Microsoft Certifications on Windows Server 2008

With the advent of Windows Server 2008, Microsoft has announced the following exams in Windows Server 2008:

Technology Specialists
70-640 TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring
70-642 TS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring
70-643 TS: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure, Configuring
Professional Series
70-646 PRO: Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator
70-647 PRO: Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator
Upgrades from Windows Server 2003
70-648 TS: Upgrading Your MCSA on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008, Technology Specialist
70-649 TS: Upgrading Your MCSE on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008, Technology Specialist


Microsoft introduces two types of certification –

  • Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS)
  • Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP)

Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certifications

The MCTS certifications are designed to validate a candidate’s skills on the features and functionality of key technology areas in Windows Server 2008. According to the latest information available in Microsoft’s official site, three Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certifications on Windows Server 2008 demonstrate an IT professional’s in-depth, current skills on Active Directory, network infrastructure, or applications infrastructure. These certifications are as follows:

They can be achieved in the following ways:

Passing Microsoft exam 70-640 TS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring will earn you the MCTS – Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Configuration certification.

Passing Microsoft exam 70-642 TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring will earn you the MCTS – Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure Configuration certification.

Passing Microsoft exam 70-643 TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring will earn you the MCTS – Windows Server 2008 Application Infrastructure Configuration.

Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP)

The MCITP credential is the ideal way to demonstrate a candidate’s ability to use Windows Server 2008 to excel in a specific, real-world job role. The two certifications in this category are as follows:

MCITP Server Administrator – In order to earn this certification, a candidate has to pass the following Microsoft exams:

Note: Exam 70-646 is a professional series exam of Windows Server 2008 track.

MCITP: Enterprise Administrator – In order to earn this certification, a candidate has to pass the following five Microsoft exams:

Note:

Upgrades from Windows Server 2003

MCSEs and MCSAs on Windows Server 2003 have transition paths towards MCITP certifications.

From MCSA on Windows Server 2003 to MCITP: Server Administrator

To earn the MCITP: Server Administrator certification, MCSAs on Windows Server 2003 have to pass the following two Microsoft exams:

From MCSA on Windows Server 2003 to MCITP: Enterprise Administrator

To earn the MCITP: Enterprise Administrator certification, MCSAs on Windows Server 2003 have to pass the following four Microsoft exams:

From MCSE on Windows Server 2003 to MCITP: Server Administrator

To earn the MCITP: Server Administrator certification, MCSEs on Windows Server 2003 have to pass the following two Microsoft exams:

From MCSE on Windows Server 2003 to MCITP: Enterprise Administrator

To earn the MCITP: Enterprise Administrator certification, MCSEs on Windows Server 2003 have to pass the following three Microsoft exams:

Note: Exams 70-620 and 70-624 are Microsoft Vista exams.