News
Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator Officially Unveiled
Certification aimed at identifying specific job skills of systems administrators finally unveiled, to no surprise. However, CompTIA's exams play a big part.
Microsoft has finally confirmed what customers have been expecting for weeks about its new systems administrator's title: The now officially named Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator title will require passing scores on four exams:
- Two core exams (one server-based, and one client-based): 70-215 Win2K Server or upcoming 70-275 Windows .NET Server; then 70-210 Win2K Professional or 70-270 Windows XP Professional
- 70-218, Managing Windows 2000 Network Services, a new exam that will test systems administrator job functions
- Any currently available MCSE elective that tests administration or implementation skills on Microsoft technology, (examples include 70-018 Implementing and Supporting SMS 1.2 and 70-224, Installing, Configuring and Administering Exchange 2000 Server; see the MCSE Requirements page on Microsoft's MCP Web site for a list).
The MCSA is a new title aimed at "identifying specific job skills of systems administrators," said Anne Marie McSweeney, Microsoft's director of the certification and skills assessment group, which she says is differentiated from the MCSE specifically by the addition of the 70-218 exam into its lineup.
The unveiling of this new title, which we reported a few weeks ago (see "Microsoft Preps New Tracks for Systems Admins, Developers"), came with an added surprise bonus: MCSA candidates can waive the elective requirement by passing a combination of CompTIA's A+/Network+ or A+/Server+ exams.
[Note: In light of new information, this news item was corrected on Oct. 25, 2001.--Ed.]
About the Author
Michael Domingo has held several positions at 1105 Media, and is currently the editor in chief of Visual Studio Magazine.