Becoming a Microsoft Office Specialist

There are a number of qualifications to choose from when considering becoming accredited as a user of Microsoft Office software. I would like to explain the advantages of choosing to become a MOS ? Microsoft Office Specialist (formerly known as MOUS ? Microsoft Office User Specialist).

The MOS exams are available at different levels depending on ability. If you are new to the software, you would be advised to choose to take the basic level training and exams first before advancing to the expert levels. If you are already at advanced level, you can choose to jump straight into taking the expert level training and examinations.

The training and exams cover all aspects of the software, unlike alternative qualifications such as CLAIT or ECDL. For example, in order to pass the Word 2003 expert exam, you will need to know how to perform the following tasks: structure documents using XML, restrict form documents and create indexes.

For a full list of topics you will be expected to have an indepth knowledge of, check out Microsoft?s website at www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/officespecialist/requirements.mspx#office2003 .

A further advantage is the fact that different versions of Microsoft Office can be certificated. So if your employer is still using Office 2000 (which many businesses still are) you can become certificated as a Microsoft Office Specialist in Office 2000.

So how would you go about becoming a MOS? The first steps usually involve researching appropriate training courses. This might be at introductory, intermediate or advanced level to suit your needs. However these 1 day courses are unlikely to be able to cover the entire syllabus. So be prepared to study in your own time in addition to your training course. You could try working through a self-study textbook, you can search for appropriate titles at Microsoft?s website www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/officespecialist/officespecialist_materials.mspx

You will never regret deciding to become a MOS. It demonstrates to employers that you are serious about using software fully and making the best of their IT investment.

Further steps? You can become accredited to teach MOS by becoming a MOSMI ? Microsoft Office Specialist Master Instructor. See www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/officespecialist/instructor/requirements.mspx for more information.

Notes for editors:

For more information visit our website at www.computertrainingsolutions.co.uk or call 01454 851770. We provide training in all types of software, including Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Access, Outlook, PowerPoint), Visio, FrontPage, Project, Dreamweaver and Adobe Creative Suite (Indesign, Illustrator, Photoshop and Acrobat). Our training courses can be run either as public open courses from our schedule or alternatively we can run tailored courses throughout England and Wales to suit you.

Claire Blinman is the training manager at Computer Training Solutions in Bristol. Visit us at http://www.computertrainingsolutions.co.uk or call on 01454 851770 for more information.

Benefits Of MCSE Certification

MCSE stands for Microsoft certified system engineer. It is a specialization in the field of information technology. This is for people who study and inspect company needs and then design, install, configure and troubleshoot networking systems. MCSE certification is suitable for a person who has been working as a system engineer, professionals who work as technical support engineers, system analysts, network analysts and technical consultants, for at least one year. There are two courses on offer by Microsoft, which are MCSE on Microsoft Windows 2000 and MCSE on Windows Server 2003.

The remuneration provided to MCSEs is the best among IT professionals. An engineer can earn anything from $55,000 to $90,000 per annum in the United States of America. MCSE professionals are treasured and respected in the IT community because of their profound knowledge and experience.

There are other professional benefits of a MCSE certification like industry recognition of the certified person's knowledge and expertise with Microsoft products, 50% discount on the subscription of Technet or technet plus during the first year of certification, access to technical and product information from Microsoft through secured area of the MCP Web site, discounts on products and services from selected companies, free access to Microsoft certified professional magazine Online, a career and professional growth magazine. The Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine Online Web site has the current issue of the same, a MCP database and customary chats with Microsoft and other technical experts.

MCSE certification not only benefits the engineer but also helps any company which hires a MCSE, by reducing the cost of maintaining workstations and personal computers and increasing network dependability, using Microsoft Windows 2000 Active Directory with the information technology professionals to back it up. Hiring a MCSE professional means shorter time to install Windows 2000 and lower execution risk.

MCSE Certification provides detailed information on MCSE Certification, MCSE Certification Training, Online MCSE Certification, MCSE Certification Exam and more. MCSE Certification is affiliated with MCSE Term Papers.

An Introduction To MCSE Certification

Microsoft certifications are one of the most popular and coveted certifications in the information technology industry today. There is great demand for Microsoft-trained professionals in the job market. Microsoft also offers many certification levels depending upon user proficiency and the nature of the job. One of the most popular certificates is the MCSE certificate.

