MCSE 2008 & MCSE 2003 Certification Training

Gaining your MCSE Certification - whether it's the MCSE 2003 or the up-graded MCSE 2008 version - means employers will fully recognise your abilities and be confident that you've got the technical skills to match the job. Both nationally and internationally, companies continue to seek out IT professionals who they're confident can manage the tasks required.

Individuals with MCSE certification can demonstrate an industry-recognised proficiency that employers respect and acknowledge.

The full Microsoft MCSE certification actually consists of a series of seven individual exams. As you move through the program you'll gain each of these MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional) accreditations which, along with other basic networking and support qualifications such as the CompTIA A+ and Network+, will give you the opportunity to gain your first job in the IT industry.

This combination of Microsoft technical training and hands-on experience (which is an essential element alongside your MCSE certification) will increase your knowledge and deepen your understanding, enabling you to progress onto the more advanced planning and design exams.

The MCSE 2003 certification covers design, implementation and management of a Windows environment under Windows Server 2003.

Should you wish to support the latest Windows Server 2008 operating system, you'll also need to add an MCITP 2008 Administration element to your MCSE 2003 training program.

Although the majority of companies are still operating under the older Server 2003 environment, we're starting to see an increased migration to Server 2008. And by the time a new student works through all the required qualifications, we can expect Server 2008 to have gained a lot more ground.

The reality is; you must ensure your training package incorporates a 2008 upgrade; otherwise you could find yourself out of date very quickly.

Each of the seven Microsoft Certified Professional exams builds incrementally on your knowledge base:

One exam is required to cover the Client Operating System (typically Windows XP - Exam 70-270).

Then there are four core exams which focus on Networking Systems:

• Exam 70-290: Managing & Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment
• Exam 70-291: Implementing, Managing & Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Structure
• Exam 70-293: Planning & Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Structure
• Exam 70-294: Planning, Implementing & Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure

A further exam is required to cover MCSE Design (typically Exam 70-297 - Active Directory design), and then one elective exam (typically Exam 70-298 - Designing Security) completes the whole MCSE 2003 program.

The MCITP Server 2008 Administrator Course (70-640, 642 & 646) will add the required skills around Windows Server 2008 to bring your knowledge up to date, and enhance your MCSE 2003.

The Server 2008 operating system has many new features which include security enhancements, Web tools, management utilities and virtualisation technologies (and don't worry if all this sounds like double-dutch at the moment - as long as you use a sensibly staged and incremental training program, then it will all be taken care of bit-by-bit.) Becoming MCITP 2008 certified will clearly demonstrate that you're capable of using these advanced new features.

Microsoft also offers two areas of specialisation: MCSE Security Specialist and MCSE Messaging Specialist. To obtain either of these accreditations a student needs to take two 'core' MCP qualifications. If this is prepared for at the start of the MCSE track then one of these can be incorporated into the initial program, meaning eight exams will be required in total. If the specialisation is considered afterwards then it is often the case that both are needed, as neither was taken as part of the original training, so the student will therefore need to sit nine exams.

Your MCSE certification can lead to a variety of highly skilled and well paid IT positions, including Network Engineer, Network Administrator, Technical Consultant and Security Professional. In the UK and around the world, industries are crying out for managers who have the knowledge and appropriate commercial qualifications to support and run their Windows based Networks and Operating Systems. Both the MCSE 2003 and MCSE/MCITP 2008 certifications will be very much in demand for many years to come.

Read on for more details of Microsoft MCSE 2003 & 2008 certification training with LearningLolly...