Microsoft MCSA certifications give you an expertise in a specific Microsoft technology and give you a career advantage. You might be having good expertise in the field, but a certification takes you a step higher. Professionals working in the IT industry usually take these certifications as they get to land good jobs and higher salaries.

Microsoft offers a number of certifications and MCSA is an important one among them. Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate or MCSA Windows Server 2012 is an essential certification that makes you eligible to be a computer systems administrator or a computer network specialist. Taking this certification is the first step towards becoming a Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE).

Achieving MCSA certifications

To get the certification, there exist three mandatory courses to be done and three exams to be passed. These are:

20410 Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012: This course includes the implementation and configuration of core services like networking services, Active Directory Domain Services and Microsoft Hyper-V Server 2012 configuration. The exam corresponding to this course is 70-410 Installing and Configuring Windows Server 2012.

20411 Administering Windows Server 2012: This course details the administrative tasks needed to maintain a Windows Server 2012 infrastructure like user and group management with Active Directory Domain Services and Group Policy. The name of the exam corresponding to this course is 70-411 Administering Windows Server 2012.

20412 Configuring Advanced Windows Server 2012 Services: This course teaches advanced service tasks and configurations needed to manage, deploy and maintain Windows Server 2012 infrastructure like rights management, network load balancing, identity management, Federated services and failover clustering. The exam corresponding to this course is 70-412 Configuring Advanced Windows Server 2012 Services.

Why take MCSA certifications?

Prove your skills: On receiving the certification, you get an official confirmation from Microsoft that you are fully qualified in the area. You have mastered the skills necessary to install and configure Windows Server 2012, perform administrative tasks and configure advanced services. You can now add this to your resume which will be really beneficial for your future jobs.

Professionally good: When looking for a new job or progressing in your current job, the certification helps you top the list of eligible candidates.

Return on investment: Your employers spend on you to make you more efficient and knowledgeable in your area of work. This increases your speed and reduces faults from your part leading to fewer problems to handle.

Improved knowledge: You get in-depth knowledge and skills on completing the course. Those who do the MCSA certifications are found to be 74% more efficient than others.

The increase in value: The value of a certified professional is more in any company. This means your pay package increases and you become visible to the top personnel. You will be considered 30% more worthy and hence will be given more benefits too.

Shows your willingness to learn: By opting to get the certification, you prove that you are willing to explore more in your field of work. As a result, you will be showered with more opportunities in the future.
Thus, MCSA can take you to a new level of knowledge and experience not enabled by many other certifications. Go ahead in your career with this golden opportunity and stand out from the crowd.
Read more about A Complete Guide for MCSA certifications