Last Chance to upgrade your MCSA 2003 or MCSE 2003

This July 31^st will be the last day to upgrade your MCSA 2003 to MCSA 2012 and or upgrade your MCSE 2003 to MCSA 2012 so can you upgrade to MCSA 2012 and what is the best path?

If you have completed the MCSA 2003 or MCSE 2003, you have few options.

 

Option 1: Upgrade just to MCSA Server 2008:

Take and pass exams 70-648 and 70-646.

For prepping up for the exam there are lots of resources out there. There are MS Press books, Official MS courses and eLearning courses to help you prep.

Once you have passed both exams you are then a MCSA Server 2008 and now have another choice to make to either stay at that point or to upgrade your newly achieved MCSA 2008 to MCSA 2012.

 

Option 2: Upgrade your 2003 all the way to 2012

Once you complete the upgrade to 2008 as mentioned in Option 1 you can then upgrade your MCSA 2008 to MCSA 2012 with one exam, the 70-417 Upgrading Your Skills to MCSA Windows Server 2012. Passing the 70-417 will give you the MCSA 2012, provided you already have the MCSA 2008/MCITP:SA

 

Option 3: To start from scratch from the MCSA 2012 track.

To achieve the MCSA Server 2012 without prerequisite certification you can take 3 exams 70-410, 70-411 and 70-412. There are currently loads or resources out there for this including free and paid resources MS Press books, Official Training MeasureUp sample exams as well as MCSA in 90 day programmes and Virtual Academy videos.

Although this is not really an upgrade option, it same number of exams, 3, as doing the MCSA 2003 Upgrade to 2008 to 2012 and is focused on one version of the technology.

 

Which option is best for you?

Well a lot depends on you, the question that will really decide is “Can you complete the 70-648 before the 31^st of July” if not then your only option is option 3. If you can get it done the choice is yours to either get the MCSA 2008, and/or MCSA 2012 or just to start from scratch for the MCSA 2012.

The opinion of some of our Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCT’s) is to go straight for the MCSA Server 2012. They reasoned that it is easier to focus on a singular technology version and to the longevity it provides compared to the older technology.