Being tech-savvy is one thing. Being tech-savvy AND Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) is another. It is a popular way to stay ahead of the competition in today's job market, by showing potential employers your expertise in a variety of IT skills and office software. To achieve certification in a given area, one must pass an exam that costs about $125 and takes two to three hours to complete.
This is a very useful certificate ... because so many businesses need experts to design and implement Microsoft infrastructure. A Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) is certified to do just that. Topics in the MCSE certification exam include network security, networking infrastructure, Microsoft Exchange Server, and Microsoft SQL, among others. The MCSE is one of the most widely-known and advanced of the Microsoft certifications
Other Microsoft certifications include: Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA), which certifies individuals to troubleshoot network environments on the Windows operating system; Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD); Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD); Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDA); and Microsoft Certified Database Technician (MCDT). For individuals with a more administrative than technological orientation to business, certification is available as a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS).
For busy professionals, many programs offer preparation and training for the Microsoft certification exams completely online. This results in maximum flexibility as well as a variety of opportunities and platforms for communicating with well-established professionals. In today's downturn, this kind of network is as important as any other.