Introduction:
While Windows 7 has been available to IT Pros with Technet for a while, it was just released to the general public on October 22, 2009. One of the ways that I typically begin learning about a new Windows OS is to start by looking at its certification. What I mean is, if you are going to spend time learning about an OS, why not learn the things that Microsoft says are important enough to put in their certification requirements? Plus, if you are going to invest the time to learn about Windows 7, why not take a test when you are done learning and get a certification out of it? It just seems like the most logical way to learn about the new OS.
What is the status of the Windows 7 certification program?
Just as Windows 7 is now available, the entry-level Windows 7 certification, the MCTS, is also available. Microsoft''s Certified technology Specialist (or MCTS) is the entry level certification for just about every Microsoft technology. There are MCTS programs not only for IT Admins who are interested in Windows Server or Windows 7 but also for those who are Office 2007 experts, SQL Admins, .NET developers, and even volume licensing specialists. In fact, there are over 50 MCTS certification options.
As you are reading this, you are interested in Windows 7 certification so the most important MCTS, to you, is the Microsoft Technology Specialist (TS) Exam 70-680: Windows 7, Configuring. You guessed it, this MCTS certification requires a single exam and it is all about configuring Windows 7.
These exam covers topics such as:
* Installing, Upgrading, and Migrating to Windows 7
* Deploying Windows 7
* Configuring Hardware and Applications
* Configuring Network Connectivity
* Configuring Access to Resources
* Configuring Mobile Computing
* Monitoring and Maintaining Systems that Run Windows 7
* Configuring Backup and Recovery Options
According to Microsoft, the "Configuring Network Connectivity" portion of the exam is worth 14% (so I encourage you to checkout the Microsoft resource list of articles I have put together later in this article). Specifically, that 14% covering networking covers the following:
* IPv4 network settings
* IPv6 network settings
* Windows 7 networking settings
* Windows 7 Firewall
* Windows 7 Remote management
The MCTS covering the configuration of Windows 7 is a great place to start your Microsoft certification path. That is because that exam applies to at least 3 other higher level certification options. They are:
* MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator 7
* MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Support Technician 7
* MCITP: Enterprise Administrator
The MCITP is Microsoft''s Certified IT Professional or MCITP Training and could be compared to the MCSE. However, there are many more types of MCITP than the MCSE and those types of MCITP have various certification requirements. For example, to get a MCITP Enterprise Desktop Support Technician 7 you need to take the Microsoft PRO Exam 70-685: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician 7 on top of your MCTS in Windows 7 Configuration. The requirements to obtain the MCITP Enterprise Desktop Administration 7 certifications are similar but you need to take the Microsoft PRO Exam 70-686: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Administrator 7 exam on top of your MCTS in Windows 7 Configuration. I should note that both of these exams are listed as "in development" by Microsoft and are expected to be released on November 16, 2009.
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