News
MCSA Gets New Exam
As reported in last month’s issue, Microsoft has announced a new certification that fits snugly between the MCP and MCSE credentials.
According to the
latest word from Microsoft, the new Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator,
or MCSA, will consist of four exams: two existing ones, a new test, and
an elective that can be fulfilled with non-Microsoft exams. The two existing
exams are 70-210, Windows 2000 Professional, and 70-215, Win2K Server.
The third is 70-218, Managing a Win2K Network Environment. The fourth
is an elective culled from administrator-related exams on Microsoft’s
standard list or a combination of two tests from the Computing Technology
Industry Association (CompTIA); either A+ and Network+, or A+ and Server+.
“For a lot of people, MCSA is the job they do every day of their lives,”
said Robert Stewart, Microsoft’s general manager for training and certification,
in explaining the rationale behind the new certification. The new credential
was expected to be available early in 2002.
Stewart added that the new certification was something the IT community
asked for. “Talking to customers about the MCSA credential, it was obvious
that there’s a broad base of customers out there interested” in something
focused on a narrower set of duties than the MCSE.
About the Author
Keith Ward is the editor in chief of Virtualization & Cloud Review. Follow him on Twitter @VirtReviewKeith.