I'm looking to get my MCSE this year but I'm not sure where to even start?
I've seen alot of discussion about the Server 2003 and such but are these
even still currents exams? Can anyone point me in the right direction of what
to expect, cost to me (self-study) and which exams to take?

On 08/02/2010 16:11, Jennifer M wrote:
> I'm looking to get my MCSE this year but I'm not sure where to even start?
> I've seen alot of discussion about the Server 2003 and such but are these
> even still currents exams? Can anyone point me in the right direction of what
> to expect, cost to me (self-study) and which exams to take?

Go to Google, type 'MCSE' and click the first result :-) Here it is anyway:

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en...tion/mcse.aspx


The MCSE for Windows Server 2003 will require you to pass a minimum of
seven exams (details are in the page above), depending on how you decide
to do it.

The MCSE certification ended with Windows Server 2003 - you can still
take the exams and since most companies will be running Windows Server
2003 for a long while yet, it's still a valuable and relevant
certification to have.

However, Windows Server 2008 is the latest version of Windows Server.
The closest equivalent to the MCSE on Windows Server 2008 is the
MCITP:EA certification:

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en...citp.aspx#tab2


The MCITP:EA cert only requires five exams (and the ones I've taken have
been easier than the 2003 ones, although I think that the core exams are
going to be replaced with more simulation-based ones).

You may want to start with something smaller and work up (for example,
start with the MCSA or the MCITP:SA certifications). Many of the exams
overlap - some of the ones for the MCSA will also count towards the
MCSE, same goes for the MCITP:SA and EA certs.

My advice would be to study the technology that you know best. If you've
already got plenty of Server 2003 experience, perhaps do the MCSE. If
you're equally experienced (or inexperienced) in both 2003 and 2008, you
might decide to go for the MCITP track.

As for cost, you don't mention which country you're in. In the UK, the
Microsoft exams are all £88 each (there may be exceptions but I've never
come across one). The Microsoft Training Kit books can be picked up from
Amazon for around £30. Read the reviews though, some of the MS Press
books are awful (70-297 anyone? :-) You should be able to find out how
much the exams are (and your nearast testing centres) from the Prometric
site:

http://www.prometric.com/

Get yourself Virtual PC/VirtualBox or some other virtualisation software
of your choice, plenty of RAM in a fast machine and build yourself a
test Active Directory infrastructure to test with.

Also keep in mind that the Second Shot offer is currently running. You
get a free retake of any exam that you fail if you do the first one and
the retake before the end of June:

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en...#certification

Last, but certainly not least - read my first sentence again. Most of
your questions have already been answered if you just search for them.

Good luck!

Jennifer M wrote:
> I'm looking to get my MCSE this year but I'm not sure where to even
> start? I've seen alot of discussion about the Server 2003 and such
> but are these even still currents exams? Can anyone point me in the
> right direction of what to expect, cost to me (self-study) and which
> exams to take?

Hi, Jennifer! R U Hawt?

>
> Hi, Jennifer! R U Hawt?
>

I knew you wrote that even before I opened the message. That is your
trademark. Ain't I the smartest MCNGP? Or at least one of the top 55
smartest?

"Network Guru" <nwg> wrote in news:uefh$45qKHA.3908
@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl:

>
>>
>> Hi, Jennifer! R U Hawt?
>>
>
> I knew you wrote that even before I opened the message. That is your
> trademark. Ain't I the smartest MCNGP? Or at least one of the top 55
> smartest?


The function to determine the samrtest MCNGP for any given day is as
follows:

Randomize Timer
Smartassed = (Weekday(Now) * 42 + Rnd() * 100) Mod 55

Sorry about that.