| Microsoft offers a number of certification levels | | | | XP Professional. 70-210: Installing, Configuring, and |
| depending on specific areas of proficiency and nature | | | | Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional. |
| of job. Some of the certifications pertaining to the | | | | Core Exam: Design (1 Exam Required) 70-297: |
| field of networking are: Microsoft Certified | | | | Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active |
| Professional (MCP) Microsoft Certified System | | | | Directory and Network Infrastructure (Note: May be |
| Administrator (MCSA) Microsoft Certified System | | | | used as Design requirement or elective, but not |
| Engineer (MCSE) Each certification level has certain | | | | both). 70-298: Designing Security for a Microsoft |
| exams associated with it. | | | | Windows Server 2003 Network (Note: May be used |
| Introduction to Microsoft Certifications | | | | as Design requirement or elective, but not both). |
| Certifications are a necessity these days, to tell the | | | | Passing Score |
| good from the bad at the start itself. However, the | | | | Beginning with the release of the Microsoft Windows |
| test does not stop there; it only means you have a | | | | Server 2003–related exams, Microsoft provides |
| chance at the job and not the job itself. Microsoft | | | | numerical scores on exams. The new scale requires a |
| has gone to great lengths to ensure a certified | | | | minimum passing score of 700 on all exams. The |
| engineer is tested academically on all aspects of an | | | | maximum score on the exams will vary de-pending |
| enterprise network, if he claims to be a Microsoft | | | | on the complexity of the skills being measured. You |
| Certified Systems Engineer. Microsoft offers a | | | | can check out these de-tails on Microsoft web site to |
| number of certification levels depending on specific | | | | update yourself for any changes. |
| areas of proficiency and nature of job. Some of the | | | | About the exams itself |
| certifications pertaining to the field of networking are: | | | | There are seven exams in all to pass and can be |
| Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) Microsoft | | | | tedious with the varying question patterns, scenarios |
| Certified System Administrator (MCSA) Microsoft | | | | etc. Unless you have poured in hours of preparation |
| Certified System Engineer (MCSE) Each certification | | | | and turned in every page of every book possible you |
| level has certain exams associated with it. You can | | | | would not get a passing score in all the seven exams |
| decide the appropriate level of the certification exam | | | | at one go. Knowing something about the Exam Model |
| based on your experience, skills, and interests. | | | | will help you. Most of the questions in the exam are |
| Why Microsoft Certification? | | | | multiple choices. The questions require the "best" |
| Consider a bunch of prospective employees who | | | | answer from several close responses. Some |
| knew the technology well, and you possessed the | | | | questions may present an implementation scenario, |
| certification too along with the required experience, it | | | | requirements, and a proposed solution and then ask if |
| is your guess as well as mine as to who will land up | | | | the solution meets all of the requirements or |
| with the job. Yes, Microsoft certification is a basis for | | | | combinations of the primary and secondary |
| streamlining recruitment process. A pass that could | | | | requirements. Microsoft has introduced some testing |
| help you gain an entry to the organization, well at | | | | innovations for the certification exams like Hot Area, |
| least the interview if not the job itself! | | | | Active Screen, Drag-and-Drop, Case Study-based |
| For whom are these certifications meant? | | | | Test Demo, Exams with Simulations. NOTE: Exams |
| If your line of job falls within the provided list, then | | | | 70-297 and 70-298 may each count once as either |
| the exam/certification is for you: System | | | | core design exam or elective exam. |
| administrator Network engineers Systems engineers | | | | Resources The best way to success is hands-on, |
| Training – Network MIS Enterprise administrator | | | | hands-on and more hands-on. But then again, you |
| Web administrators | | | | would not lose if you tried a Sybex series preparation |
| What comprises MCSE 2003 Certification track? | | | | book, or MSDN site itself for the knowledge base, |
| Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) | | | | case study and so on. Read as many white papers |
| candidates on the Microsoft Win-dows Server 2003 | | | | as you can on all Microsoft technologies; it is the best |
| track are required to pass following 6 core exams | | | | way to understand a technology from the basics. |
| and 1 elective exam: Core Exams: Networking (4 | | | | Lastly do not appear for the exam before trying |
| Exams Required) 70-290: Managing and Maintaining a | | | | your hands on a good exam simulator, especially if |
| Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment. 70-291: | | | | your money and time are precious to you. Be |
| Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft | | | | Warned! Studying or cramming will no longer do. |
| Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure. | | | | These exams now carry simulation-based questions. |
| 70-293: Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows | | | | If you were till now being questioned on the concept |
| Server 2003 Network Infra-structure. 70-294: | | | | of Disk administrator utility, you may now be asked |
| Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft | | | | to actually use it in the exam. There-fore, your only |
| Windows Server 2003 Active Directory | | | | choice is not only be aware of all the administrative |
| Infrastructure. Core Exam: Client Operating System | | | | and maintenance toll in Windows 2003 but also be |
| (1 Exam Required) 70-270: Installing, | | | | good at it! |
| Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows® | | | | |