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Microsoft Windows 2003 Certifications Article |
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| Introduction to Microsoft Certifications |
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Lavanya Suresh ( )
Author, Whizlabs MCSE (70-290, 70-291) Certification Preparation Kit
Microsoft Certifications are one of the most widely acclaimed, pursued, and achieved technical certifications in the IT industry. The demand for Microsoft Certified Professionals is high in the job market. |
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Microsoft offers a number of certification levels depending on specific areas of proficiency and nature of job. Some of the certifications pertaining to the field of networking are:
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Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) |
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Microsoft Certified System Administrator (MCSA) |
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Microsoft Certified System Engineer (MCSE) |
Each certification level has certain exams associated with it. You can decide the appropriate level of the certification exam based on your experience, skills, and interests. |
| Benefits of Microsoft Certifications |
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Microsoft Certification provides a standard method of testing employee skills. The certifications provide employers a valid benchmark for evaluating the employee's abilities. This will provide you the recognition and reward as per your expertise. |
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Microsoft Certifications offer prospective employers a baseline to judge your knowledge, skill, and expertise in the field. Certifications can provide added advantage if you are at the same level of experience as another person without certifications. |
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Certifications are a valuable tool if you have no or very little experience.The certifications that you hold prove and reassure your employers and consultants about your knowledge in the field. This will help you secure good job as well as negotiate a good salary. |
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| Professionals benefiting from Microsoft Certifications |
The Microsoft Certifications cater to the following audience:
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Network administrators |
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Network engineers |
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Systems engineers |
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Security analysts |
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Mail server administrators |
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Operating system administrators |
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Web server administrators |
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Manager of information systems |
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| Pre-Requisite Experience (Recommended) for Microsoft Certifications |
To pursue MCSE Certifications you should have at least 1 year of experience in
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Implementing and administering a network operating system in environments with 200 to 26,000 supported users in approximately 5 to 150 physical locations. |
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Implementing network services and applications such as file and print services, database services, messaging services, proxy server or firewall services, dial-in server services, and Web hosting. |
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Implementing and administering a desktop operating system. |
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Designing a network infrastructure. |
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| Microsoft Certifications for Microsoft Windows Server 2003 |
Microsoft has developed independent certification requirements for Microsoft Windows Server 2003. An aspirant can certify directly for MCSE/MCSA in Windows 2003 if they are new to certification process. If the aspirant is already a certified MCSE /MCSA in Windows 2000, they can follow the upgrade path for Windows 2000 to secure Windows 2003 Certifications. If the aspirant certifies in MCSE for Windows NT 4.0, they can earn MCSE in Windows 2003 by following the upgrade path for MCSEs in Windows NT 4.0. |
| Windows 2003 MCSE Certification Requirements |
Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) aspirants on the Microsoft Windows 2003 track are required to clear seven exams, or the equivalent, including five Core Exams and two Elective exams.
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Core Exams (6 Exams Required) |
| Networking System (4 Exams Required) |
Microsoft Official Curriculum |
| Clear all 4 exams |
| Exam 70-290 : Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment |
Course 2274 : Managing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment
Course 2275 : Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment
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Course 2208: Updating Support Skills from Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 to Microsoft Windows Server |
| Exam 70-291 : Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure |
Course 2276 : Implementing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure: Network Hosts
Course 2277 : Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure: Network Services
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Course 2208: Updating Support Skills from Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 to Microsoft Windows Server 2003 |
| Exam 70-293 : Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure |
Course 2278 : Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure |
| Exam 70-294 : Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure |
Course 2279 : Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure |
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| Client Operating System (1 exam required) |
Microsoft Official Curriculum |
| Select one of the following 2 exams |
Exam 70-210 : Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
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Course 2151 : Microsoft Windows 2000 Network and Operating System Essentials
Course 2152 : Implementing Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional and Server |
| Exam 70-270 : Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional |
Course 2272 : Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Windows XP Professional
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Course 2285 : Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional |
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| Design (1 exam required) |
Microsoft Official Curriculum |
| Select one of the following 2 exams |
Exam 70-297 : Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure |
Course 2282: Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure |
Exam 70-298: Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network |
Course 2830 : Designing Security for Microsoft Networks |
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Elective Exam (1 required) |
| Elective (1 exams required) |
Microsoft Official Curriculum |
| Select one of the following exams |
Exam 70-086 : Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 |
Course 828 : Deploying and Supporting Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 (5 days)
Course 827 : Administering Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 (3 days) |
Exam 70-227 : Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000, Enterprise Edition |
Course 2159 : Deploying and Managing Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2000 (3 days) |
| Exam 70-228 : Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition |
Course 2072 : Administering a Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Database (5 days) |
| Exam 70-229 : Designing and Implementing Databases with Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition |
Course 2073 : Programming a Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Database
Course 2071 : Querying Microsoft SQL Server 2000 with Transact-SQL |
| Exam 70-232 : Implementing and Maintaining Highly Available Web Solutions with Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Technologies and Microsoft Application Center 2000. |
Course 2203 : Deploying and Managing Microsoft Application Center 2000 (2 days).
