Everyone who has a PC nowadays knows the name of 'Microsoft'. Every time we switch on our PCs, most of us are greeted with a 'Microsoft' operating system, & virtually all of the 'software' in use originates from their source. In schools all over the world, Microsoft educational programs are readily available. Set up in nineteen seventy five, by Mr Bill Gates, they quickly dominated the home operating-system market over the 80's, creating the 1st versions of Windows. The operating-systems in use these days are the consequence of many evolutions of Windows between now and then. 'Microsoft' have effectively always manufactured a home & a Professional version of their Operating Systems, with their Server Operating Systems working in parallel. 'Windows' Server '2000' superseded the first Windows 'NT' Server. Then we had 'Windows' 'Server 2003', with Windows Server 2008 being the newest release. Training on the 'Windows' server Operating systems has been accessible for the same time that MS have offered professional certifications.

To achieve the full 'MCSA' you must pass 4 individual 'MCP' examinations ('MCP' stands for Microsoft Certified Professional). There are actually three required 'core' examinations, & a fourth elective exam. An extra elective in the range is the CompTIA Security+ , which is actually now preferred by a lot of students instead of a 4th MCP. The MCSE consists of 7 'MCP' examinations, which indicate the expanded importance placed on organisational Security, systems planning and network design.

Even though the MCSA and the 'MCSE' are often grouped within the same career-path, they are genuinely quite different. The certification 'MCSA' (that means 'Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator') will prepare you for server administration & jobs in networks and senior support. People aiming for technical systems work, administering the activities of a mid-sized or smaller company network could opt for an 'MCSA'. Very well-disciplined men and women who enjoy problem-solving and a good technical-challenge should get very much from this particular work. It's a very people oriented job with a good deal of variety, as the work effectively demands supportive interaction with other network users.

The 'MCSE', on the other hand, is centred on planning, design and project management; i.e. a more high level of responsibility. So if senior administration, network management, Senior Security work or technical/project management is your ultimate intention, then this is the direction you should look at taking. The MCSE is possibly not as well known for it's training on creative and leadership problem solving skills, that are also very important for those working in senior technical positions.

There aren't so many 'Windows' 'NT' Servers still to be found, although Server 2000 remain quite prevalent. The majority of companies still run on 'Windows' 2003, although 'Windows' '2008' is building pace. Because this is the situation within the world of commerce, the bulk of Microsoft's accreditations continue to be based on the 2003 Operating system. Whilst the Microsoft MCSA & MCSE certifications have been in existence for a number of yrs now, (keeping up with 'Windows' server through it's progressions,) the Microsoft MCSA 2003 & MCSE '2003' are the mainstay of present day 'Microsoft' network accreditation. But it really may not be sensible to dismiss 08 training, as to cover this too will future proof yourself.

The 'MCSE' route also features messaging and security as two specialist tracks. Dependent on which initial 7 MCP's are chosen, this might require a further one or two additional 'MCP' examinations. If you're thinking about either of these specialities then it is smart to consider this from the beginning - as it then means just eight exams are required, instead of nine. Upgrade examinations have also been released by MS, (exam 70/648 for MCSA and exam 70-649 for the 'MCSE') for Server 2008 'MCTS' (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist). One of these updates (or an equivalent certification) must be thought about at the start of your decision-process. This won't only future proof you to a certain degree, but will open up further job possibilities.

With the right quality of training-materials & 24/7 help and support, plus authorised exam preparation software, an MCSA ought to take close to 300 to maybe three hundred and fifty hrs to finish, and an MCSE more or less 500 to 550 hours. And so with experience you could complete all of them in about 8 to 12 months studying part time. If you're a new comer to the I.T. community though, you should look at getting started on CompTIA 'A+' & 'Network+' first. You will discover details of these training tracks on the CompTIA pages of this website. Add-on around 200 hours of studying time, which is likely to take no less than six months part-time.

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