Microsoft – Certifications
The following are some of the established languages and software programs used by Information Technology experts today. This information and the materials available on the engineer’s or designer’s websites will prove highly useful for you to better understand your computer training options and be well-informed to select the right computer training for you.
Microsoft Office Specialist – MOUS/MOS Certification is a Microsoft-designed certification that validates procedural expertise of desktop skills. Certification requires you to pass one of three exams. There is one exam for each of the Microsoft suites: Office XP, Office 2000, and Microsoft Project. The exam takes approximately one hour at between $60 and $100. For further details or for a list of testing centers, visit http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/mcp/officespecialist/.
Microsoft Office – MS Office is a utility software suite for Windows designed by the Microsoft Corporation. Most business, data management, and word processing needs can be completed with MS Office. A regulated application suite is equipped with a word processor (Microsoft Word), spreadsheet (Microsoft Excel), personal information manager (Microsoft Outlook), and a presentation graphics program (Microsoft PowerPoint). Standard new user retail price is at $399, with several editions and upgrade options available. For further details or purchase of the suite, visit http://www.microsoft.com/office/.
Microsoft Access – MS Access is the MS Office database management (DBM) software. It features programs designed for both expert and novice users. It is a powerful data management and analysis tool. Also, the Corporation avails tools to make building databases more intuitive. The XML support allows software engineers to design complex database solutions that easily integrate with the web. MS Access is availed with Microsoft Office Professional and Developer, but can be acquired as a standalone product. Retail price is $229. For further details visit http://www.microsoft.com/office/access/.
Microsoft.NET – simply referred to as dotnet (.NET), this is a suite of software technologies from the Microsoft Corporation. It is a very handy tool in connecting information, people, systems, and devices. The technology is based on XML interoperability leading to its incorporation across clients, servers, services, and tools. Basically, small building-block application programs are created, and in turn these connect to each other as well as to other larger applications over the Internet. A .NET experience can be compared to a user’s interaction with a current standalone application with three differences: the devices produce a different interface for the .Net experience, they are on independent locations, and they are customized. Programmers prefer .NET to other XML solutions because of its ease of use, speed, less expense to build and the integrated web services it provides. The user’s experience of the program is thus on the whole more personal, compelling, and manageable with the smart devices and information agents. For further details visit http://www.microsoft.com/net/.
Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator – MCSA is a certification from Microsoft for System Administration. MSCA’s are able to execute, manage, and troubleshoot system environments on Windows 2000 operating systems. 12 months of experience working with a desktop operating system, a network operating system, and an existing network infrastructure are prerequisite to taking the test. You need to pass three core exams and one elective exam. There are many incentives from Microsoft for becoming certified. For further details, visit http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/mcp/mcsa/.
Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer – MCSE is a certification from Microsoft for experts who devise and execute the infrastructure for industry solutions based on Windows 2000 platform and server. You must pass seven exams to become certified: five core exams and two elective exams. There are many incentives from Microsoft for becoming certified. For further details, visit http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/mcp/mcse/default.asp.
Microsoft Certified Solution Developer – MCSD is a top-level certification from Microsoft for highly developed designers who devise leading-edge enterprise solutions using Microsoft tools and technologies including Microsoft.NET Framework. You must pass four core exams and one elective to become certified. The core exams access technical aptitude and expertise in development and maintenance of enterprise applications based on Microsoft development tools, technologies, and platforms. The elective exam accesses the user’s expertise with a specific Microsoft server product. An MCSD user must have two years of experience developing and maintaining solutions and applications. For further details, visit http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/mcp/mcsd/default.asp.
