| The Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) program currently includes the following certification titles, each boasting its own special abbreviation (as a certification candidate and computer professional, you need to have a high tolerance for acronyms): -
MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional) ” This is the entry-level certification title from Microsoft. Passing any one of the current Microsoft certification exams qualifies you for the MCP credential. You can demonstrate proficiency with other Microsoft products by passing additional certification exams. -
MCSA (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator) ” This certification is for anyone who has a high level of networking expertise with Microsoft operating systems and software products. This credential is designed to prepare you to manage, maintain, and support information systems, networks, and internetworks built around the Microsoft Windows Server system and Windows XP and Windows 2000 desktop computers. New MCSA candidates must pass four exams to become certified. Microsoft currently offers two tracks for the MCSA credential ”MCSA on Windows 2000 and MCSA on Windows Server 2003. There is also a new specialization in the area of security called MCSA: Security on Microsoft Windows 2000. The exam requirements for attaining each MCSA credential are detailed in Tables I.1 and I.2. The security specialization requirements are also discussed following the tables.  | Required core exams that are also available as elective exams can be counted only once toward a candidate's certification. An exam can count as fulfilling a core requirement or it can count as an elective , but the same exam cannot count as both a core exam and an elective exam. |
Table I.1. MCSA on Windows 2000 Exam Requirements | Client Operating System Exams Candidates Must Pass One of the Following Exams | | Exam Number | Exam Title | | 70-210 | Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional | | | OR | | 70-270 | Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional | | Networking System Exams Candidates Must Pass Two of the Following Exams | | 70-215 | Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Server | | 70-218 | Managing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Environment | | Elective Exams Candidates Must Pass One of the Following Elective Exams (or Two of the Following CompTIA Exams) | | 70-028 | Administering Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 | | 70-081 | Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 | | 70-086 | Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 | | 70-088 | Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Proxy Server 2.0 | | 70-214 | Implementing and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network | | 70-216 | Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure | | 70-224 | Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server | | 70-227 | Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000, Enterprise Edition | | 70-228 | Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition | | 70-244 | Supporting and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Network | | CompTIA A+ Exam and CompTIA Network+ Exam | Passing both of these exams qualifies as having passed one Microsoft elective exam. | | CompTIA A+ Exam and CompTIA Server+ Exam | Passing both of these exams qualifies as having passed one Microsoft elective exam. | | CompTIA Security+ | Passing this exam qualifies as having passed one Microsoft elective exam. It also serves as MCSA: Security specialization requirement. | Table I.2. MCSA on Windows Server 2003 Exam Requirements | Client Operating System Exams Candidates Must Pass One of the Following Exams | | Exam Number | Exam Title | | 70-210 | Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional | | OR | | | 70-270 | Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional | | Networking System Exams Candidates Must Pass Two of the Following Exams | | 70-290 | Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment | | 70-291 | Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure | | Elective Exams Candidates Must Pass One of the Following Elective Exams (or Two of the Following CompTIA Exams) | | 70-086 | Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 | | 70-227 | Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000, Enterprise Edition | | 70-228 | Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition | | CompTIA A+ Exam and CompTIA Network+ Exam | Passing both of these exams qualifies as having passed one Microsoft elective exam. | | CompTIA A+ Exam and CompTIA Server+ Exam | Passing both of these exams qualifies as having passed one Microsoft elective exam. | | CompTIA Security+ | Passing this exam qualifies as having passed one Microsoft elective exam. It also serves as the MCSA: Security specialization requirement. | To obtain the MCSA: Security specialization, you must pass the MCSA 2000 core exams and then pass Exam 70-214, Implementing and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network. You must then pass either Exam 70-227, Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000, Enterprise Edition or the CompTIA Security+ exam.  | If you are already certified as an MCSA on Windows 2000, you can expedite the certification process for becoming an MCSA on Windows Server 2003. Just pass a single upgrade exam ”70-292, Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSA Certified on Windows 2000. After you've passed this one upgrade exam, you're certified as an MCSA on Windows Server 2003. |
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MCSE (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) ” Anyone with a current MCSE is recognized as having a high level of networking expertise with Microsoft operating systems and products. This credential is designed to recognize people who have the skills to plan, design, implement, maintain, and support information systems, networks, and internetworks built around Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 9x, and the Windows Server system family of products. The road to becoming an MCSE can start by attaining MCSA credentials. New MCSE candidates must pass seven exams to become certified. Microsoft currently offers two tracks for the MCSE credential ”MCSE on Windows 2000 and MCSE on Windows Server 2003. There is also a new specialization in the area of security called MCSE: Security on Microsoft Windows 2000. New MCSE candidates who are not already certified as MCSEs or MCSAs on Windows 2000 must pass seven tests to meet the MCSE requirements. It's not uncommon for the entire process to take a year or so, and many people find that they must take a test more than once to pass. The primary goal of the Exam Cram 2 test preparation guides is to make it possible, given proper study and preparation, to pass all Microsoft certification tests on the first try. The exam requirements for attaining each MCSE status are detailed in Tables I.3 and I.4. The security specialization requirements are also discussed following the tables. Table