(MCSA)

Course description :

MCSA Overview

The Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) certification helps validate your ability to manage and troubleshoot network environments based on the Windows Server 2003 operating system. It reflects a unique set of skills required to succeed in a variety of job roles, such as systems administrator, network administrator, information systems administrator, network operations analyst, network technician, and technical support specialist.

If you want to be certified on newer Microsoft technologies, such as Exchange Server 2010, Windows Server 2008, or SQL Server 2008, you should pursue the Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) certification. And, if you have the MCSE on Windows Server 2003 certification, you can upgrade to the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) and Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) on Windows Server 2008 certifications.

Note Mainstream support for Windows Server 2003 ended on July 13, 2010, and Microsoft Windows 2000 Server reached the end of its product lifecycle on July 13, 2010.

MCSA candidate profile
An MCSA candidate should have one to twelve months of experience in working with a desktop operating system, a network operating system, and an existing network infrastructure.

Why get certified?
Earning a Microsoft Certification helps validate your proven experience and knowledge in using Microsoft products and solutions. Designed to be relevant in today\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s rapidly changing IT marketplace, Microsoft Certifications help you utilize evolving technologies, fine-tune your troubleshooting skills, and improve your job satisfaction.

Whether you are new to technology, changing jobs, or a seasoned IT professional, becoming certified demonstrates to customers, peers, and employers that you are committed to advancing your skills and taking on greater challenges. In addition, certification provides you with access to exclusive Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) resources and benefits, including opportunities to connect with a vast, global network of MCPs.

Microsoft Certification Packs can help you get your certification, validate your knowledge, or accelerate your career. Save up to 20 percent on these Certification Packs. And if you do not pass any of these exams on your first try, you get a free retake.

MCSA Certifications

MCSA on Windows Server 2003

The enduring strength of Windows Server 2003 in the market suggests that demand for related IT expertise will continue for many years. Earn the MCSA on Windows Server 2003 to help demonstrate your expertise to customers and employers. Prove your skills in Windows administration, including system environment management and troubleshooting.

To earn the MCSA on Windows Server 2003 certification, you must pass four exams (in any order):

Two exams on networking systems
One exam on client operating systems
One elective exam

Note Many of the exams in this certification track are retired. If a required exam is retired and you have not yet passed that exam, you cannot complete the certification track. You must fulfill all listed requirements to earn the certification. If you passed a required exam before it retired, it can be applied toward certification. The certification will not expire.

Exams on networking systems: Both required	Exam number
Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment	Exam 70-290
Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure	Exam 70-291

Exams on client operating systems: Choose one	Exam number
TS: Windows 7, Configuring Note You may apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirement—not both.	Exam 70-680
TS: Configuring Windows Vista Client Note You may apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirement—not both.	Exam 70-620
Installing, Configuring, and Administering Windows XP Professional Note You may apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirement—not both.	Exam 70-270
Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. You may apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirement—not both.	Exam 70-210

