How to Get Certification for Becoming a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer
Submitted by: clarice
There are a variety of options for those people interested in pursuing a career in the IT industry. One such option is to become a network systems engineer. One of the credentials that a person has to consider for this kind of job is the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MSCE) certification. To qualify for this type of certification, a candidate should have at least two years of experience in designing, installing, setting up and analyzing network systems.
If you are MSCE certified, clients and employees will know that you are qualified to handle infrastructures for business solutions using the Windows 2000 Server and the Windows Server 2003. Anyone who wants to be certified for Microsoft's latest technology such as the Micrososft Server 2008 or the Exchange Server 2010 can apply for the Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) certification. If you already have the MSCE certification, you can upgrade to MCITP by taking some of the core and elective exams.
Before taking the exams for the MSCE for Windows Server 2003, make sure that you do the following:
1. Review the certification requirements at the official website of Microsoft. There are seven exams that you need to pass: four exams on networking systems, and one exam each on Client Operating Systems and on Design. Then, for the last exam which is an elective exam, you will be given several options.
All exams on Networking Systems are required:
- Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 environment
- Implementing, Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 network infrastructure
- Planning and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 network infrastructure
- Planning, Implementing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 active directory infrastructure
For the Design exam, a candidate can choose from any of the following:
- Designing a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure
- Designing Security for a Windows Server 2003 Network
- Designing a Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Organization
For the Client Operating Systems exam, a candidate can choose from any of the following:
- Configuring Windows 7
- Configuring Windows Vista Client
- Installing, Configuring and Administering Windows XP Professional
- Installing, Configuring and Administering Windows 2000 Professional
There are several elective exams that a candidate can choose from:
- Designing, Managing and Maintaining Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003
- Planning, Deploying, and Managing Enterprise Project Management Solutions
- Implementing and Managing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003
- Implementing Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2004
- Designing, Managing, and Maintaining Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003
For the complete list of elective exams, visit the Microsoft site.
2. Do an assessment of your skills and determine which area you still need to improve on. Microsoft has a practice exam that you can take to assess yourself.
3. Choose a training or learning solution that is approved by Microsoft. You can either attend a regular class or do self-study.
4. Once you are ready, you can go to Prometric, an independent testing center that administers all Microsoft Technology Specialist and Professional Series certifications. The exam price is usually $125 but it can vary per location.
For the MSCE certification for the Windows 2000 Server, a candidate should also pass seven exams. However, unlike the MSCE certification for the Windows Server 2003, there are only three core exams in this track but two elective exams, and one exam each for Design and for Client Operating Systems.
Gypsy Santiago is a professional resume writer and career search strategy/career branding coach with years of experience in assisting job seekers prepare for the job market. She helps create career-targeted resumes, provides useful tips about career transition, offers future career ideas and guide jobseekers about effective job search techniques.
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Word Count: 627 Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2010 Time: 1:53 AM
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