Accelerate your career by proving your Windows Server 2008 mastery and achieving your Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) certification. You’ll earn recognition from Microsoft, peers, and employers, gain access to an array of benefits, and join the global network of Microsoft Certified Professionals.
MCSA: Windows Server 2008 certification is also your first step toward the Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE) Private Cloud certification.
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Use the following table to identify the certification that best fits your current role and career goals.
Your profile
Recommendations
Currently working with or planning to work with Windows Server 2008
Certified on Windows Server 2003; planning to work with Windows Server 2008 …
Highly skilled server technology expert; already holds certification on Windows Server …
Get answers to questions about Windows Server certifications
Download the Windows Server 2008 Certification Paths roadmap (PDF file, 1.60 MB)
Windows Server 2008 is the most advanced Windows Server operating system yet, designed to power the next generation of networks, applications, and web services. Windows Server 2008 R2 builds on the award-winning foundation of Windows Server 2008, expanding existing technology and adding new features to enable organizations to increase the reliability and flexibility of their server infrastructures. We offer several options for proving your Windows Server 2008 proficiency—choose the one that best suits you from the list below.
MCSA certification
Exams
MCSA: Windows Server 2008
Helps validate your ability to handle day-to-day management of the server operating system, file structure, and directory services; handle software distribution and updates; monitor servers; provide tier-2 troubleshooting support; support engineering and change-management projects; build and configure servers; implement auditing policy; perform scheduled vulnerability-assessment scans; and monitor logs for firewalls and intrusion-detection systems. This certification is a pre-requisite to our Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE): Private Cloud certification.
Exam 70-646: Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator
and
Exam 70-640: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring
Exam 70-642: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring
The Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) certification provides the ideal way to demonstrate your ability to use Windows Server 2008 to excel in a specific, market-relevant job role. We offer two paths: each builds on MCTS prerequisites and is relevant to professional roles in today's IT marketplace. Use the following table to identify the certification that best fits your current role and career goals.
MCITP certification
MCITP: Server Administrator
Helps validate your ability to handle day-to-day management of the server operating system, file structure, and directory services; handle software distribution and updates; monitor servers; provide tier-2 troubleshooting support; support engineering and change-management projects; build and configure servers; implement auditing policy; perform scheduled vulnerability-assessment scans; and monitor logs for firewalls and intrusion-detection systems.
Exam 70-646: PRO: Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator
MCTS prerequisites:
Exam 70-640: TS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory, Configuring
Exam 70-642: TS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure, Configuring
MCITP: Enterprise Administrator on Windows Server 2008
Helps validate your ability to design Windows Server infrastructures; evaluate and recommend new technology solutions; serve as an escalation point for infrastructure issues; develop client and server best practices for other teams, such as engineering, development, and operations; keep policy current for authentication, identity, and access management; provide guidance in implementing security policies that affect the infrastructure on multiple levels; participate in application reviews on security; and ensure that the applications adhere to standard security guidelines and practices.
Exam 70-647: PRO: Windows Server 2008, Enterprise Administrator
Exam 70-643: TS: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure, Configuring
and either
Exam 70-680: TS: Windows 7, Configuring
or
Exam 70-620: TS: Configuring Windows Vista Client
Exam 70-6241: TS: Deploying and Maintaining Windows Vista Client and 2007 Microsoft Office System Desktops
1This exam is retired.
The Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification is a prerequisite for the Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) certifications and helps validate your troubleshooting and deployment skills. The MCTS certifications are for IT professionals with one or more years of experience. As an MCTS, you help validate your skills on implementing and troubleshooting a particular Microsoft technology.
If you are a highly skilled technical expert on Windows Server, consider earning a Microsoft Certified Master (MCM) certification. This certification provides in-depth and comprehensive training that includes presentations, white-board discussions, and goal-based labs.
In order to be accepted into the MCM program, applicants must meet or exceed the prerequisite knowledge and experience.
If you have proven experience designing and delivering IT solutions for enterprise customers, you have technical and leadership skills that surpass those of your peers, and you have achieved a Microsoft Certified Master certification, consider earning the Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA) certification. The MCA: Windows Server: Directory certification is designed for architects who specialize in using Microsoft technologies to provide expert solutions and is the highest level of professional certification on Microsoft server products.
MCTS certification
Exam
You work—or plan to work—with Active Directory and Directory Services, Active Directory server roles, certificate management, and Group Policy.
MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Configuration
You work—or plan to work—with IP addressing and services, names resolution, file and print services, network access and remote access, and monitoring network services.
MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure Configuration
You work—or plan to work—with Windows deployment services, terminal services, web services, and media services.
MCTS: Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure Configuration
Note The MCTS certifications will be retired when two newer versions of the technology are in market.
If you are a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) or a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) on Windows Server 2003, you can apply your skills and knowledge to earn multiple Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) or Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) certifications on Windows Server 2008.
