MCSA and MCSE Certifications

If I go after the MCSA and MCSE certifications it would be to support the developer certifications.  I would be focusing on Exchange and Database certifications to support consulting for sharepoint and Team Foundation Server.  The primary focus here is to get into the collaboration and development side of the current MS offerings.  To be clear I am only going after the latest certifications.

• For the MCSA and MCSE the Certification will be for Windows Server 2003.  There are no certifications yet for Windows Server 2008
• Client certifications would be for Windows Vista (MCTS).

So the certifications and the order I would get them are:

• Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) 
• Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP)
• Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) for Windows Server 2003
• Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) for Windows Server 2003

There are several MCTS Certifications.  Some are not really available yet and some I am not interested in.  The ones I am interested in that are available are listed below in the order I would get them:

1. Technology Specialist: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Configuration (one exam)
2. Technology Specialist: Windows Vista and 2007 Microsoft  Office System Desktops, Deploying and Maintaining (one exam)
3. Technology Specialist: Windows Vista, Configuration (one exam)

There are also several MCITP Certifications.  The ones I am interested in and the probable order are:

1. MCITP: Enterprise Messaging Administrator (2 additional exams)
2. MCITP: Consumer Support Technician (1 additional exam)
3. MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician (1 additional exam)

The MCSA certifications would be a extension of the collaboration focus.  As such you would want take the two core exams:

1. Exam 70-290: Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment
2. Exam 70-291: Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure

All the rest of the requirements for the MCSA are covered by the other exams.  The client focus would be Vista.

The MCSE certifications would be a extension of the collaboration focus of the MCSA.  As such you would want take the two additional core exams:

1. Exam 70-293: Planning and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure
2. Exam 70-294: Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure

All the rest of the requirements are covered by the MCTS and MCITP certifications. 

So to get 8 certifications it takes 11 exams (once you get rid of the common exams).  If you completed this plan including the developer certifications you would have

• 6 of the seven MCITP Certifications (No training for the Project ones is available yet).
• 12 of the 19 MCTS Certifications
• 3 of the Primary Certifications (MCPD Enterprise, MCSA and MCSE)

If you can pull this off it is 23 certifications and 29 tests.  There are short cuts through this and once you have the Vista and Database Certifications you could have go straight for the MCSA and MCSE certifications and abandon the Enterprise Messaging certification.  That would cut back 2 certifications and 4 tests.  Not that much after you already have 25 tests under your belt.

Basically this is a good year of training.  6 months if you are a real stud.  In addition you are looking at 3k in test costs.  Of course by then the 2008 product line is out :-).