MCSA Course Path Outline

Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA)

Help prove your expertise in systems administration on Windows Server 2003 and earlier operating systems by earning a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) certification. For newer technologies, such as Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, Windows Server 2008, or Microsoft SQL Server 2008, the Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) is the appropriate certification to pursue. One to twelve months of experience in working with a desktop operating system, a network operating system, and an existing network infrastructure Audience: IT professional Type: Microsoft Certification Level:

Overview Certifications Specializations Upgrade Paths FAQ

MCSA Certifications
MCSA on Windows Server 2003
The enduring strength of Windows Server 2003 in the market suggests that demand for related IT expertise will continue for many years. Earn the MCSA on Windows Server 2003 to help demonstrate your expertise to customers and employers. Prove your skills in Windows administration, including system environment management and troubleshooting. To earn the MCSA on Windows Server 2003 certification, you must pass four exams (in any order):

Two exams on networking systems

One exam on client operating systems One elective exam

Note Many of the exams in this certification track are retired. If a required exam is retired and you have not yet passed that exam, you cannot complete the certification track. You must fulfill all listed requirements to earn the certification. If you passed a required exam before it retired, it can be applied toward certification. Exams on networking systems: Both required Exam number Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment Exam 70-290 Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network Exam 70-291 Infrastructure Exams on client operating systems: Choose one Exam number TS: Windows 7, Configuring Note You may apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirementnot both. TS: Configuring Windows Vista Client Note You may apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirementnot both. Installing, Configuring, and Administering Windows XP Professional Note You may apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirementnot both. Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. You may apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirementnot both. Elective exam: Choose one Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. Designing, Managing, and Maintaining Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003 Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can count it toward both the MCSA and the MCSE elective exam requirements. Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000, Enterprise Edition Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can count it Exam 70-680

Exam 70-620

Exam 70-270

Exam 70-210

Exam number Exam 70-086

Exam 70-0891 Exam 70-227

Elective exam: Choose one toward both the MCSA elective requirement and an MCSA: Security Specialization requirement. Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition

Exam number

Exam 70-228 Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can count it toward both the MCSA and the MCSE elective exam requirements. TS: Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions Using Microsoft BizTalk Server Exam 70-2352 Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. TS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Configuring TS: Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 Implementing, Managing, and Troubleshooting Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. Implementing and Managing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can count it toward both the MCSA elective requirement and an MCSA: Messaging Specialization requirement. Implementing and Administering Security in a Windows Server 2003 Network Implementing Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2004 Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can count toward both the MCSA elective requirement and an MCSA: Security Specialization requirement. TS: Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2006, Configuring Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. TS: Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007, Configuring TS: Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007, Configuring TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Implementation and Maintenance TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2008, Implementation and Maintenance Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. Exam 70-2844 Exam 70-2363 Exam 70-2621

Exam 70-299

Exam 70-3501

Exam 70-3514 Exam 70-400 Exam 70-401 Exam 70-4312 Exam 70-4322

Elective exam: Choose one TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence Implementation and Maintenance Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. TS: Microsoft Windows Mobile Designing, Implementing, and Managing Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. TS: Windows Server 2003 Hosted Environments, Configuration and Management Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. TS: Microsoft Forefront Client and Server, Configuration Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. TS: Configuring Windows Vista Client Note You can apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirementnot both. Installing, Configuring, and Administering Windows XP Professional Note You can apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirementnot both. Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can count it toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirementnot both. TS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. TS: Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, Configuring TS: Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, Configuring Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. TS: Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007, Configuring TS: Microsoft Office Project Server 2007, Configuring

Exam number Exam 70-4452

Exam 70-5004

Exam 70-5011

Exam 70-5574

Exam 70-620

Exam 70-270

Exam 70-210

Exam 70-6241 Exam 70-6303 Exam 70-6314 Exam 70-6383 Exam 70-639

Elective exam: Choose one TS: Windows 7, Configuring Note You can apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirementnot both. Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) MCSE on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server MCSA on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server MCSE on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 Note This certification is discontinued, but if you already earned it, you can apply it toward this certification. Specific third-party (CompTIA) certifications: CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ or

Exam number Exam 70-680 MCDST5 MCSE6 See the requirements in the next section Discontinued

CompTIA CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Server+ or CompTIA Security+

1

This exam retired on October 31, 2010. This exam retired on June 30, 2011. This exam retires on September 30, 2012. This exam retired on March 31, 2011. Exams for this certification retired on June 30, 2011.

This certification will be discontinued on December 31, 2011. If you achieve the certification prior to December 31, 2011, it will still count as credit toward this certification. If you have the MCSA on Windows Server 2003 certification, you can upgrade to the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) and Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) on Windows Server 2008 certifications.

View the upgrade paths

MCSA on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server

This certification is for administrators who want to demonstrate their ability to successfully implement, manage, and troubleshoot Microsoft Windows 2000 Server environments. To earn the MCSA on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server certification, you must pass four exams (in any order):

Two exams on networking systems One exam on client operating systems One elective exam

Note Many of the exams in this certification track are retired. If a required exam is retired and you have not yet passed that exam, you cannot complete the certification track. You must fulfill all listed requirements to earn the certification. If you passed a required exam before it retired, it can be applied toward certification. Exams on networking systems: Both required Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. Managing a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Environment Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. Exams on client operating systems: Choose one Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. Installing, Configuring, and Administering Windows XP Professional TS: Configuring Windows Vista Client Note You can apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirementnot both. Elective exam: Choose one Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 Exam number Exam 70-215

Exam 70-218 Exam number Exam 70-210 Exam 70-270 Exam 70-620 Exam number

Exam 70-086 Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. Planning, Deploying, and Managing Microsoft Systems Management Server Exam 70-0891 2003

Elective exam: Choose one Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. Implementing and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network

Exam number

Exam 70-214 Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure Exam 70-216 Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Exchange 2000 Server Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000, Enterprise Edition Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition Exam 70-228 Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. TS: Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions Using Microsoft BizTalk Server Exam 70-2352 Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. TS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Configuring Supporting and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Network Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. TS: Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 Implementing, Managing, and Troubleshooting Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. Implementing and Managing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Exam 70-2363 Exam 70-244 Exam 70-224

Exam 70-227

Exam 70-2621 Exam 70-2844

Elective exam: Choose one Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. Implementing and Administering Security in a Windows Server 2003 Network Implementing Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2004 Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. TS: Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2006, Configuring

Exam number

Exam 70-299

Exam 70-3501

Exam 70-3514 Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Implementation and Maintenance Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence Implementation and Maintenance Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. TS: Microsoft Windows Mobile Designing, Implementing, and Managing Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. TS: Microsoft Forefront Client and Server, Configuration Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. TS: Configuring Windows Vista Client Note You can apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirementnot both. TS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. TS: Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, Configuring TS: Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, Configuring Exam 70-5004 Exam 70-4312

Exam 70-4452

Exam 70-5574

Exam 70-620

Exam 70-6241 Exam 70-6303 Exam 70-6314

Elective exam: Choose one Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. TS: Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007, Configuring Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) Note The exams for this certification are retired. Specific third-party (CompTIA) certifications: CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+

Exam number

Exam 70-6383 MCDST5

CompTIA or CompTIA Security+

1

This exam retired on October 31, 2010. This exam retired on June 30, 2011. This exam will retire on September 30, 2012. This exam retired on March 31, 2011. The exams for this certification retired on June 30, 2011.