Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) 2003

Overview

The Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) certification helps validate your ability to manage and troubleshoot network environments based on the Windows Server 2003 operating system. It reflects a unique set of skills required to succeed in a variety of job roles, such as systems administrator, network administrator, information systems administrator, network operations analyst, network technician, and technical support specialist.

This certification encompasses the Server 2003 operating system as well as a more thorough understanding of networking services like DNS, DHCP, Web servers and more. More Microsoft specific services like Active Directory and Group Policies are covered, including use of utilities and management tools to ensure all-round management and understanding of a Windows network.

Achieving the MCSA

There are many different paths to attaining your MCSA 2003 certification. We offer three different paths for you choose from depending on experience and specific areas of interest.

Path 1: For the IT Novice

This route offers someone new to the industry a way to break in with an industry recognised qualification. Starting with the Comptia A+ and Network+ certifications, these not only provide the candidate with an excellent level of ground knowledge on which to build, but also act together to make up the elective requirement for the MCSA qualification.

Comptia A+
Comptia Network+

Next, the candidate will sit an MCTS module in Configuring Windows 7. This not only satisfies the requirement for the client operating system portion of the qualification, but on passing the exam the student will also achieve MCTS status!

70-680 TS: Configuring Windows 7

Finally the student will sit the exams that make up the core of the MCSA. This includes the 70-290 and the 70-291. Note that whilst our 70-291 course also covers a very similar exam as well (70-293) MCSA candidates are only required to sit the 70-291 exam.

70-290 Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment
70-291 and 70-293 Microsoft Network Infrastructure

In total this adds up to 25 days of classroom training and the candidate will achieve their MCSA as soon as they have taken all of the required exams.

Path 2: MCSA with Microsoft Exchange Server 2007

This path offers a candidate with some IT experience to gain a qualification that verifies their ability as well as showing some proficiency with e-mail based messaging systems. It is important to remember that no matter what the size of a modern business they will all be relying on e-mail!

First the candidate will sit an MCTS module in Configuring Windows 7. This not only satisfies the requirement for the client operating system portion of the qualification, but on passing the exam the student will also achieve MCTS status!

70-680 TS: Configuring Windows 7

Next the student will sit the exams that make up the core of the MCSA. This includes the 70-290 and the 70-291. Note that whilst our 70-291 course also covers a very similar exam as well (70-293) MCSA candidates are only required to sit the 70-291 exam.

70-290 Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment
70-291 and 70-293 Microsoft Network Infrastructure

The final week of the course covers a second MCTS module, this time in Microsoft Exchange Server 2007. This not only counts as your elective for the MCSA, but will also grant the successful candidate a second MCTS.

70-236 TS: Installing, Configuring and Administering Microsoft Exchange 2007

In total this adds up to 20 days of classroom training and the candidate will achieve their MCSA as soon as they have taken all of the required exams.

Path 3: MCSA with Comptia Security+

This path offers a candidate with some IT experience to gain a qualification that verifies their ability as well as showing an awareness of the security issues facing the IT world today. Security is paramount to the modern business and no organisation wants the bad press a security breach can bring.

First the candidate will sit an MCTS module in Configuring Windows 7. This not only satisfies the requirement for the client operating system portion of the qualification, but on passing the exam the student will also achieve MCTS status!

70-680 TS: Configuring Windows 7

Next the student will sit the exams that make up the core of the MCSA. This includes the 70-290 and the 70-291. Note that whilst our 70-291 course also covers a very similar exam as well (70-293) MCSA candidates are only required to sit the 70-291 exam.

70-290 Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment
70-291 and 70-293 Microsoft Network Infrastructure

In the final week of the course the student will cover the syllabus for the Comptia Security+, a qualification designed to give a basic understanding of the wide array of security topics facing the industry today. This also counts as the the elective portion of the MCSA.

Comptia Security+

In total this adds up to 19 days of classroom training and the candidate will achieve their MCSA as soon as they have taken all of the required exams.