. It reflects a unique set of skills required to succeed in a variety of job roles, such as systems administrator, network administrator, information systems administrator, network operations analyst, network technician, and technical support specialist.

MCSA candidate profile
An MCSA candidate should have one to twelve months of experience in working with a desktop operating system, a network operating system, and an existing network infrastructure.

Why get certified?
Earning a Microsoft Certification validates your proven experience and knowledge in using Microsoft products and solutions. Designed to be relevant in today's rapidly changing IT marketplace, Microsoft Certifications help you utilize evolving technologies, fine-tune your troubleshooting skills, and improve your job satisfaction.

Whether you are new to technology, changing jobs, or a seasoned IT professional, becoming certified demonstrates to customers, peers, and employers that you are committed to advancing your skills and taking on greater challenges. In addition, certification provides you with access to exclusive Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) resources and benefits, including opportunities to connect with a vast, global network of MCPs.


MCSA on Windows Server 2003

The enduring strength of Windows Server 2003 in the market suggests that demand for related IT expertise will continue for many years. Earn the MCSA on Windows Server 2003 to demonstrate your expertise to customers and employers. Prove your skills in Windows administration, including system environment management and troubleshooting.

To earn the MCSA on Windows Server 2003 certification, you must pass four exams (in any order):

  • Two exams on networking systems

  • One exam on client operating systems

  • One elective exam

Note Many of the exams in this certification track are retired. If a required exam is retired and you have not yet passed that exam, you cannot complete the certification track. You must fulfill all listed requirements to earn the certification. If you passed a required exam before it retired, it can be applied toward certification. The credential will not expire.

Exams on networking systems: Both required

Exam number

Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment

Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure

Exams on client operating systems: Choose one

Exam number

TS: Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client

Note You may apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirement—not both.

Installing, Configuring, and Administering Windows XP Professional

Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional

Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.

Exam 70-210

Elective exam: Choose one

Exam number

Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0

Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.

Exam 70-086

Planning, Deploying, and Managing Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003

Note This exam can count toward both the MCSA and the MCSE elective exam requirements.

Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000, Enterprise Edition

Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. This exam can count toward both the MCSA elective requirement and an MCSA: Security Specialization requirement.

Exam 70-227

Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition

Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. This exam can count toward both the MCSA and the MCSE elective exam requirements.

Exam 70-228

TS: Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions Using Microsoft BizTalk Server

TS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Configuring

TS: Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 – Implementing, Managing, and Troubleshooting

Implementing and Managing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003

Note This exam can count toward both the MCSA elective requirement and an MCSA: Messaging Specialization requirement.

Implementing and Administering Security in a Windows Server 2003 Network

Implementing Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2004

Note This exam can count toward both the MCSA elective requirement and an MCSA: Security Specialization requirement.

TS: Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2006, Configuring

TS: Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007, Configuring

TS: Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007, Configuring

TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 – Implementation and Maintenance

TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence – Implementation and Maintenance

TS: Microsoft Windows Mobile Designing, Implementing, and Managing

TS: Microsoft Forefront Client and Server, Configuration

TS: Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client

Note You can apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirement—not both.

TS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops

TS: Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, Configuring

TS: Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, Configuring

TS: Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007, Configuring

Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST)

MCSE on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

MCSA on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

See the requirements in the next section

MCSE on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0

Note This certification is discontinued, but if you already earned it, you can apply it toward this certification.

Discontinued

Specific third-party (CompTIA) certifications

If you have the MCSA on Windows Server 2003 certification, you can upgrade to the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) and Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) on Windows Server 2008 certifications.

MCSA on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

This certification is for administrators who want to demonstrate their ability to successfully implement, manage, and troubleshoot Microsoft Windows 2000 Server environments.

To earn the MCSA on Windows Server 2000 certification, you must pass four exams (in any order):

  • Two exams on networking systems

  • One exam on client operating systems

  • One elective exam

Note Many of the exams in this certification track are retired. If a required exam is retired and you have not yet passed that exam, you cannot complete the certification track. You must fulfill all listed requirements to earn the certification. If you passed a required exam before it retired, it can be applied toward certification. The credential will not expire.

Exams on networking systems: Both required

Exam number

Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.

Exam 70-215

Managing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Environment

Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.

Exam 70-218

Exams on client operating systems: Choose one

Exam number

Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional

Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.

Exam 70-210

Installing, Configuring, and Administering Windows XP Professional

TS: Configuring Windows Vista Client

Note You can apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirement—not both.

Elective exam: Choose one

Exam number

Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0

Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.

Exam 70-086

Planning, Deploying, and Managing Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003

Implementing and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network

Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.

Exam 70-214

Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure

Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.

Exam 70-216

Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server

Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.

Exam 70-224

Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000, Enterprise Edition

Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.

Exam 70-227

Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition

Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.

Exam 70-228

TS: Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions Using Microsoft BizTalk Server

TS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Configuring

Supporting and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Network

Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.

Exam 70-244

TS: Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 – Implementing, Managing, and Troubleshooting

Implementing and Managing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003

Implementing and Administering Security in a Windows Server 2003 Network

Implementing Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2004

TS: Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2006, Configuring

TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 – Implementation and Maintenance

TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence – Implementation and Maintenance

TS: Microsoft Windows Mobile Designing, Implementing, and Managing

TS: Microsoft Forefront Client and Server, Configuration

TS: Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client

Note You can apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirement—not both.

TS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops

TS: Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, Configuring

TS: Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, Configuring

TS: Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007, Configuring

Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST)

Specific third-party (CompTIA) certifications