Elective exam: Choose one	Exam number
Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.	Exam 70-086
Designing, Managing, and Maintaining Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003 Note This exam can count toward both the MCSA and the MCSE elective exam requirements.	Exam 70-089¹
Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000, Enterprise Edition Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. This exam can count toward both the MCSA elective requirement and an MCSA: Security Specialization requirement.	Exam 70-227
Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. This exam can count toward both the MCSA and the MCSE elective exam requirements.	Exam 70-228
TS: Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions Using Microsoft BizTalk Server	Exam 70-235
TS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Configuring	Exam 70-236
TS: Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 – Implementing, Managing, and Troubleshooting	Exam 70-262¹
Implementing and Managing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Note This exam can count toward both the MCSA elective requirement and an MCSA: Messaging Specialization requirement.	Exam 70-284²
Implementing and Administering Security in a Windows Server 2003 Network	Exam 70-299
Implementing Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2004 Note This exam can count toward both the MCSA elective requirement and an MCSA: Security Specialization requirement.	Exam 70-350¹
TS: Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2006, Configuring	Exam 70-351²
TS: Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007, Configuring	Exam 70-400
TS: Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007, Configuring	Exam 70-401
TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 – Implementation and Maintenance	Exam 70-431
TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Implementation and Maintenance	Exam 70-432
TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence – Implementation and Maintenance	Exam 70-445
TS: Microsoft Windows Mobile Designing, Implementing, and Managing	Exam 70-500²
TS: Windows Server 2003 Hosted Environments, Configuration and Management	Exam 70-501
TS: Microsoft Forefront Client and Server, Configuration	Exam 70-557²
TS: Configuring Windows Vista Client Note You can apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirement—not both.	Exam 70-620
Installing, Configuring, and Administering Windows XP Professional Note You can apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirement—not both.	Exam 70-270
Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. You can apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirement—not both.	Exam 70-210
TS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops	Exam 70-624¹
TS: Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, Configuring	Exam 70-630
TS: Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, Configuring	Exam 70-631²
TS: Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007, Configuring	Exam 70-638
TS: Microsoft Office Project Server 2007, Configuring	Exam 70-639
TS: Windows 7, Configuring Note You can apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirement—not both.	Exam 70-680
Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST)	MCDST
MCSE on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server	MCSE
MCSA on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server	See the requirements in the next section
MCSE on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Note This certification is discontinued, but if you already earned it, you can apply it toward this certification.	Discontinued
Specific third-party (CompTIA) certifications: CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ or CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Server+ or CompTIA Security+	CompTIA

¹This exam retired on October 31, 2010.

²This exam retires on March 31, 2011.

If you have the MCSA on Windows Server 2003 certification, you can upgrade to the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) and Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) on Windows Server 2008 certifications.

View the upgrade paths

MCSA on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

This certification is for administrators who want to demonstrate their ability to successfully implement, manage, and troubleshoot Microsoft Windows 2000 Server environments.

To earn the MCSA on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server certification, you must pass four exams (in any order):

Two exams on networking systems
One exam on client operating systems
One elective exam

Exams on networking systems: Both required	Exam number
Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.	Exam 70-215
Managing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Environment Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.	Exam 70-218

Exams on networking systems: Both required

Exam number

Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.

Exam 70-215

Managing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Environment

Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.

Exam 70-218

Exams on client operating systems: Choose one	Exam number
Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.	Exam 70-210
Installing, Configuring, and Administering Windows XP Professional	Exam 70-270
TS: Configuring Windows Vista Client Note You can apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirement—not both.	Exam 70-620

Exams on client operating systems: Choose one

Exam number

Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional

Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.

Exam 70-210

Installing, Configuring, and Administering Windows XP Professional

Exam 70-270

TS: Configuring Windows Vista Client

Note You can apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirement—not both.

Exam 70-620

Elective exam: Choose one	Exam number
Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.	Exam 70-086
Planning, Deploying, and Managing Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003	Exam 70-089¹
Implementing and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.	Exam 70-214
Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.	Exam 70-216
Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.	Exam 70-224
Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000, Enterprise Edition Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.	Exam 70-227
Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.	Exam 70-228
TS: Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions Using Microsoft BizTalk Server	Exam 70-235
TS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Configuring	Exam 70-236
Supporting and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Network Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification.	Exam 70-244
TS: Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 – Implementing, Managing, and Troubleshooting	Exam 70-262¹
Implementing and Managing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003	Exam 70-284²
Implementing and Administering Security in a Windows Server 2003 Network	Exam 70-299
Implementing Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2004	Exam 70-350¹
TS: Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2006, Configuring	Exam 70-351²
TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 – Implementation and Maintenance	Exam 70-431
TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence – Implementation and Maintenance	Exam 70-445
TS: Microsoft Windows Mobile Designing, Implementing, and Managing	Exam 70-500²
TS: Microsoft Forefront Client and Server, Configuration	Exam 70-557²
TS: Configuring Windows Vista Client Note You can apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirement—not both.	Exam 70-620
TS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops	Exam 70-624¹
TS: Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, Configuring	Exam 70-630
TS: Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, Configuring	Exam 70-631²
TS: Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007, Configuring	Exam 70-638
Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST)	MCDST
Specific third-party (CompTIA) certifications: CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ or CompTIA Security+	CompTIA

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