The company name 'Microsoft' has become virtually synonymous with PCs today. Hardly any of us haven't been touched by Microsoft software & Operating Systems, and with their world-wide educational & school-programs, it is likely that nobody in the future will be able to avoid them even if they wanted to. The organisation was founded back in nineteen seventy five, by the one-time 'college drop-out' Bill Gates. Microsoft's first version of the Home operating-system Windows was produced in the 80's. This software has grown in to all the many 'flavours' of 'Windows' Operating Systems that individuals now use these days. Through the years Microsoft have manufactured 'parallel' server-systems - one to use in the home market, and another Professional edition for commercial use. 'Windows' server '2000' took over from the original Windows 'NT' server. This was up-dated to Windows '2003', and more recently to Windows 08. From the time MS started creating accreditation tracks, we have had programs available for trainees to learn how they can professionally administer their operating-systems.

These details of course implies that there's rather a lot to get to grips with when preparing for MCSA & 'MCSE' training. Receiving good IT career advice really should always be paramount before simply going for the cheapest priced or bargain bundle. Several high priced programs aren't really the best standard, and yet certain low priced ones are particularly good. You simply cannot determine a course on the price tag alone. A great deal more relevant is the calibre of the training method (for instance is it multi-media?), the level of support (is it genuinely 24 hour?) & how good is the exam-preparation software?

Even though the MCSA & the MCSE are regularly talked of within the same career-path, they are in fact essentially quite different. Instruction to be a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) ideal for Networking and senior-support work and server administration. Basically, it's for people who want to be technical systems-administrators, dealing with the day to day challenges & actions included in the functioning of a small to medium-sized business network. You'll get a great deal out of this kind of job if you are a well organised problem-solver that loves a strong technical challenge. Expect a high level of connection with fellow workers, (since a great deal of what you do will involve helping and supporting the users of the network,) & a mixed working-day.

The 'Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer' ('MCSE') will train you to get a rather more senior management position in project work, planning & design. If you should aspire to network management, senior-administration, technical-consulting or project-management, or you wish to proceed towards a higher-level IT security job, then this is absolutely the route to consider. Several less apparent characteristics of a successful MCSE are good creative and leadership skills, as the job can frequently entail in depth problem solving and personnel together with resource management.

A couple of specialities are also available in the MCSE track; they are Messaging & Security. These call for either two additional 'MCP' examinations, or a single additional exam if one of the main seven has been appropriately selected. It seems sensible thinking about this from the start if you might be interested in either of these areas, since just a little forward-planning will mean you have a maximum of eight MCP's to take. Update exams have also been brought in by 'Microsoft', (exam 70-648 for 'MCSA' & exam 70/649 for MCSE) for Server-2008 MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist). We would suggest that you seriously consider adding one of the above into your training-package. Not only should this future-proof you to some degree, it will also make you eligible for more jobs.

There are not many Windows NT servers still to be found, but server '2000' continue to be fairly widespread. By far the most commonplace is server 2003, with Server '2008' still in its early-days. Because Server 2003 continues to be the top dog in commerce, Microsoft's most important certifications still centre around this. While the 'MCSA' and MCSE accreditations have been in existence for some yrs now, (following Windows Server through its development,) the Microsoft MCSA 2003 and MCSE '2003' are the main-stay of current Microsoft Network certification. It must though be borne in mind that up-grade training to server '2008' is imminent, & sensible where feasible.

Training time is commonly established as close to 300-350 hrs for the MCSA & 500 to 550 hrs for the 'MCSE', assuming high quality multimedia study materials, 24/7 admission to student-support, & some good exam preparation software. Therefore with experience you can actually complete all of them in around 8-12 months studying part-time. If you are new to the I.T. community though, you should consider beginning with CompTIA 'A+' and 'Network+' first. Particulars of these certifications can be found on their particular pages on this website, but this should add two hundred hrs or 6 months of part time study onto the whole thing, maybe a little longer.

In order to successfully earn your MCSA qualification, there are 4 'MCP' ('Microsoft Certified Professional') exams you need to pass. There are actually 3 compulsory core exams, & a fourth 'elective' examination. An extra elective within the group is the 'CompTIA Security+' , which is now preferred by a lot of candidates rather than a 4th MCP. The MCSE comprises of seven MCP exams, that reflect the greater importance placed on organisational Security, systems-planning and network design.

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