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.
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. The
certification will not expire.
1This exam retires on October 31, 2010.
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.
| Exams on networking systems: Both required | Exam number |
|---|---|
| Managing and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Environment | |
| Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Windows Server 2003 Network 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 requirement—not both. | |
| TS: Configuring Windows Vista Client Note You may apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirement—not both. | |
| Installing, Configuring, and Administering Windows XP Professional | |
| 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. | Exam 70-210 |
| Elective exam: Choose one | Exam number |
|---|---|
| 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. | Exam 70-086 |
| Designing, Managing, and Maintaining Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003 Note This exam can count toward both the MCSA and the MCSE elective exam requirements. | Exam 70-0891 |
| 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. This exam can count toward both the MCSA elective requirement and an MCSA: Security Specialization requirement. | Exam 70-227 |
| Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. This exam can count toward both the MCSA and the MCSE elective exam requirements. | Exam 70-228 |
| TS: Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions Using Microsoft BizTalk Server | |
| TS: Microsoft Exchange Server 2007, Configuring | |
| TS: Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 – Implementing, Managing, and Troubleshooting | Exam 70-2621 |
| Implementing and Managing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Note This exam can count 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 can count toward both the MCSA elective requirement and an MCSA: Security Specialization requirement. | Exam 70-3501 |
| TS: Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2006, Configuring | |
| 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 | |
| TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence – Implementation and Maintenance | |
| TS: Microsoft Windows Mobile Designing, Implementing, and Managing | |
| TS: Windows Server 2003 Hosted Environments, Configuration and Management | |
| TS: Microsoft Forefront Client and Server, Configuration | |
| TS: Configuring Windows Vista Client Note You can apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirement—not both. | |
| TS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops | Exam 70-6241 |
| TS: Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, Configuring | |
| TS: Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, Configuring | |
| TS: Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007, Configuring | |
| TS: Microsoft Office Project Server 2007, Configuring | |
| TS: Windows 7, Configuring Note You can apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirement—not both. | |
| Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) | |
| MCSE on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server | |
| MCSA on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server | See the requirements in the next section |
| 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. | Discontinued |
| Specific third-party (CompTIA) certifications: CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ or CompTIA Security+ |
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.
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
| Exams on networking systems: Both required | Exam number |
|---|---|
| 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. | Exam 70-215 |
| 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. | Exam 70-218 |
| Exams on client operating systems: Choose one | Exam number |
|---|---|
| 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. | Exam 70-210 |
| 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 requirement—not both. |
| Elective exam: Choose one | Exam number |
|---|---|
| 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. | Exam 70-086 |
| Planning, Deploying, and Managing Microsoft Systems Management Server 2003 | Exam 70-0891 |
| Implementing and Administering Security in a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. | Exam 70-214 |
| Implementing and Administering a Microsoft Windows 2000 Network Infrastructure Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. | Exam 70-216 |
| 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. | Exam 70-224 |
| 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. | Exam 70-227 |
| Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition Note This exam is retired, but if you already passed it, you can apply it toward this certification. | Exam 70-228 |
| TS: Developing Business Process and Integration Solutions Using Microsoft BizTalk Server | |
| 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. | Exam 70-244 |
| TS: Microsoft Office Live Communications Server 2005 – Implementing, Managing, and Troubleshooting | Exam 70-2621 |
| Implementing and Managing Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 | |
| Implementing and Administering Security in a Windows Server 2003 Network | |
| Implementing Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2004 | Exam 70-3501 |
| TS: Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2006, Configuring | |
| TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 – Implementation and Maintenance | |
| TS: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Business Intelligence – Implementation and Maintenance | |
| TS: Microsoft Windows Mobile Designing, Implementing, and Managing | |
| TS: Microsoft Forefront Client and Server, Configuration | |
| TS: Configuring Windows Vista Client Note You can apply this exam toward either the elective requirement or the client operating systems requirement—not both. | |
| TS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops | Exam 70-6241 |
| TS: Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007, Configuring | |
| TS: Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, Configuring | |
| TS: Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007, Configuring | |
| Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) | |
| Specific third-party (CompTIA) certifications: CompTIA A+ and CompTIA Network+ or CompTIA Security+ |