Microsoft already announced
the new generation of Microsoft certifications quite some time ago, but just recently shed some light on the certifications for Windows 2008 Server. This overview is meant to give you a clearer picture of what this can mean for you, whether you are just starting with Microsoft certifications, or are looking to upgrade your MCSA/MCSE. The key item is that there won’t be an MCSA or MCSE certification for Windows 2008, but instead several MCTS and MCITP certifications.
Most of you probably already heard of the MCTS (Microsoft Certification Technology Specialist) as several MCTS certifications and exams have been available for some time now, starting for several Microsoft development certifications for the .NET 2.0 Framework, and by now for roughly 20 difference technologies. You usually need to pass 1 or 2 exams to become a MCTS, and is therefore somewhat similar to the MCP. A major difference with the MCP however, is that you can, and likely will, become a MCTS multiple times for different technologies. A list of current MCTS certifications can be found
here, the related Windows 2008 MCTS certifications are listed further below in this article.
Another new addition that is part of the new generation of Microsoft certifications is the Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP). Despite the difference between the name MCP and MCITP just being two letters, and every MCP is assumed to be or at least to go into ‘IT’, the MCITP is more similar to the current MCSA and MCSE than the MCP. Just like the MCTS certifications, you can become a MCITP for different Microsoft technologies. The MCITP certification usually require 4 or 5 exams in total, however, that includes several exams from the MCTS certifications. In other words, to become a MCITP, you need one or more MCTS certifications, plus one or more additional exams as specified in the list below.
Let’s start with the
Windows 2008 MCTS certifications. Note that each requires you to pass only a single exam.
MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Configuration
- Exam 70-640 – Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring
MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Networking Infrastructure Configuration
- Exam 70-642 – Windows Server 2008 Networking Infrastructure, Configuring
MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Application Platform Configuration
- Exam 70-643 – Applications Platform, Configuring
Following are the
Windows 2008 MCITP certifications, which require two or three of the above MCTS pre-requisites and one or more additional exams:
MCITP: Server Administrator
Requires the first two MCTS credentials above (ADS 70-640 and Networking Infra 70-642), and the following additional exam:
- Exam 70-646: MCITP: Server Administrator
MCITP: Enterprise Administrator
Requires all three MCTS credentials above, and two additional exams, of which one focuses on Windows Vista client and the other on Windows 2008 features that are more likely to be used in large corporations.
- Exam 70-620: MCTS: Vista, Configure or 70-624 Deploying and Maintaining Vista and 2007 Office System Desktops
- Exam 70-647: MCITP: Enterprise Administrator
Upgrade Exams and PathsMCSA/MCSE 2003 to MCTS Windows 2008
MCSA 2003 can upgrade to MCTS Active Directory
and MCTS Networking by passing the following exam:
-
70-648 – Upgrading your MCSA on Windows 2003 to Windows 2008
MCSE 2003 can upgrade to
all three Windows 2008 MCTS certifications by passing the following exam:
-
70-649 – Upgrading your MCSE on Windows 2003 to Windows 2008
- There is
not a direct upgrade path from MCSA/MCSE 2003 to an MCITP for Windows 2008.
- There is
not a separate upgrade path for those who hold a Messaging or Security specialization in Windows Server 2003. Separate new generation certifications are available for Microsoft Exchange, and security has become an integral part of the Windows 2008 MCTS and MCITP exams.
- There is
not a direct upgrade path from Windows Server 2000 certifications.
Following is a list of example paths that includes the shortest paths for those who currently are MCSA or MCSE 2003 or both, and want to become MCITP: Server Administrator, MCITP: Enterprise Administrator, or both.
MCSA 2003 -> MCITP: Server Administrator
1. Upgrade exam 70-648 to become MCTS ADS and MCTS Networking
2. Exam 70-646 to become MCITP: Server Administrator
MCSA 2003 -> MCITP: Enterprise Administrator
1. Upgrade exam 70-648 to become MCTS ADS and MCTS Networking
2. Exam 70-643 Applications Platform, Configuring
3. Exam
70-620: MCTS: Vista, Configure or
70-624 Deploying and Maintaining Vista and 2007 Office System Desktops
4. Exam 70-647: MCITP: Enterprise Administrator
Although this is just one exam less than without the upgrade exam, it results in 3 MCTS certifications and one MCITP. Adding Exam 70-646 to become MCITP: Server Administrator would also result in MCITP: Server Administrator.
MCSE 2003 -> MCITP: Server Administrator
1. Upgrade exam 70-649 to become MCTS ADS, MCTS Networking, and MCTS Application Platform
2. Exam 70-646: MCITP: Server Administrator
MCSE 2003 -> MCITP: Enterprise Administrator
1. Upgrade exam 70-649 to become MCTS ADS, MCTS Networking, and MCTS Application Platform
2.
Exam 70-620: MCTS: Vista, Configure or
70-624 Deploying and Maintaining Vista and 2007 Office System Desktops
3. Exam 70-647: MCITP: Enterprise Administrator
Just as for second MCSA 2003 upgrade path above, this also results in 3 MCTS certifications and one MCITP, but it requires 3 exams instead of 4. And again, adding Exam 70-646 would also result in MCITP: Server Administrator.
'Client' MCITP
MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician
Rather surprisingly, this certification requires only a single exam in addition to the MCTS Window Vista Configuration cert.
www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcitp/entsupport/default.mspx
To put it simple, you only need to pass 2 Vista client exams to become a MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician, while the MCITP for Windows 2008 Server requires at least 3 or 4.
Some notes:
An interesting change on the exam pages, the ones listing the ‘skills being measures’ aka exam objectives, is the list of ‘Exam Topics’ that include percentages, similar to what CompTIA does in their exam objective PDFs.
The MCSA and MCSE 2003 certifications, just like the previous versions, will not retire. The exams will eventually retire but the MCSA and MCSE credentials for Windows 2003 will not be changed or replaced. Obviously, the MCSA and MCSE certifications too will some day be little more than a glimpse of the good days, and hopefully the bad days. Even though it’s been almost a decade since I got my MCSE NT4, it still has some value on a resume, and so will the MCSA/MCSE 2003, as well as 2000, for many years to come.
Those who are currently working on the 2003 tracks should continue to do so. Besides the availability of the upgrade exams, it will look good to eventually have the MCSA/MCSE for Windows 2003 and the MCTS/MCITP for Windows 2008. This also improves your chances of getting a job that involves upgrading Windows 2003 to Windows 2008. Besides that, many organizations will continue to run Windows 2003 for a long time.
Those who are about to start with Microsoft certifications and are currently employed as an IT professional, should try to predict the demand for specific skills in the organization they work (or will work). For example, simply ask your employer whether and when an upgrade to Windows 2008 is likely to occur. Those who are currently not employed, or don’t expect to move to a job role that entails Window servers soon, could go for the latest – the Windows 2008 MCTS/MCITP certifications, but, the available upgrade exams allow for some additional flexibility.
For a short and concise overview as well as some comments also check out this topic earlier topic:
www.techexams.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=24388
And here's another topic on the subject of upgrading to Windows 2008:
www.techexams.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=24441
Also check out the FAQ at trika's blog:
Windows Server 2008 certification paths - "So, a booth babe and a geek walk in to a bar..." - Site Home - MSDN Blogs
