MCSA - Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator

NOTE: The MCSA on Microsoft Windows 2000 Server certification will no longer be available as of December 31, 2011. If you achieve the certification prior to December 31, 2011, the certification will remain active but may be deemed a "legacy" or "retired" certification on your transcript.

Help prove your expertise in systems administration on Windows Server 2003 and earlier operating systems by earning a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) certification. A MCSA candidate has one to twelve months of experience in working with a desktop operating system, a network operating system, and an existing network infrastructure.

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.

Upgrade Paths

If you want to be certified on newer Microsoft technologies, such as Exchange Server 2010, Windows Server 2008, or SQL Server 2008, you should pursue the Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) certification. And, if you have the MCSE 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. If you have an MCSA on Windows Server 2003, you can upgrade to MCITP by passing as few as two exams.

Upgrade path from MCSA on Windows Server 2003 to MCITP: Server Administrator on Windows Server 2008

Upgrade path from MCSA on Windows Server 2003 to MCITP: Enterprise Administrator on Windows Server 2008