Current certification
Certification goal
Exam(s)
MCSA on Windows Server 2003
Exam 70-648: TS: Upgrading Your MCSA on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008
MCSE on Windows Server 2003
Exam 70-649: TS: Upgrading Your MCSE on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008
Exam 70-681: TS: Windows 7 and Office 2010, Deploying
Exam 70-620: TS: Configuring Windows Vista Client Mark as Edited Insert
If you already work with Microsoft server technologies, review the exam objectives and register for your exam today. We design these exams for professionals like you, so there’s no need to wait.
If you’re just getting started, we suggest using our training resources below. Our exams aren’t easy, but we want you to be successful—and so do our Learning Partners, who offer our award-winning instructor-led training.
Classroom training
Microsoft E-Learning
Microsoft Press books
Exam 70-620: TS: Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client
Course 5117A: Installing, Configuring, Troubleshooting, and Maintaining Windows Vista (three days)
Collection 10327: MCTS (Exam 70-620): Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client (28 hours)
MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-620): Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client
Course 6425C: Configuring and Troubleshooting Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Domain Services (five days) Course 6426C: Configuring and Troubleshooting Identity and Access Solutions with Windows Server 2008 Active Directory (three days)
Collection 10272: MCTS (Exam 70-640): Configuring Windows Server 2008 Active Directory (28 hours)
MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-640): Configuring Windows Server 2008 Active Directory MCITP Self-Paced Training Kit (Exams 70-640, 70-642, 70-646):Server Administrator Core Requirements
Course 6421B: Configuring and Troubleshooting a Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure (five days)
Collection 10268: MCTS (Exam 70-642): Configuring Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure (22 hours)
MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-642): Configuring Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure MCITP Self-Paced Training Kit (Exams 70-640, 70-642, 70-646): Server Administrator Core Requirements
Course 6418C: Deploying Windows Server 2008 (three days) Course 6428A: Configuring and Troubleshooting Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services (two days) Course 6427A: Configuring and Troubleshooting Internet Information Services in Windows Server 2008 (three days)
Collection 6427: Configuring and Troubleshooting Internet Information Services 7.0 in Windows Server 2008 (24 hours) Collection 6428: Configuring Windows Server 2008 Terminal Services (14 hours)
MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-643): Configuring Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure
Course 6430B: Planning for Windows Server 2008 Servers (three days)
Collection 10274: MCITP (Exam 70-646): Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator (18 hours)
MCITP Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-646): Windows Server 2008 Administrator MCITP Self-Paced Training Kit (Exams 70-640, 70-642, 70-646): Server Administrator Core Requirements
Course 6437A: Designing a Windows Server 2008 Applications Infrastructure (three days) Course 6435A: Designing a Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure (five days) Course 6436A: Designing a Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Infrastructure and Services (five days)
Collection 10271: MCITP (Exam 70-647): Configuring Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure (26 hours)
MCITP Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-647): Windows Server Enterprise Administration
Exam 70-648: TS: Upgrading from Windows Server 2003 MCSA to Windows Server 2008, Technology Specializations
Course 6416D: Updating Your Network Infrastructure and Active Directory Technology Skills to Windows Server 2008 (five days)
Collection 6528: Updating Your Network Infrastructure Technology Skills to Windows Server 2008 (20 hours) Collection 6517: Updating Your Active Directory Technology Skills to Windows Server 2008 (20 hours)
MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exams 70-648 and 70-649): Transitioning Your MCSA/MCSE to Windows Server 2008 Technology Specialist
Exam 70-649: TS: Upgrading Your MCSE on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008, Technology Specialist
Course 6417B: Updating your Applications Infrastructure Technology Skills to Windows Server 2008 (three days) Course 6416D: Updating Your Network Infrastructure and Active Directory Technology Skills to Windows Server 2008 (five days)
Collection 10273: MCTS (Exam 70-649): Upgrading Your MCSE on Windows Server 2003 to Windows Server 2008 (44 hours)
MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exams 70-648 and 70-649): Transitioning your MCSA/MCSE to Windows Server 2008 Technology Specialist
Course 6292A: Installing and Configuring Windows 7 Client (three days)
Collection 6292: Installing and Configuring Windows 7 Client
MCTS Self-Paced Training Kit (Exam 70-680): Configuring Windows 7
Exam 70-681: TS: Windows 7 and Microsoft Office 2010, Deploying
View all Windows client training
The technology gap between Windows 2000 Server and Windows Server 2008 is too great to make a concise exam path feasible. There are no upgrade options available.
After you determine which exam you need to achieve your Microsoft Certification, register for and schedule your exam. All exams for Microsoft Technology Specialist and Professional Series certifications are administered by Prometric, an independent testing organization with more than 3,000 locations worldwide.
Previous versions of the MCSA and MCSE certifications are available for Windows Server 2003. If you have either of these certifications, you can upgrade to the MCSA: Windows Server 2008, Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) and Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) on Windows Server 2008 certifications.
Note Many of the exams in this certification track are retired. If a required exam is retired and you have not yet passed that exam, you cannot complete the certification track. You must fulfill all listed requirements to earn the certification. If you passed a required exam before it retired, it can be applied toward certification.
To earn the MCSA on Windows Server 2003 certification, you must pass four exams (in any order):
