When we consider MS accreditations, we are addressing a very wide spectrum. At one end of the scales, you could need some teaching on 'Word' or Excel, at the other you might be looking for a number of MCPs in order to qualify in I.T. at a professional grade. Training tracks and teaching methods differ tremendously, so be careful not to make in-accurate presumptions regarding programs. It's crucial that the training delivers the results you are looking for. During your IT research, discuss your plans with an industry advisor who can help you to get everything you need from the training for the best price & in the best learning method for you personally.

To many Computer users, the word Windows comes up when they think about 'Microsoft'. It could also mean Microsoft 'Office', which supplies us with an array of commonplace computer applications. 'Word' is Microsoft's word-processing application, familiar to millions around the world. Whilst Excel is the most commonly used spreadsheet & 'Access' supplies database capabilities to many organisations. The next of the main 4 programs in Office is 'PowerPoint', which is widely used for presentations. (Having said that there are many more within the Microsoft stable, such as Outlook, which is commonly used as an email, messaging & diary solution.)

The push towards greater professional level acknowledgement and proficiency for I.T. staff has been led by MS for many years now. Because of this more advanced level Microsoft certification is very well thought of around the world of I.T. & IT leadership.

Industry and commerce are overpoweringly directed by Microsoft Networking & Server Operating Systems. It's currently estimated that at least 80-90 per cent of business networks use 'Windows' Server as the standard platform. Clearly several up-grades have occurred - the original NT Server grew to become 2000, then '2003' and right now '2008'. A large amount of organisations still utilise 'Server 2003' as their standard operating platform, and don't intend to switch. Typically, it's the previous platforms that will up-grade (NT Server or Server 2000) - effectively skipping a generation or two. If you look at our MCSA and 'MCSE' web-pages, you will learn much more about Networks, Servers & the question of 'Server 2003' verses 2008.

Structured Query Language or SQL is a specialist 'language' for interrogating 'Databases'. Anyone looking to work with 'Databases' professionally must first learn to understand SQL, so that they can manage information successfully. 'Developers' ('DBDs') set-up and design Databases for 'Administrators' ('DBA's') to regulate, interrogate and create reports about the information. Frequently, a 'DB Developer' will also obtain programming accreditations (in either 'VB' or C#,) in order to hold the complete skill set required to write database software, as well as design the storage-structures.

'Microsoft' own Visual Studio, - the fore-most 'Windows' software program development 'environment'. 'C#.Net' and 'Visual Basic.Net' tend to be the most popular 'languages' to master. You'll find out about these by reading our dedicated Programming & Development pages. Principle accreditations are currently the 'MCTS' & MCPD (as they have superseded the older MCAD and MCSD.)

The key fields that MS offers accreditation routes for are generally relevant to their core systems offerings. So fundamentally we're looking at Programming, Networks & Databases. Every one of these routes has its own distinctive set of individual accreditation groups - which may be perused more deeply by browsing through the relevant web-pages of this site.

Whether you're looking to achieve a beginner's knowledge of these systems and packages, or a more complete professional level understanding so you can support others, there are many accreditations which could help. For in-depth coverage on how to get the most from Office yourself, look at the 'Microsoft Office Specialist' (MOS) or the 'Microsoft Certified Application Specialist' (MCAS). For a certification to support others, go into the Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician, or 'MCDST' as its known.

On the other hand, you could be looking at getting into a professionally skilled job in the I.T. market, and require higher level 'Microsoft' accreditation. Microsoft have just lately re-vamped their accreditation structure, and whilst you will still find many tracks based on the MCP certifications, we are increasingly observing the move to 'MCITP' (Microsoft Certified IT Professional) & 'MCTS' (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist) programs. MCTS learning packages are typically worked on as building blocks to the 'MCITP'.

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