MCSE Certification: A Leg Up On Your Co-Workers

Most people in this world would not be able to tell you what an MCSE certification is. Making it longer may confuse people even more; it stands for Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. Just studying to take the test is a trial and the test itself can be difficult, not to mention expensive. It can give you a benefit that a lot of computer techs in the world don't have: a certification from Microsoft and spiffy initials to put after your name. The test is comprehensive and challenging. It has four networking tests, one client operating system test, a design test and a test over an elective.

According to the Microsoft website, there are benefits that go along with an MCSE certification. These include: recognition by your peers in the computing industry of your knowledge and ability to function well with Microsoft products and technologies. You also receive access to information regarding products directly from Microsoft through a website created especially for those who pass the MCSE exam, the Microsoft Certified Professional member site. Just to show the world what you know, you also will receive a certificate, transcript and lapel pin to wear.

Those who successfully pass this rigorous test have been acknowledged by Microsoft as having the ability and know-how to analyze, design and implement business solutions using Microsoft Windows 2000 and the Microsoft Windows Server System. Implementation includes installing, setting up and troubleshooting networks.

Those who would benefit the most from this certification include: system engineers, technical support, systems and network analysts and technical consultants. Before you even begin thinking about the exam, Microsoft suggests that you have a few items under your belt. You should have at least one year's experience creating and supporting a network operating system for environments that include: 200 to 26,000 users; 5 to 150 different physical locations; services and applications that are typically found in network environments, including web hosting, databases, messaging, firewalls, a dial-in server and desktop management; supporting connections to the network from individual offices or users from other locations and connecting these networks together.

As with any exam or test, there are ways to find help preparing to take it. If you do a search for MCSE Certification on the internet, you will find many courses that may help you prepare for the test. I am sure you can find all sorts of other information, from cheat sheets to condensed information, like Cliff Notes. Of course, all these places want money for their help and information, since they are trying to maintain a business. There are even boot camps out there that give you one on one attention and some of them even guarantee that you'll be certified by the time it is all over.

Even though the MCSE Certification carries prestige with it, you will also have to have some experience to go along with it. Not many companies will hire a computer tech that only has a paper MCSE Certification and no prior experience. As with anything, it is a balancing act of experience vs. formal training.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to MCSE Certification

Be Certifiable! The Basics Of MCSE And MCP

It is not always who you know, but what you know. That is why obtaining Microsoft certification can be a valuable asset to your career. Of course, it does depend on what career path you want to take as to whether you want to get either MCSE training or MCP training or anything else for that matter. So what do those abbreviations MCSE and MCP stand for anyway?

MCP stands for Microsoft Certified Professional and MCSE is an abbreviation for Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer. What exactly does having a Microsoft certification mean anyway? We know that it looks good on a resume and opens new doors in your career. Did you know that being certifiable - in Microsoft anyway - sometimes will also boost your pay? Experience counts for a lot, but having a Microsoft certification or two does not hurt either!

So what does it take to be and MCP or MCSE? Lots of studying! The MCP courses and MCP exams are geared toward a more rounded technical professional. Candidates for MCP must pass one current certification test from Microsoft. Passing one of the exams demonstrates that the candidate has a consistent level of technical expertise.

With the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer path, there are MCSE boot camps that help prepare candidates for the MCSE exams. These MCSE boot camps are intense classes often packed into a full two week period instead of the traditional weekly MCSE training classes in preparation for the MCSE exams. This path is more involved. MCSE certification is standard in the IT field and prepares you for anything from the design of a system?s infrastructure to analyzing the company?s needs before implementing a design.

Unlike those individuals who take the MCP training to prepare for MCP exams, students of MCSE have a course of study that is more intense. Instead of one test to prepare for, they have seven tests that they are required to pass to get their Microsoft certification. Yikes! Seven! They have five main exams to take as well as two electives. The five required MCSE exams are broken down into four operating system exams and one design exam. The two electives typically deal with other issues in design and implementation not covered in the five core tests.

After learning a few basics, it is easy to see that the MCP or Microsoft Certified Professional is really just a stepping stone to bigger and greater things in the world of Microsoft certification. The individuals who go for the MCP have a leg up on those peers who have no technical experience. They will have a better grasp on technical issues and usually stay a step ahead of trends. The MCSE is more specialized and appeals to the techno geek with a penchant for design and implementation. They like knowing how stuff works. So market yourself and become certifiable!

