Computers & 'Microsoft' are just about one and the same to scores of people today! Each and every time we turn on our PC's, the majority of us meet with a Microsoft operating-system, & most of the 'software' that we use arises from the same stable. Within schools everywhere, Microsoft education packages abound. Now thirty-five years old, Microsoft really became noticed in the 80's by dominating the Home marketplace for PC operating-systems with first versions of 'Windows'. This software has developed in to all the various 'flavours' of 'Windows' operating-systems that all of us now use these days. MS have effectively always produced a home and a professional version of their operating systems, with their server operating-systems working in parallel. From the Networking point of view, 'Windows' NT server was superseded by Windows Server '2000'. This was then up-dated to Windows 2003, & more lately to 'Windows' 08. Instruction on the Windows Server Operating-systems has consistently been accessible for the same time that MS have offered professional accreditations.

There are not many 'Windows' 'NT' Servers still around, although Server 2000 are still quite widespread. It's still early days yet for 'Windows' Server '2008', with Server 2003 continuing it's dominance. Because Server '2003' continues to be the dominant in commerce, the company's primary certifications still centre around 2003. Whilst the Microsoft MCSA and 'MCSE' certifications have been available for a number of years now, (keeping up with Windows Server through it's progressions,) the MCSA '2003' and MCSE 2003 remain the main-stay of current MS network accreditation. It should really however be borne in mind that upgrade training to Server 2008 is imminent, & advisable where feasible.

There are in addition 2 specialist subjects on the 'MCSE' path - Security and Messaging. These necessitate either two additional MCP examinations, or a single additional examination where one of the main seven has been appropriately selected. It's sensible thinking about this from the beginning if you're keen on either of these subjects, simply because some forward planning will mean you only have a maximum of 8 MCP's to sit. The Server 2008 'Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist' ('MCTS') up-grade examination has also been introduced by MS - the 'MCSA' is exam 70-648 and the 'MCSE' is exam 70/649. We would suggest you seriously consider including one of the above into your training package. Not only should this future-proof you to some extent, it will make you qualified to apply for more jobs.

Studying time is normally seen as around 300 to 350 hours for the MCSA and 500 to 550 hours for the MCSE, assuming high quality multimedia study materials, 24 hour entry to student-support, and some decent examination preparation software. This makes it viable, when you have experience, to do all of them via part time learning in 8 to 12 months. Then again, if you're coming to the industry with no prior certification, then your standard starting point is the 'Comptia' 'A+' & Network+. Details of these certifications can be found on their individual sections on this site, but this should add two hundred hours or six months of part-time training into the mix, maybe longer.

Self-Paced Multimedia PC Certification Training In MCSA Networking >>