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Exam 70-297 : Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure |
Course 2282: Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure (5 days) |
| Exam 70-298: Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network |
Course 2830 : Designing Security for Microsoft Networks (3 days) |
NOTE: Exams 70-297 and 70-298 may each count once as either core design exam or elective exam. |
| Windows 2003 MCSA Certification Requirements |
Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) aspirants on the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 track are required to clear four exams or the equivalent that include three core exams and one elective exam.
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Core exams (3 required) |
| Networking System (2 Exams Required) |
Microsoft Official Curriculum |
| Clear both exams |
| Exam 70-290 : Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment |
Course 2274 : Managing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment
Course 2275 : Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment
OR
Course 2208: Updating Support Skills from Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 to Microsoft Windows Server |
| Exam 70-291 : Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure |
Course 2276 : Implementing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure: Network Hosts
Course 2277 : Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure: Network Services
OR
Course 2208: Updating Support Skills from Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 to Microsoft Windows Server 2003 |
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| Client Operating System (1 exam required) |
Microsoft Official Curriculum |
| Select one of the following 2 exams |
Exam 70-210 : Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
OR |
Course 2151 : Microsoft Windows 2000 Network and Operating System Essentials
Course 2152 : Implementing Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional and Server |
| Exam 70-270 : Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional |
Course 2272 : Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Windows XP Professional
OR
Course 2285 : Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional |
AND
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Elective Exams (1 Exam Required) |
| Elective (1 exams required) |
Microsoft Official Curriculum |
| Select one of the following exams |
Exam 70-086 : Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 |
Course 828 : Deploying and Supporting Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 (5 days)
Course 827 : Administering Microsoft Systems Management Server 2.0 (3 days) |
Exam 70-227 : Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2000, Enterprise Edition |
Course 2159 : Deploying and Managing Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2000 (3 days) |
| Exam 70-228 : Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Enterprise Edition |
Course 2072 : Administering a Microsoft SQL Server 2000 Database (5 days) |
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| Upgrade from MCSA on Microsoft Windows 2003 |
An MCSA on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 has already met several of the requirements for the MCSE on Windows Server 2003 credential, which shortens the upgrade path considerably. To earn the MCSE on Windows Server 2003, the aspirant needs to clear three exams from the list below
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Networking : MCSAs on Windows Server 2003 has already cleared exams 70-290 and 70-291. Now they must prove their skills on the other core network exams, including Exams 70-293 and 70-294. |
| Networking System (2 Exams Required) |
Microsoft Official Curriculum |
| Clear both exams |
Exam 70-293 : Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure |
Course 2278 : Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure |
Exam 70-294 : Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure |
Course 2279 : Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure |
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Client : If the aspirant has already taken either Exam 70-210 or 70-270, no further action is required. |
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Design : MCSAs on Windows Server 2003 are not required to prove design skills and hence no design exams are included for MCSAs. To become an MCSE, you must prove your skills by clearing either a Windows 2000 or Windows Server 2003 design exam. If the aspirant has already taken a Windows 2000 design exam, he need not take any further exams. |
| Design (1 exam required) |
Microsoft Official Curriculum |
| Select one of the following 2 exams |
Exam 70-297 : Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure |
Course 2282 : Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure |
Exam 70-298 : Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network |
Course 2830 : Designing Security for Microsoft Networks |
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Elective : If the aspirant has cleared one of the exams from 70-086, 70-227, and 70-228 during MCSA Certification, he need not take any further exams. |
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| Upgrade from MCSA on Microsoft Windows 2000 |
Microsoft has designed an upgrade path that will enable a current MCSA on Windows 2000 to earn the Windows Server 2003 credential in a time- and cost-effective manner. An MCSA on Windows 2000 simply needs to clear exam 70-292 to earn the MCSA on Windows Server 2003 credential. There is no additional core or elective exam requirements for the upgrade.
| Upgrade Exam for an MCSA on Windows 2000 (1 Exam Required) |
Microsoft Official Curriculum |
| Clear this exam |
Exam 70-292 : Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSA Certified on Windows 2000 |
Workshop 2209 : Updating Systems Administrator Skills from Microsoft Windows 2000 to Windows Server 2003 (2 days) |
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| Upgrade from MCSE on Microsoft Windows 2000 |
Microsoft has designed an upgrade path that will enable a current MCSE on Microsoft Windows 2000 to earn the Windows Server 2003 credential in a time- and cost-effective manner.
