For Microsoft certification, the first place to look is
here. This page will provide you with an overview of what certifications are offered by Microsoft. They offer a lot. As you may already know, the MCSE is targeted towards network administrators who manage Microsoft networks. You have to pass 7 exams in order to obtain the MCSE certification. Each exam costs about US$100-$150. To register, you can call (800) 755-Exam or go to
Prometric's Web site. You obtain the MCP certification after you pass any Microsoft exam. The MCSD is targeted towards programmers who work with Microsoft technologies. They have recently announced the MCAD, which is also targeted towards programmers, but doesn't require quite as many exams. They also offer the MCDBA, which is targeted towards people who maintain and administer SQL Server.
As far as studying goes, you can take classes, which are offered by quite a few training facilities. New Horizons may be near you. Classes are relatively expensive, starting at around $1000 for official Microsoft classes. Some classes cost well over $2000. There are also many books available that can help you. Go to Amazon.com and search for MCSE. I can recommend some, if you like. To prepare for the exam, there are several companies that provide practice tests that simulate the actual testing environment. I personally recommend
Transcender, but there are others, such as Self Test and MeasureUp. This type of training allows you to actually get a feel for what the exam will be like.
CertCities.com has some general info about a lot of certifications including Microsoft. Also, you can check out
MCP Magazine, which is targeted specifically towards Microsoft certified people. The paper version of the magazine should be available at a local Barnes and Noble or other major book chain store. Another good site is
Certification Magazine.
Obtaining certification is not for everyone. It takes a lot of time and quite a bit of money. However, I feel that it is often worth it, but it depends on what you are trying to get out of it. If you think that certification without experience will get you a great paying job, then you are probably wrong. But if you go into with the purpose of enhancing your skills, then it will be highly valuable. As you didn't provide any details, I can only provide very general information. If you are looking at a career change, or are just entering the job market, then a lower-level certification, such as A+ or Network+, which are offered by
CompTIA, may be a better starting place for you. These are entry-level certifications, and will probably prove to be more valuable in the short term while working towards the MCSE. I think that it is often worse to go into a job interview with an MCSE without the necessary skills to back it up. The employer will see you as a "paper MCSE." However, if you have worked with Windows 2000 Server and Professional and have a good background in computer networking, then you can probably skip the CompTIA certs and go straight for the MCSE. If you have any more questions that you would like for me to answer, then feel free to ask. I hope that this provides you with at least a starting place on your journey towards certification. Good luck!
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