James Croydon, Microsoft Certified Professional and MCSE Certification Online advisor - focusing on MCSE Courses Online and Boot Camp MCSE

How to Prepare for Microsoft Certifications

Taking the Microsoft certification exams can be a very stressful event because so much is riding on passing the exams. However, there are a lot of ways to prepare for Microsoft Certifications that will help you become knowledgeable and take the exam with confidence. There are MCSE training videos, MCSE braindumps, and MCSE boot camps that are all very helpful in providing information that will help you prepare for certification. Another great way to see if the MCSE bootcamp and other preparations help you out is to simply take some practice tests. When you do you will have a good idea where you stand as far as information you know and what you need to learn. The different training videos, braindumps, and boot camps are all wonderful at preparing you to take your Microsoft Certification exams. However, if you really want to know where you stand then give the practice tests a try. You will quickly see how your studying has paid off and will be able to determine what areas you are weak in and need to study more.

Keep in mind there are Microsoft certified practice tests that you should use to help you prepare for the ultimate exam rather than just some free exams you find online. The reason why is that the Microsoft Certified Practice Test Providers cover all the necessary information and will give you a practice test that is very similar to the real certification exam. If you are investing money in your Microsoft Certification, and study guides, then go ahead and buy the Microsoft Certified practice tests to ensure you are on the right track in your studies and that you are prepared to take the final certification exam. If you rely on the results of some exams you find online for free you may be risking all of your hard work on results that are not accurate.

So, if you are trying to prepare for Microsoft Certification make sure you take a look at the MCSE training videos, the MCSE braindumps, as well as MCSE boot camps to ensure you are fully prepared. Any one of the above may prepare you for your exams, but if you take advantage of all of them you are guaranteed to be exposed to all the necessary information for your Microsoft certification exams.

Caitlina Fuller is a freelance writer. Another great way to see if the MCSE bootcamp and other preparations help you out is to simply take some practice tests. So, if you are trying to prepare for Microsoft Certification make sure you take a look at the MCSE training videos, the MCSE braindumps, as well as MCSE boot camps to ensure you are fully prepared.

Ready For A Career Change? Travel The Microsoft Certification Route

Are you dissatisfied with your job? Do you want to find a new one or at least make a move to another department within your company? Do you need certifications in MCSE, MCP and any of those other abbreviations? You need to sit down and decide what career path you wish to take if you want to go the Microsoft Certification route.

First of all, do you have any prior experience in the business world? If so, no matter what you decide to do, whether it is MCSE training or MCP training or anything else, you will be ahead of others with no prior professional expertise. However, if you choose to make a career change that is a complete 180 degrees from what you are doing now, you will have some trouble finding gainful employment without some concrete experience.

For instance, if you are an Administrative Assistant and decide to go for a Microsoft Certified System Engineer, better known as an MCSE, you need to have some practical experience (the basic requirement is about a year of previous experience) under your belt before even starting your MCSE training. How could you go about doing that? You have several options. Find a mentor. Maybe another person within your company who has an MCSE could give you pointers and some on-site knowledge into his job. Volunteering through a nonprofit or some other community organization could net you some valuable experience. Serving as an intern, whether paid or unpaid, is another option.

A volunteer position or an internship also is beneficial for those people with a fresh Microsoft certification but no practical, hands-on experience. Practically every nonprofit organization or community group has computers. Some of them are small groups and others have computer labs (perhaps state-run job placement places) with no budget to hire full-time staff. You have got to think outside the box for ways to gain that practical experience.

Networking mixers or social time is another great idea. You can mingle with professionals in the field you are trying to break into and find out about their internship opportunities. It is the perfect venue in which to sell or market yourself. Check out your local Chamber of Commerce for any local trade organizations in the prospective field as a starting point in this networking endeavor. Many times, you can find out some priceless information about the ins and outs of your potential area of certification. Learning from the experts could be an eye opening experience for you. Heck, you could even change your mind from braving those MCSE boot camps and the seven tests for MCSE exams. Isn?t it better to gain that insight before you spend the time and money?

Once you have completed your certification, whether it is navigating through MCP courses or any other Microsoft certification, be prepared to start from scratch in your new endeavor. Just remember, anything having to do with technology will change again in a year or two, so you have to keep up with new trends and that means continued instruction. As long as you travel the Microsoft route, you?ll be successful.
James Croydon, Microsoft Certified Professional and MCSE Certification advisor - focusing on MCSE Online and MCSE Online Certification