I.3. MCSE on Windows 2000 Exam Requirements | Client Operating System Exams Candidates Must Pass One of the Following Exams | | Exam Number | Exam Title | | 70-210 | Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional | | | OR | | 70-270 | Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional | | Networking System Exams Candidates Must Pass the Following Three Exams | | 70-215 | Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Server | | 70-216 | Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure | | 70-217 | Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure | | Networking Design Exams Candidates Must Pass One of the Following Exams | | 70-219 | Designing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure | | 70-220 | Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network | | 70-221 | Designing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure | | 70-226 | Designing Highly Available Web Solutions with Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Technologies | | 70-297 | Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure | | Elective Exams Candidates Must Pass Two of the Following Elective Exams | | 70-019 | Designing and Implementing Data Warehouses with Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 | | 70-028 | Administering Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 | | 70-029 | Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 | | 70-056 | Implementing and Supporting Web Sites Using Microsoft Site Server 3.0 | | 70-080 | Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 by Using the Microsoft Internet Explorer Administration Kit | | 70-081 | Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 | | 70-085 | Implementing and Supporting Microsoft SNA Server 4.0 | | 70-086 | Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 | | 70-088 | Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Proxy Server 2.0 | | 70-214 | Implementing and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network | | 70-218 | Managing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Environment | | 70-219 | Designing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Directory Services Infrastructure | | 70-220 | Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network | | 70-221 | Designing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure | | 70-222 | Migrating from Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 to Microsoft Windows 2000 | | 70-223 | Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Clustering Services by Using Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server | | 70-224 | Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server | | 70-225 | Designing and Deploying a Messaging Infrastructure with Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server | | 70-226 | Designing Highly Available Web Solutions with Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Technologies | | 70-227 | Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000 Enterprise Edition | | 70-228 | Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition | | 70-229 | Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition | | 70-230 | Designing and Implementing Solutions with Microsoft BizTalk Server 2000 Enterprise Edition | | 70-232 | Implementing and Maintaining Highly Available Web Solutions with Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Technologies and Microsoft Application Center 2000 | | 70-234 | Designing and Implementing Solutions with Microsoft Commerce Server 2000 | | 70-244 | Supporting and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Network | | CompTIA Security+ | Passing this exam qualifies as having passed one Microsoft elective exam. It also serves as the MCSE: Security specialization requirement. | | | If you are already certified as an MCSE on Windows NT 4.0, you do not need to pass an elective exam to attain the MCSE on Windows Server 2003 credential. You need to pass only six exams, instead of seven. The core exam requirements are the same for MCSEs on Windows NT 4.0 who want to become certified as MCSEs on Windows Server 2003 as for new candidates; the MCSE on Windows NT 4.0 credential qualifies as an elective exam. |
Table I.4. MCSE on Windows Server 2003 Exam Requirements | Client Operating System Exams Candidates Must Pass One of the Following Two Exams | | Exam Number | Exam Title | | 70-210 | Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional | | | OR | | 70-270 | Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional | | Networking System Exams Candidates Must Pass the Following Four Exams | | 70-290 | Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment | | 70-291 | Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure | | 70-293 | Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure | | 70-294 | Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure | | Networking Design Exams Candidates Must Pass One of the Following Exams | | 70-297 | Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure | | 70-298 | Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network | | Elective Exams Candidates Must Pass One of the Following Elective Exams | | 70-086 | Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 | | 70-227 | Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000, Enterprise Edition | | 70-228 | Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition | | 70-229 | Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition | | 70-232 | Implementing and Maintaining Highly Available Web Solutions with Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Technologies and Microsoft Application Center 2000 | | 70-297 | Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure | | 70-298 | Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network | | CompTIA Security+ | Passing this exam qualifies as having passed one Microsoft elective exam. It also serves as the MCSE: Security specialization requirement. | To obtain the MCSE: Security specialization, you must pass the MCSE 2000 core exams and then pass Exam 70-220, Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network and Exam 70-214, Implementing and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network. You must also pass either Exam 70-227, Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000, Enterprise Edition or the CompTIA Security+ exam. | | If you are already certified as an MCSE on Windows 2000, you can expedite the certification process for becoming an MCSE on Windows Server 2003. Just pass two exams ”70-292, Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSA Certified on Windows 2000, and 70-296, Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSE Certified on Windows 2000. After you've passed these two upgrade exams, you're certified as an MCSE on Windows Server 2003. |
| | After you become an MCSA on Windows Server 2003, you can upgrade your status to the MCSE on Windows Server 2003 credential by passing the remaining exams required for MCSEs. You can take a Windows Server 2003 networking design exam or a Windows 2000 networking design exam to satisfy the MCSE on Windows Server 2003 design skills requirement. |
