CompTIA certifications integrated into Microsoft`s MCSA

CompTIA, the Computing Technology Industry Association, announces that its A+, Network+ and Server+ certifications have been integrated as electives into the new Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) credential.

The MCSA certification is designed for IT professionals who implement, manage and troubleshoot existing network and systems environments based on Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows .NET Server platforms. An MCSA candidate will need six months to one year of experience administering client and network operating systems prior to taking the exam.

"Candidates who have already earned CompTIA A+ and Network+, or A+ and Server+ may substitute these toward MCSA as the required MCSA elective," said Loraine Vorster, sales and marketing executive at CompTIA. " With the CompTIA credential in hand, a candidate has already fulfilled a significant part of the requirements for MCSA," she said.

According to Vorster, CompTIA certifications were chosen as electives for the MCSA because of their relevance and global recognition across the industry, and because of the way the CompTIA certifications are developed and maintained for the industry by the industry through a robust and tested process.

Adrian Schofield, CompTIA`s international marketing and sales director, says: "This is great news for the thousands of individuals already certified in A+, Network+ and/or Server+. Many people start out with a CompTIA certification and use it as a bridge to a higher-level vendor-specific credential and a career in IT. Anyone headed for a career as a network or systems administrator, a network engineer, analyst or technician who already has CompTIA A+, Network+ or Server+ will want to take a look at MCSA," he added.

The recognition by Microsoft of CompTIA certifications is validation of Microsoft`s interest in supporting industry neutral certification programs that will guide potential candidates to MCSA and higher-level certifications. The new relationship will allow a broad cross section of technically skilled individuals to get a head start on the MCSA program and expedite their achievement of this important credential.

"Many commercial training providers and academic institutions offering IT training will find they are already teaching some of the components of MCSA and so will welcome this integration. For the training organisation, this translates into a more efficient training schedule that is career-directed," said Schofield.

"The CompTIA certifications which will be integrated into Microsoft`s MCSA credential is widely regarded as being of the highest standard and a sound indication of an individual`s competencies in the different areas," says Diane Heron, partner programme manager at Microsoft South Africa. "We are looking forward to working with CompTIA in offering IT professionals a credential that would be of real value to them in their working environment."

Microsoft is a cornerstone supporter of CompTIA`s A+ and Network+ certifications and has been a major contributor to industry-driven initiatives in certification. CompTIA`s A+, Network+ and Server+ are the only third-party certifications integrated into MCSA at this time.