Where is the MCSE for Windows 2008?
Well, this is an interesting subject, as many of you know there is not an MCSE for the Windows 2008 family and it has been replaced with a new exciting qualification. So, Let’s have a look at some of the new details,
We have four new(ish) qualifications that we could aim for, namely the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist, Microsoft Certified IT Professional, Microsoft Certified Professional Developer and the Microsoft Certified Architect. This blog article will focus on the Technology specialist and IT pro certifications.
Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist
The Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist will consist of 1-3 exams (Generally one exam with exceptions) that focus on a specific technology, so therefore you could say that you are a MCTS in Exchange, ISA or whatever specific technology or technologies that they want to focus on.
These exams will also expire when the technology falls out of mainstream support, the exam remain on your transcript until the support is completely finished and then it will be removed from your transcript automatically.
Microsoft Certified IT Professional
There are now two MCITP certifications:- Microsoft Certified IT Professional Server Administrator (MCITP-SA) and Microsoft Certified IT Professional Enterprise Administrator (MCITP-EA). These two main paths are stand alone certifications and will typically be valid for three years.
Many people will look at it the new qualifications as a direct replacement for the MCSA and the MCSE, but we actually started over with the job roles and the objective domains (what the exams cover) is a different set of skills in the new MCITP, than were in MCSA and MCSE. Server Administrator covers much more operations than did MCSA.
Enterprise Admin is based on an actual job role profile where the MCSE certification was not - it combined technical skills with some job skills included. The simplest way of positioning these are that the server administrator’s job responsibility would be one of master operator, whereas, the enterprise administrator’s job responsibility would be more like a designer.
In the Past the MCSA was a subset of MCSE however the new Enterprise Administrator certification does not encompass the components of the new Server Administrator. EA is focused on design and SA is focused on operations so therefore, if you earn the EA, you do NOT automatically earn your SA. You need to complete the requirements for both, if you want to earn both.
If you are a current MCSE/MCSA 2003, we already provide an upgrade path to maintain the customer’s investment in the previous programs, but that is where the MCSE path stops and a new pathway commences. The current MCSE program will continue to exist for Legacy operating systems so there is no fear that your current MCSE 2000 or MCSE 2003 no longer exist. It is expected that this will continue on for a long while yet.
So where do you go from here, well let’s have a look:
Current MCSA 2003, wanting to move to 2008
If you are a current MCSA and would like to upgrade to the closest equivalent in Windows 2008, then you will need to:
Sit the upgrade exam 70-648, which will effectively earn you 2 MCTS certifications:
· Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Configuration
· Windows Server 2008 Networking Infrastructure Configuration
If you want to be accredited with the 2008 MCITP – Server Administrator Qualification, then you need to sit one more exam which is 70-646 (Server Admin).
If you want to be accredited with the 2008 MCITP – Enterprise Administrator Qualification, then you need to sit three more exams:
· 70-643 (Windows Server 2008 Application Infrastructure Configuration)
§ 70-620 (TS: Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client) or 70-624 (TS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops)
§ 70-647 (Enterprise Admin)
Current MCSE 2003, wanting to move to 2008
If you are a current MCSE and would like to upgrade to the closest equivalent in Windows 2008, then you will need to:
Sit the upgrade exam 70-649, which will effectively earn you 3 MCTS certifications:
· Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Configuration
· Windows Server 2008 Networking Infrastructure Configuration
· Windows Server 2008 Application Infrastructure Configuration
If you want to be accredited with the 2008 MCITP – Server Administrator Qualification, then you need to sit one more exam which is 70-646 (Server Admin).
If you want to be accredited with the 2008 MCITP – Enterprise Administrator Qualification, then you need to sit two more exams:
§ 70-620 (TS: Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client) or 70-624 (TS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops)
§ 70-647 (Enterprise Admin)
*NOTE: It is important to realise that you do not need to reach the job role of Server Administrator/Enterprise administrator if you job does not require it.
Complete the whole 2008 MCITP- Server Administrator certification from scratch
If you want to start from scratch and go through the whole certification path, then you will need to sit the following:
§ 70-642: TS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure Configuration
§ 70-640: TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Configuration
§ 70-646: Pro: Server Administrator
Complete the whole 2008 MCITP- Enterprise Administrator certification from scratch
If you want to start from scratch and go through the whole certification path, then you will need to sit the following:
§ 70-620 (TS: Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client) or 70-624 (TS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops)
§ 70-643: TS: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure, Configuration
§ 70-642: TS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure Configuration
§ 70-640: TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Configuring
§ 70-647: Pro: Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Administrator
NOTE: All of the MCTS exams are targeted for 30 days after RTM of Windows Server 2008 and the Role based exams are targeted for 60 days after RTM of Windows Server 2008.
Courses that are available for MCTS
To obtain the MCTS qualification, there are a number of courses available to help prepare you towards the exam, these are as follows:
· Introducing Windows Server 2008 First Look Clinic/Hands on Labs
· 6400A/6401A: First Look: Getting Started with Centralized Application Access in Windows Server 2008
· 6402A/6403A: First Look: Getting Started with Branch Office Management in Windows Server 2008
· 6404A/6405A: First Look: Getting Started with High Availability in Windows Server 2008
· 6406A/6407A: First Look: Getting Started with Security and Policy Control in Windows Server 2008
· 6408A/6409A: First Look: Getting Started with Server Management in Windows Server 2008
· 6410A/6411A: First Look: Getting Started with Server Virtualization in Windows Server 2008
· 6412A/6413A: First Look: Getting Started with Web and Applications Platform Technologies in Windows Server 2008
Course that are available for MCTS that are Windows 2008 Focused
· 6430A/AL: Managing and Maintaining Windows Server 2008 Servers
· 6435A: Designing a Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure
· 6436A: Designing a Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Infrastructure and Services
· 6437A: Designing a Windows Server 2008 Applications Platform Infrastructure
· 6421A/AL: Configuring and Troubleshooting a Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure
· 6425A/AL: Configuring Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Domain Services
· 6426A/AL: Configuring Identity and Access Solutions with Windows Server 2008 AD
· 6427A: Configuring and Troubleshooting Internet Information Services in Windows Server 2008
· 6428A: Configuring Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services
NOTE: The above two course lists are not extensive and are subject to change