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MCSD (Microsoft Certified Solution Developer) ” The MCSD for Microsoft .NET credential reflects the skills required to create multitier, distributed, and Component Object Model (COM) “based solutions, in addition to desktop and Internet applications, using new technologies. To obtain MCSD certification, you must demonstrate the ability to analyze and interpret user requirements; select and integrate products, platforms, tools, and technologies; design and implement code; customize applications; and perform necessary software tests and quality assurance operations. To obtain the MCSD for Microsoft .NET credential, you must pass a total of five exams: four core exams and one elective exam. The requirements for obtaining the MCSD for Microsoft .NET credential are summarized in Table I.5. Table I.5. MCSD for Microsoft .NET Exam Requirements | Core Exam: Solution Architecture Candidates Must Pass the Following Exam | | Exam Number | Exam Title | | 70-300 | Analyzing Requirements and Defining Microsoft .NET Solution Architectures | | Core Exams: Web Application Development Candidates Must Pass One of the Following Two Exams | | Exam Number | Exam Title | | 70-305 | Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET | | 70-315 | Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET | | Core Exams: Windows Application Development Candidates Must Pass One of the Following Two Exams | | 70-306 | Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET | | 70-316 | Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET | | Core Exams: XML Web Services and Server Components Development Candidates Must Pass One of the Following Two Exams | | 70-310 | Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and the Microsoft .NET Framework | | 70-320 | Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Microsoft Visual C# and the Microsoft .NET Framework | | Elective Exams Candidates Must Pass One of the Following Elective Exams | | 70-229 | Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition | | 70-230 | Designing and Implementing Solutions with Microsoft BizTalk Server 2000 Enterprise Edition | | 70-234 | Designing and Implementing Solutions with Microsoft Commerce Server 2000 | -
MCAD (Microsoft Certified Application Developer) for Microsoft .NET ” The MCAD credential provides industry recognition for professional developers who build powerful applications using Microsoft Visual Studio .NET and Web services. MCAD candidates are required to pass two core exams and one elective exam in an area of specialization. Table I.6 details the exam requirements for earning the MCAD credential. Table I.6. MCAD for Microsoft .NET Exam Requirements | Core Exams: Web or Windows Application Development Candidates Must Pass One of the Following Four Exams | | Exam Number | Exam Title | | 70-305 | Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET | | 70-315 | Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET | | 70-306 | Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET | | 70-316 | Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET | | Core Exams: XML Web Services and Server Components Development Candidates Must Pass One of the Following Two Exams | | 70-310 | Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and the Microsoft .NET Framework | | 70-320 | Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Microsoft Visual C# and the Microsoft .NET Framework | | Elective Exams Candidates Must Pass One of the Following Elective Exams | | 70-229 | Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition | | 70-230 | Designing and Implementing Solutions with Microsoft BizTalk Server 2000 Enterprise Edition | | 70-234 | Designing and Implementing Solutions with Microsoft Commerce Server 2000 | | 70-305 [*] | Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET | | 70-306 [*] | Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET | | 70-315 [*] | Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET | | 70-316 [*] | Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET | [*] Note: Exams 70-305, 70-306, 70-315, and 70-316 can be used as valid elective exams only if they are not used to satisfy the core exam requirement. -
MCDBA (Microsoft Certified Database Administrator) ” The MCDBA on Microsoft SQL Server 2000 credential reflects the skills required to implement and administer Microsoft SQL Server databases. To obtain MCDBA certification, you must demonstrate the ability to derive physical database designs, develop logical data models, create physical databases, create data services by using Transact-SQL, manage and maintain databases, configure and manage security, monitor and optimize databases, and install and configure Microsoft SQL Server. To become an MCDBA on Microsoft SQL Server 2000, you must pass a total of three core exams and one elective exam. Table I.7 outlines the exam requirements for becoming an MCDBA. Table I.7. MCDBA on Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Exam Requirements | Core Exams: SQL Server Administration Candidates Must Pass One of the Following Two Exams | | Exam Number | Exam Title | | 70-228 | Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2000, Enterprise Edition | | 70-028 | Administering Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 | | Core Exams: SQL Server Design Candidates Must Pass One of the Following Two Exams | | 70-229 | Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 2000, Enterprise Edition | | 70-029 | Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 | | Core Exams: Networking Systems Candidates Must Pass One of the Following Three Exams | | 70-290 | Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment | | 70-291 | Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure | | 70-215 | Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Server | | Elective Exams Candidates Must Pass One of the Following Elective Exams | | 70-216 | Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure | | 70-293 | Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure | | 70-305 | Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET | | 70-306 | Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET | | 70-310 | Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and the Microsoft .NET Framework | | 70-315 | Developing and Implementing Web Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET | | 70-316 | Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET | | 70-320 | Developing XML Web Services and Server Components with Microsoft Visual C# and the Microsoft .NET Framework | | 70-015 [*] | Designing and Implementing Distributed Applications with Microsoft Visual C++ 6.0 | | 70-019 [*] | Designing and Implementing Data Warehouses with Microsoft SQL Server 7.0 | | 70-155 [*] | Designing and Implementing Distributed Applications with Microsoft Visual FoxPro 6.0 | | 70-175 [*] | Designing and Implementing Distributed Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 | [*] Note: Exams 70-015, 70-019, 70-155, and 70-175 are scheduled to be discontinued after June 30, 2004.  |
