The company name Microsoft is now practically interchangeable with PC's nowadays. Hardly any of us have not been influenced by Microsoft 'software' & Operating Systems, & with their worldwide education and school programs, it seems that no-one from now on will be able to escape them if they tried. The corporation was created back in 1975, by the then college dropout Mr Bill Gates. Their very first version of the Home operating system 'Windows' was introduced in the 80's. This 'software' has evolved into all of the various flavours of Windows Operating Systems that we now use today. Over time 'Microsoft' have produced parallel Server systems - one to be used in the home market, & a corresponding professional edition for use commercially. Windows server 2000 replaced the first 'Windows' NT server. After that came 'Server 2003' & the most recent offering: Server 2008. Ever since the start of Microsoft Professional certification, we have had training-tracks devoted to Professional management of the 'Windows' Server operating systems.

It is commonly accepted that it should take about 300-350 hours to study for the MCSA, & about two hundred hours more for the 'MCSE', providing you have use of top-notch multimedia training, plus superb support facilities & examination preparation. This makes it possible, for those who have experience, to do all of them through part time study within 8 to 12 months. On the other hand, if you're coming to the industry without former accreditation, then your usual kick off point is the CompTIA A+ and N+. You can find particulars of these training-tracks on the 'CompTIA' section of this site. Add-on approximately 200 hrs of learning time, which will probably take at least six months part-time.

Obviously you will have already discovered that a grasp of these certification tracks is not so very simple. Getting professional career and training help and advice should always be adhered to before solely choosing the lowest priced or bargain offer. The simple truth is you can find quite a few good economical training solutions about, & literally several particularly inadequate high-priced ones. You simply are not able to assess a course on cost alone. Multi-media training quality, twenty four hour trainee help and support, and exam-preparation software are all extremely important aspects - & should be regarded equally.

There are also 2 specialities within the 'MCSE' track - Security and Messaging. This can necessitate an additional two MCP's, or an additional 1 dependent upon which were chosen from the first seven. If you are interested in one of these specialisations then it is practical to think about this from the start - as it means just eight examinations are required, rather than nine. The Server-2008 Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) upgrade examination has also been brought out by MS - the 'MCSA' is exam 70/648 & the 'MCSE' is exam 70-649. We would recommend that you think seriously about including the relevant update into your training-package. If you do, you'll open up your possibilities for more jobs, and mean you're future-proofed to some extent.

To be able to accomplish your whole 'MCSA' you have to pass 4 individual MCP examinations ('MCP' stands for Microsoft Certified Professional). There are actually three required core examinations, and a fourth elective exam. An alternative elective within the group is the 'CompTIA Security+' , which is now selected by a lot of candidates instead of a 4th MCP. The MCSE involves seven 'MCP' exams, which reflect the heightened emphasis on organisational Security, systems planning & network design.

There aren't many 'Windows' NT servers still to be found, though server '2000' are still quite prevalent. The most commonplace is Server '2003', with Server 2008 still in its early-days. Because Server '2003' is still the top dog in commercial environments, the company's major qualifications still centre around 2003. While the MCSA and MCSE accreditations have been about for some yrs now, (following Windows server through its development,) the Microsoft MCSA 2003 and 'MCSE' '2003' remain the mainstay of present day 'Microsoft' Network certification. However it wouldn't be appropriate to dismiss '2008' training, as to cover this also will future proof yourself.

The MCSA and 'MCSE' serve essentially quite different roles, despite the fact that they're commonly discussed collectively. The accreditation MCSA (which stands for Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator) will get you into server administration and jobs in networks and senior support. People seeking technical-systems employment, administering the functions of a medium sized or small office-network would do well to opt for the MCSA. You will really enjoy this work if you are a well organised problem-solver that looks forward to a good technical challenge. It's a really people oriented job with lots of variety, since the work effectively consists of support and interaction with all the network users.

In contrast, the MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) role offers a career with more accountability, where the work centres much more around design, planning & project management. So if senior-administration, network management, Senior security employment or technical/project management is your ultimate aim, then this is the track you should consider taking. A number of less apparent characteristics of a successful MCSE are good leadership and creative expertise, since the role can frequently include in depth problem solving and personnel as well as resource-management.

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