Most IT professionals pursue MCSE training after they have gained experience in the industry. This enables them to implement their newly acquired skills in their jobs. The certification is ideal for anyone who wishes to design and implement infrastructure for business solutions in certain installations that use Microsoft Windows platforms. It also provides an edge to professionals already in the field, as the formal certification guarantees recognition by employers and scope for higher promotions.

Some people wishing to work in the industry also take the certification. This added tool provides a valuable benchmark for prospective employers to assess the skills of the candidate, and for the employee to negotiate for a competitive salary.

Microsoft offers different MSCE certifications for different users. There is the MSCE on Windows server 2003 and the MSCE on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, and Windows 2000. There are specializations available for security and messaging on both servers 2003 and 2000. This is beneficial for employees of companies already working on these systems to enhance their skills.

Microsoft has independent requirements for the MSCE certification on the Windows 2000 platform and on Windows server 2003. For the certificate pertaining to the Windows 2000 platform one needs to clear five core examinations, four of which are based on the operating systems and one on design. There are two elective exams which help determine technical proficiency and the level of ease in solution design and implementation.

For the Windows server 2003 there are six core exams required, four of which are based on networking systems, one on client operating systems and one design exam. There is one elective examination similar in nature to the one for Windows 2000.

MCSE Certification provides detailed information on MCSE Certification, MCSE Certification Training, Online MCSE Certification, MCSE Certification Exam and more. MCSE Certification is affiliated with MCSE Term Papers.

MCSE Certification - An Insiders View

In this article I am going to present an insider's view of this process. What you are about to read is the experience of an associate of mine. He is an MCSE, or at least he was. I'll let him tell his story in his own words. You should find this interesting.

Hi. My name is Steven. I am 48 years old and out of work. That may seem strange considering that I have a number of certifications including a Novell CNA and a Microsoft MCSE. So what's the problem?

To answer that question you need to have some background information.

I originally went to school for Accounting but lost interest. I eventually graduated with a degree in business, which at the time was good for nothing. Then my wife to be brought home an ad for computer training. This was long before Microsoft was big. We were still on DOS 3.0. Anyway, I went to school and learned COBOL and RPG. That did me a lot of good too because I had no experience and at the time these languages were already on their way out. I eventually did find a job but working on PCs. I worked on an Apple III.

This lead to a teaching position, teaching BASIC on TRS 80 computers. Eventually this died out too and I was out of work, yet again.

To make a very long story short, the cycle continued until networking became big. I got a Novell CNA and then eventually a Microsoft MCSE. I was set for life. Or so I thought. But let me back track just a little.

Before getting my MCSE I had to go through extensive training. The number of courses I had to take were mind boggling. The amount of information was mind boggling. I didn't know how I was going to keep all of that in my head, let alone pass an exam on it.

Then the first exam came. I failed. I studied more and went to retake it. Much to my shock, the exam was almost completely different with probably 70% of the questions different. Yes, there is so much information in these exams that you can actually take one of them 3 times (which I had to do) and still not get a majority of the same questions twice. Finally though, I passed the first exam and then after a period of nine months I passed all seven. It was the most horrible time of my life. But at least I was set.

At least that's what I thought.

At the time of the exam the system was Windows NT 3.51. If you know anything about computers and Microsoft you know that this particular operating system is long dead and buried. And as the changes came, I too became dead and buried.

Why?

To answer that question you have to understand how companies work. They always feel they have to have the latest technology, even though what they had was more than adequate to do the job. Part of this problem though is with Microsoft. They don't support old systems. So companies are forced to upgrade. With that comes the forcing of employees to get recertified and learn the new systems. This is where I just couldn't keep up. It was hard enough for me to pass the exams the first time. I wasn't about to even try again.

Sure enough, my company wanted me to learn the new systems and get recertified. I asked them what would happen if I didn't. They said they would have to let me go. I saved them the trouble. I quit.

I am telling you this story for a reason. If you are considering getting an MCSE certification you need to be prepared for exactly what happened to me, not just with losing my job if not getting recertified but the actual difficulties with the exams themselves. The amount of information is overwhelming and it won't be easy to pass seven exams. Then be prepared to constantly have to upgrade your skills as Microsoft isn't going to stop trying to make more money.

Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to MCSE Certification

Overview of Microsoft Certification Training

The Microsoft Certification program is one of the most valuable certification programs available to the IT tech simply because Microsoft is a leader in the software field. The value of a Microsoft Certification is unquestioned. It increases the confidence of the individual who earns it and opens up professional opportunities. They become what is called a Microsoft Certified Professional, or MCP. This recognition is not lost on potential employers. The rapid growth and change of the IT environment has created a need for professional technicians who have demonstrated initiative above the norm.

Microsoft lists six steps in the Certification process. Identification of the proper Certification is the first step. There are many different ones covering the full spectrum of interests and skills. The second step is to gain hands on experience working with Microsoft systems. A full six months of work experience is recommended before considering attempting to earn a certification. This would be increased to one year for the advanced level certifications. The next step is to expand your experience with training. Microsoft training is conducted through formal classroom training or through a distance learning based network. E-learning programs are also available for self paced learning. There are videos and books available as well to supplement all three modes of training. It is vital to make sure that you are training for the correct certification. A MCSE training video, designed for the basic level Microsoft Certified System Engineer certification is a good place to start.

The final three steps in the Certification preparation process involves the test itself. First, you must have a complete understanding of the objectives of the test. Second, you should take a practice test to understand the testing format and to gauge your progress. The last step is taking the exam itself.

The Certification training boot camp program has been developed and is growing more popular because it understands and addresses all of these training needs. Once a person has spent the required time and gained the minimum amount of experience, the boot camp can guide them through comprehensive and intensive training. This training includes practice tests and finishes with the taking of the actual exam. Microsoft Certification training has been designed to increase success not to weed out failures. It operates on the assumption that a person who has the desire to become a MCP and is willing to do a bit of work to accomplish this goal should be able to do so.

Natalie Aranda writes about training and computers. The value of a Microsoft Certification is unquestioned. It increases the confidence of the individual who earns it and opens up professional opportunities. This training includes practice tests and finishes with the taking of the actual exam. Microsoft training has been designed to increase success not to weed out failures.

The Value of Microsoft MCSE Certification and Career Path

Developing a professional career in the IT industry requires knowledge, computer training and dedication. Earning a MCSE Certification (Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer) is a valuable reference proving your expertise in designing and implementing the infrastructure for business solutions based on the Microsoft Windows Server System and Microsoft Windows 2000 platform.

Since January 2000, Microsoft Certification made effective a number of benefits for those individuals applying for a MCSE Certification, starting with the industry recognition of the knowledge achieved and proficiency handling Microsoft products and technologies.

This computer training offers a 50 percent discount or rebate on yearly subscriptions to Microsoft TechNet or TechNet Plus during your first year of certification exclusively, although fulfillment details may vary according your present location, in which case further details will be available in your welcome kit.

In fact, the TechNet subscription provides MCSE Certification with a portable IT survival kit, updated monthly, containing the complete Microsoft Knowledge Base that Microsoft Support uses, as well as service packs and other kits of great value to Microsoft Certification.

Computer training opens the access to Microsoft technical and product direct information through the MCP Member Site, with exclusive discounts on products and services, not only from Microsoft but also from many selected companies.

Another great advantage to consider is that individual who is currently certified in other fields can learn more about exclusive discounts on MCSE Certification and few more Microsoft Certifications by visiting the MCP Member Site.

This site is also the turnkey to free access to Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine Online, the acclaimed career and professional development magazine, as well as invitations to Microsoft conferences, technical training sessions, general computer training and most special events.

A side note on comments; security-enhanced content available on the Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine Online site includes the current issue for those enrolled on MCSE Certification courses and additional online-only featured columns and content, besides the MCP-only database, and regular chats with Microsoft and other technical experts.

Like with any Microsoft Certification, students obtain their certificate, MCSE logo, wallet card, transcript, and lapel pin to identify them as a MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional) to colleagues or clients. Some of this material is downloadable through the exclusive MCP Member Site upon certification.

MCSE Certification values by itself, as a part of your career path. They offer you computer training required, and specializations in messaging, security, MCSE on Microsoft Windows 2000, MCSE on Windows Server 2003, and special deals on subscriptions to Windows & .NET Magazine, considered the leading source of independent, how-to information for Microsoft Certification and IT professionals working on a Microsoft Windows platform.

Natalie Aranda writes about computer and information technology.