An MCSE on Windows 2000 needs to clear two exams i.e. 70-292 and 70-296 to secure the MCSE on Windows Server 2003 credential. No additional core or elective exams are required for an MCSE on Windows 2000.
| Upgrade Exam for an MCSE on Windows 2000 (2 Exams Required) |
Microsoft Official Curriculum |
| Clear both exams |
Exam 70-292 : Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSA Certified on Windows 2000 |
Workshop 2209 : Updating Systems Administrator Skills from Microsoft Windows 2000 to Windows Server 2003 (2 days) |
Exam 70-296 : Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment for an MCSE Certified on Windows 2000 |
Workshop 2210 : Updating Systems Engineer Skills from Microsoft Windows 2000 to Windows Server 2003 (3 days) |
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| Upgrade from MCSE on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 |
For an MCSE on Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, the MCSE credential itself satisfies the elective requirement for the Windows Server 2003 track, putting an MCSE on Windows NT 4.0 one-step further on the upgrade path. The aspirant has to clear six core exams from the following:
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Core Exams (6 Required) |
| Networking System (4 Exams Required) |
Microsoft Official Curriculum |
| Clear all 4 exams |
Exam 70-290 : Managing and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment |
Course 2274 : Managing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment
Course 2275 : Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment
OR
Course 2208 : Updating Support Skills from Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 to Microsoft Windows Server |
Exam 70-291 : Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure |
Course 2276 : Implementing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure: Network Hosts
Course 2277 : Implementing, Managing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure: Network Services
OR
Course 2208: Updating Support Skills from Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 to Microsoft Windows Server 2003 |
| Exam 70-293 : Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure |
Course 2278 : Planning and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure |
| Exam 70-294 : Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure |
Course 2279 : Planning, Implementing, and Maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory Infrastructure |
AND
| Client Operating System (1 exam required) |
Microsoft Official Curriculum |
| Select one of the following 2 exams |
Exam 70-210 : Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
OR |
Course 2151 : Microsoft Windows 2000 Network and Operating System Essentials
Course 2152 : Implementing Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional and Server |
Exam 70-270 : Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional |
Course 2272 : Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Windows XP Professional
OR
Course 2285 : Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP Professional |
AND
| Design (1 exam required) |
Microsoft Official Curriculum |
| Select one of the following 2 exams |
Exam 70-297 : Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure |
Course 2282 : Designing a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Active Directory and Network Infrastructure |
Exam 70-298 : Designing Security for a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network |
Course 2830 : Designing Security for Microsoft Networks |
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Elective Exam (None) |
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Most of the questions in the exam are multiple choice. The questions require the "best" answer from several close responses. Some questions may present an implementation scenario, requirements, and a proposed solution and then ask if the solution meets all of the requirements or combinations of the primary and secondary requirements.
Microsoft has introduced some testing innovations for the certification exams. Click on each item to learn more about it.
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| How to Prepare for Microsoft Certification |
The steps to prepare for Microsoft Certification are:
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The MCSE Exams are not easy, as advertised on many websites. The MCSE Certifications are tough, so p lan to put in a lot of time and effort getting ready for your certification exams. Get all the information you can about the certification exams and then start working towards your goal. |
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Get hands-on experience.The first step in the preparation for any Microsoft Certification is hands-on experience with the related product. For MCSE, the aspirant needs to have at least 1 year of working experience and for MCSA, the minimum recommended time of experience is 6 months. If you are not working anywhere, it will help if you can volunteer your IT skill services to gain valuable experience. |
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You can set up a small network at home to practice. Setting up the home network will give you a great opportunity to learn. You can practice the lab exercises in the home network as and when you study. This will give you a better understanding of the theories, rather than just studying the exam guides. |
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Get trained in the related product. If possible, try to get training in the related product in a Microsoft Authorized Training Centre. You can use training resources to supplement your skills and experience. You can also use the Microsoft Official Curriculum for the related exam as well as Microsoft Press books that are available for the exam. |
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Use the prep guide of the exam you plan to take and read it thoroughly. You should know the entire exam objectives covered in the exam prep guide. |
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Use practice test software packages. Whizlabs Preparation Kits is an example. The advantages of using practice tests are:
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They help you to assess your skill level by testing you in all the areas that the actual exam tests you. |
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They provide automatic feedback on all correct and incorrect answers with detailed explanations and reference sources for each answer. |
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They let you know the areas where you need to improve further by providing analysis results of the test. |
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They help you get familiar with the testing techniques of the actual certification exam by including a variety of questions and question types. |
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They prepare you for the real exam by providing questions that accurately simulate the questions and scenarios of the real exam. |
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They cover all of the exam objectives as specified in the Microsoft exam preparation guide and include a wide range of practice test titles to cover the content of most of the Microsoft exams |
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Practice test vendors will provide technical support for their products. |
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Do NOT use Braindumps. Braindumps might help you get the certification, but you will lack important practical knowledge about the product. Hence, your prospects of landing a good IT job will be very bad. |
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Once you are ready, you can take the exams at more than 800 authorized testing centers. More information or locations can be obtained by searching for the testing centers around the world at Thomson Prometric Centers or Pearson Vue Testing Centers |
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Lavanya Suresh is a B.Tech (Electrical & Electronics Engineering) and a certified MCSE and CNA, working as an independent IT consultant in India. Lavanya is also a highly skilled and experienced corporate trainer, specializing in the domain of Microsoft Windows Networking. She has authored several technical contents like articles, books, and courseware for clients such as NIIT, NetG, ITT Technical Institute.
The author can be contacted at . |
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