When there was nothing, there was Microsoft.
This is one of the many reasons why one should go for a Microsoft
Certification. By being certified from Microsoft, you are labeling yourfree it exam skills and proficiency in Microsoft products and platforms, and proclaiming your market worth to the world.
Microsoft Certifications not only assist you
in your technology problem solving approach, but enhanced your job
satisfaction as well as overall performance. And after all, no
technology is being used as extensively as Microsoft technology.
You career will never be the same, once you
endorse a Microsoft Certification. No matter what discipline you belong
to, there is a certification just for you.
The most in-demand certifications are MCSE, MCAD, MCSD, MCSA, MCDBA, MCDST, MOS and MCT.
By passing any single operating exam, you are
certified as Microsoft Certified Professional, MCP (with the exception
of some individual exams that are a part of the Microsoft Dynamics
series of certifications)
Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE)
This is the best known premier Microsoft
certification qualifying an individual as capable of analyzing the
prerequisites of an information system, and designing as well as
implementing the structure fashioned.
Today 2 different sets of MCSE are offered for Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003.
To be certified as MCSE 2000, you are
required to pass a total of five core exams and two electives, where as
for MCSE 2003, there six core exams and one elective. The exams cover
network security, computer networking infrastructure, Active Directory,
Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft SQL Server, and other topics of
both general networking interest as well as specific Microsoft Free Network+ study guides products.
MCSE NT 4.0 is not being offered anymore but is still recognized.
Windows Server 2008 Certifications
New certifications have been designed for 2008, MCITP Server Administrator and MCITP Enterprise Administrator.
Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD)
This mid level programming certification
focuses on the requirements of developers using .NET Framework 1.0 and
1.1 versions and leads to Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD).
To attain MCAD, you need to pas two core exams and one elective.
For .NET Framework 2.0 and Microsoft Visual
Studio 2005, Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) and
Microsoft Certified Professional Developer (MCPD) certifications are
offered.
Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD)
After passing four core exams and one
elective, you can be certified with MCSD. This is usually done after
MCAD, and is directed towards .NET Framework 1.0 and 1.1 versions
developers.
Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA)
This certification is meant to authenticate a
professional's skills in system administration of Microsoft Windows
operating systems. Both for Windows Server 2003 MCSA and Windows Server
2000 MCSA, three different core exams and one elective are required.
MCSA is NOT a subset of MCSE. MCSE certifies the ability to plan, design
and implement Microsoft Windows server solutions and architectures
where as MCSA certifies the ability to implement, manage, and maintain
the typically complex computing environment. However, while doing MCSE 70-685
, one can be certified as MCSA without having passed any other
certification, since some of the core exams required to pass are same.
For Windows 2000, there is MCSA on Windows 2000 and for the 2005, MCSA
on Windows 2003. One can specialize in Messaging or Security from both
the tracks.