PCs & Microsoft are just about one and the same to most people! Hardly any people haven't been touched by Microsoft 'software' and operating-systems, & with their global educational & school programs, it seems that no one from now on will be able to avoid them even if they wanted to. Founded in 1975, by Mr Bill Gates, it quickly triumphed over the home operating-system industry through the 80's, creating the very first versions of Windows. The Operating Systems that individuals use today are the consequence of numerous 'evolutions' of Windows between now and then. MS have in essence always constructed a Home and a Professional version of their operating-systems, with their server Operating Systems running in parallel. 'Windows' server '2000' took over from the initial 'Windows' 'NT' Server. Then came Server 2003 and the most recent offering: Server 2008. Ever since Microsoft started developing accreditation paths, there have been programs in place for trainees to discover how to professionally administer their operating systems.

'Windows' NT Operating systems are now very rare, but yet quite a number of Windows 2000 still remain. It is still early-days yet for Windows Server 2008, with Server 2003 continuing to be dominant. This being the case, the primary MS accreditations remain largely based on Windows Server '2003'. Whilst the 'MCSA' & MCSE accreditations have been around for some years now, (keeping up with 'Windows' Server through its evolution,) the MCSA 2003 and MCSE 2003 are the main-stay of current Microsoft network certification. It should really however be noted that up-grade training to server 08 is imminent, & sensible wherever attainable.

These details obviously reveals there's quite a bit to get to grips with when deciding upon MCSA and MCSE training. Getting reliable IT career help and advice must always be adhered to before simply deciding on the lowest priced or 'bargain' offer. There are a number of excellent low-cost training courses available, & equally quite a few expensive terrible programs. You just are not able to judge a course on price alone. Multimedia tutorial quality, twenty four hour real-time help & support, & exam prep materials are actually all very important facets - & really should be thought about equally.

To successfully acquire your MCSA certification, there are four 'MCP' ('Microsoft Certified Professional') examinations you must pass. Of these, 3 exams are core elements and therefore have to be taken, but the 4th can be chosen from a choice of so called 'electives'. The CompTIA Security+ is actually recognised as an 'elective' exam, & is more and more common with all trainees for obvious reasons. To successfully obtain your complete 'MCSE' there are 7 'MCP' examinations to pass. These specifically stress network-design, security and systems planning.

There also are 2 specialist subjects within the MCSE track - security and messaging. This can mean taking an additional 2 MCP's, or an additional one depending on which ones were chosen in the 1st seven. This suggests you should think about exactly which seven you choose with care if you are probably going to specialise in messaging or security - appropriate choices will then mean eight instead of nine examinations. Up-date exams have now also been brought out by MS, (exam 70-648 for MCSA & exam 70/649 for 'MCSE') for Server-2008 'MCTS' (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist). It's sensible to look at including one of these updates (or maybe their equivalent) as quickly as possible. If you do, you will open up your eligibility to get more jobs, and be future-proofed to a greater degree.

With the correct high quality of training materials and 24 hour support, and also an accredited exam simulation software, an 'MCSA' should take close to 300 to maybe 350 hrs to finish, & an MCSE around 500 - 550 hrs. This means it's achievable, when you have experience, to complete all of them through part time learning within 8-12 months. Should you be new to the I.T. community though, you should consider starting with 'Comptia' 'A+' and 'Network+' first. You'll find details of these training tracks on the 'CompTIA' pages of this site. Add on around two hundred hrs of training time, which will probably take no less than 6 months part time.

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