Microsoft Issues First of Many Windows Server 2012 Certifications

With Windows Server 2012 scheduled for release at the same time as Windows 8 (that’s the impending server platform’s official product designation, as of April 17, 2012), Microsoft will be releasing a whole slew of new certifications around these platforms.  The first salvo in this fusillade is the MCSA: Windows Server 2012. Learn about this new credential, and its requirements, in this post from IT Certiification Guy Ed Tittel.

Sometime in October 2012, Microsoft will release its new server and desktop operating systems: Windows 8 for the desktop, and Windows Server 2012. Recently, Microsoft posted information about a new Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate credential, or MCSA, for the upcoming server platform. It’s called MCSA: Windows Server 2012, and my job in this blog is to describe its requirements and the paths IT professionals can follow to attain this credential.

The latest MCSA tackles the newest Windows Server platform.

For those new to the Microsoft Certification game, there are three exams you must pass to earn the MCSA: Windows Server 2012:

Three exams, and you’ve earned MCSA: Windows Server 2012.

Those three exams include:

·70-410: Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012 (currently in beta)

·70-411: Administering Windows Server 2012 (still in development)

·70-412: Configuring Advanced Windows Server 2012 Services

Of course, the exams probably won’t go live until the product ships in October (although with one already in beta – namely 70-410 – I might just be wrong about this, and they’ll be available even earlier) so there’s still time to grab the release candidate and start to get to know the system before you begin to prepare for the related exam.

On the home page for this credential you’ll also find a list of current credentials that, when combined with exam 70-417: Upgrading Your Skills to MCSA Windows Server 2012, will get you the same credential by taking only that one exam. So far, there’s no link to the upgrade exam available in the MS Learning pages just yet, but if you keep trying this link, you’ll know right away when it goes live. The following screen cap shows you which credentials qualify for the upgrade to MCSA: Windows Server 2012.

The Server 2008 MCSA, or any of 5 MCITPs plus 70-417 gets you an MCSA: Windows Server 2012.

I expect we’ll see a whole raft of new MCSA and MCSE credentials showing up in the very near future, now that the first one has popped up on the Microsoft Learning Web pages. Stay tuned, and I’ll keep you posted!

Ed Tittel is a 30-year-plus veteran of the computing industry, who’s worked as a programmer, a technical manager, a classroom instructor, a network consultant and a technical evangelist for companies that include Burroughs, Schlumberger, Novell, IBM/Tivoli and NetQoS. He has written and blogged for numerous publications, including Tom's Hardware, and is the author of over 140 computing books with a special emphasis on information security, Web markup languages and development tools, and Windows operating systems.

E-mail Ed at etittel@tomsitpro.com with your request for IT certification or career info, or your ideas for future blogs. If your e-mail leads him to a blog topic, he’ll have the Tom’s staff send you your very own Tom’s IT Pro t-shirt! Be the envy of your friends and colleagues, and help him help you with your IT career! If you do have a request for Ed, please read his How to Help Me Help You blog posting, and answer as many of the questions this post contains as are applicable to your situation and inquiry. Thanks in advance for helping make his job easier that way!

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