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Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) certification is sought by businesses to help ensure that their computer systems are running smoothly. Gaining one or more of the Microsoft certifications means that you have demonstrated thorough training in a specific area, enabling you to gain recognition of your experience, knowledge, and abilities from employers and fellow professionals. This can make a difference to prospective employers. Today, certifications are becoming necessary to enable you to progress in your career as an IT professional. Kaplan Continuing Education offers an online IT education program designed to help you prepare for MCTS certification.*


Consider the Kaplan Continuing Education online MCTS Certificate program if you are interested in acquiring the knowledge to develop Microsoft Windows, Web, or distributed applications that use the .NET Framework 2.0 and Visual Studio 2005. You could maximize your worth to your company by achieving this certification, and you may have the opportunity to advance your career.† Our online IT education program teaches you to implement, build, troubleshoot, and debug particular Microsoft technologies, with the intention and focus of helping you prepare for the MCTS certification examination.*

 Imagine What You Can Do 

By earning the MCTS credential, you could demonstrate skills and in-depth knowledge in a specialized technology.


Choose from four tracks in the certificate program:


  • Web Applications Development Track
  • Windows Applications Development Track
  • Distributed Applications Development Track
  • Windows Vista Configuration Track

 Imagine Where You Can Apply 

Today, multibillion-dollar corporations, government agencies, small companies, and nonprofit organizations alike utilize Microsoft certified technology specialists. The business realities of global competition, emerging technologies, and increased customer demands have increased the value of Microsoft certified technology specialists. Microsoft certification programs have impacted the way that employers could recruit you as an IT professional and the way they may reward and promote employees. It is increasingly important to have the relevant certification for the job that you do at the moment, as well as the job that you want to do in the future. Our online IT education program is designed to put you on the right track toward certification* and help you become an in-demand professional.†


Median annual earnings of a Microsoft certified technology specialist with 1 to 4 years of experience is $52,072. Median earnings for individuals with 5 to 9 years of experience is $70,988.‡

 Is This Program Right For Me? 

The MCTS Certificate is ideally suited for systems engineers, technical support engineers, and systems and network analysts with the following experience:


Web Applications Development Track


  • Two to three years of experience developing Web, Windows, or distributed applications using the .NET framework.
  • Working knowledge of Visual Studio 2005.
  • Familiarity with Visual Basic or C# and ability to perform the following:
    • Create a console or Windows application.
    • Add namespaces and references to system class libraries to a project.
    • Debug an application in Visual Studio.
    • Understand how to make assemblies available to other applications.
  • Basic understanding of HTML and client-side scripting.

Windows Applications Development Track


  • Two to three years of experience developing Web, Windows, or distributed applications using the .NET framework.
  • Working knowledge of Visual Studio 2005.
  • Familiarity with Visual Basic or C# and ability to perform the following:
    • Create a console or Windows application.
    • Add namespaces and references to system class libraries to a project.
    • Debug an application in Visual Studio.
    • Understand how to make assemblies available to other applications.

Distributed Applications Development Track


  • Two to three years of experience developing Web, Windows, or distributed applications using the .NET framework.
  • Working knowledge of Visual Studio 2005.
  • Familiarity with Visual Basic or C# and ability to perform the following:
    • Create a console or Windows application.
    • Add namespaces and references to system class libraries to a project.
    • Debug an application in Visual Studio.
    • Understand how to make assemblies available to other applications.
  • Basic understanding of HTML and client-side scripting.

Windows Vista Configuration Track


  • Familiarity with computer hardware and devices, such as the ability to look into device manager and look for unsupported devices.
  • Basic TCP/IP knowledge, such as knowing why you need to have a valid IP address.
  • Basic Microsoft Windows and Active Directory knowledge, such as knowledge about domain user accounts, domain versus local user accounts, user profiles, and group membership.
  • Experience mapping network file shares, such as being familiar with UNC paths and mapping local resources to server/share.
  • Experience running commands from a command window, such as the DOS command prompt.
  • Experience reviewing BIOS settings.

 

The program is specially designed to help prepare you for the MCTS certification examination.* By earning the premier MCTS credential, you should possess the skills needed to distinguish yourself by demonstrating in-depth knowledge and expertise in a specialized technology. Microsoft certified technology specialists are consistently capable of implementing, building, troubleshooting, and debugging a particular Microsoft technology. All interested applicants are encouraged to apply. Click here to view the program comparison guide.


Courses Include


  • Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0—Application Development Foundation
  • Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0—Web-Based Client Development
  • Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0—Windows-Based Client Development
  • Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0—Distributed Application Development
  • Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client Operating System

  

For complete course descriptions, click here.

  

  

 Take the First Step  

In as little as 6 months, you could be on your way to pursuing a Microsoft certification and a more rewarding career. Take the first step by calling 866.542.4042 (Toll Free) or click here for more information.
*Although certain KCE programs are designed to prepare students to take various certification or licensing exams, KCE cannot guarantee the student will pass those exams.


†Kaplan Continuing Education's (KCE) programs are designed to prepare graduates to pursue employment in their field of study, or in related fields. However, KCE does not guarantee that graduates will be placed in any particular job or employed at all.

‡PayScale Salary Survey Report for Certification: Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS), http://www.payscale.com/research/US/Certification=Microsoft_Certified_Technology_Specialist_(MCTS)/Salary (accessed January 14, 2008).