* Windows Server 2008 certifications to be based around job roles and specific technologies
With just three months to go until the launch of Windows Server 2008, Microsoft last week unveiled the certification structure for the upcoming server operating system. The structure follows the new three-tiered certification levels that Microsoft outlined in 2005, in which the titles Microsoft Certified Professional, Microsoft Certified Systems Analyst and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer will gradually be replaced with certifications based around specific technologies and job roles.
For the Windows Server 2008 certification there are a total of five distinct certifications: two are job role-specific and three are technology-specific. Holders of the job-role certification are required to recertify every three years and candidates are required to pass the three technology certifications. The three technology certifications require one exam each.
The job role certifications are:* Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Server Administrator. Microsoft recommends starting with exam 70-640: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuration, followed by 70-642: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuration, and then the 70-643: Windows Server 2008: Application Infrastructure Configuration.
* Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Enterprise Administrator. This has a five-exam certification path and Microsoft advises taking those in the following order: 70-620: Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client or 70-642: TS: Deploying and Maintaining Vista Client and 2007 Office System Desktops (both these exams available today); then the 70-643: Windows Server 2008: Application Infrastructure Configuration; followed by the 70-642: Network Infrastructure Configuration; and the 70:640: Active Directory Configuration; before taking the professional-level 70-647: Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Administrator.
The technology certifications are:* Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Networking Infrastructure Configuration (exam 70-642-TS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring)
* Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Active Directory Configuration (exam 70-640: TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring)
* Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Application Infrastructure Configuration (exam 70-643-TS: Windows Server 2008 Application Infrastructure, Configuring)
Microsoft said it plans to announce a security track in the first half of next year.
The MCTS exams will be available in the English language around Feb. 27, and the MCITP exams will be available around March 20.
Microsoft recommends taking the MCTS exams before progressing to the exams associated with the advanced-level Microsoft Certified IT Professional designation (there is also the Microsoft Certified Professional Developer status that’s on the same level as MCITP).
Although current MCSE and MCSA holders will be able to retain their certifications, Microsoft recommends IT execs start thinking about the Windows 2008 exams now, especially if their employers have solid plans to move over to the new OS, otherwise execs are advised to continue pursing their MCSE/MCSA Windows Server 2003 track, if they’re in the middle of that.
For MCSE/MCSA execs interested in the Windows Server 2008 route, Microsoft has today available upgrade exams. MCSA Windows Server 2003 can take exam 70-649: Upgrading your MCSE on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008 exam to earn all three MCITP certifications, and then take 70-647 exam to obtain the MCITP: Enterprise Administration certification. MCSA Windows Server 2003 holders can take exam 70-648: Upgrading your MCSA on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008 exam to earn the three MCTS certifications.
Microsoft says 140,000 IT pros and developers have been trained on Windows Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008 to date. By launch time in late February, Microsoft Learning will have trained 300,000 people globally, and that number is expected to rise to more than 700,000 by August.
You can read more about the certification at the blog of Trika Harms zum Spreckel of Microsoft Learning’s marketing communications team here and hear a recording of a Microsoft Webcast on the announcement here.
