Windows 7 Certification Overview

By Mike Rodriguez
December 29, 2009

Topics Mentioned
Operating System(s):: Windows 7
Certification(s):: MCTS
Exam(s):: Microsoft Exams

With Windows 7 released, IT Professionals can now start looking into a new wave of Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) and Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP) certification exams based on the new operating system.

In this article I will outline the basics of each Windows 7 exam, along with what certifications or certification credit you will be able to receive by completing them.

Before we go over the exams themselves, let’s look into the certifications first, as they are, of course, the end goal of taking Microsoft exams.

MCTS: Microsoft Certified Technology Specialists

MCTS: Microsoft Certified Technology Specialists The Microsoft Technology Specialist Certifications are created to show specializations in certain specific technologies. Unlike the CompTIA A+ exam, which shows you are able to work professionally and knowledgeably as a computer technician, Microsoft Technology Specialist Certifications show your depth of knowledge in one specific area.

Microsoft Technology Specialists are described as having “one or more years of experience implementing, troubleshooting, and debugging a specific technology.” Microsoft Technology Specialist Certifications are also stepping stones to earning your Microsoft Certified IT Professional credential.

MCITP: Microsoft Certified IT Professional

MCITP: Microsoft Certified IT Professional The Microsoft Certified IT Professional credential was created to show a comprehensive understanding of various technologies and skill sets. Unlike Technology Specialist certifications where it is possible to get certificated with just one exam, Microsoft Certified IT Professionals need to earn one or more Technology Specialist certifications to become Certified IT Professionals.

Microsoft Certified IT Professionals are described as individuals who have “two or more years of experience as an IT professional.” This is directly in line with the one year of experience expected for Microsoft Technology Specialists.

Windows 7 Certifications

Currently, there are five certification exams that relate to Windows 7:

Windows 7, Configuring (Exam 70-680)
Windows 7, Preinstalling for OEMs (Exam 70-683)
Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Administrator (Exam 70-686)
Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician (Exam 70-685)

Windows 7, Configuring (Exam 70-680)

The Configuring Windows 7 exam is meant for individuals with at least one year of experience in the IT field implementing and administering the Windows operating system (any, though recent Windows 7 experience will obviously help,) in a networked environment.

The exam measures various skill sets including:

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
and configuring backup and recovery options.

Simply passing the exam will earn you the title of a Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS) in Windows 7, Configuring and earn you credit towards becoming a Microsoft Certified IT Professional.

There are three choices after taking this exam in terms of becoming a Certified IT Professional. You can become an Enterprise Administrator, an Enterprise Desktop Administrator 7, and/or an Enterprise Desktop Support Technician 7.

Learn More: Windows 7, Configuring (Exam 70-680) Certification Guide

Windows 7, Preinstalling for OEMs (Exam 70-683)

The Preinstalling for OEMs exam is created to measure an individual’s ability and experience in preinstalling Windows 7 for OEM machines.

Individuals interested in this exam should have experience using the Microsoft OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK,) imaging tools, deployment tools, etc. They should also have at least one year of experience working with and troubleshooting desktop image deployments and installations.

The exam measures various skill sets including:

Preparing the OEM Preinstallation Kit Environment
Creating a base image
Configuring the image for deployment
and deploying and updating the image.

After passing this exam, you will have earned the title of Microsoft Certified Technical Specialist (MCITP) in Preinstalling Windows 7 for OEMs.

Learn More: Windows 7, Preinstalling for OEMs (Exam 70-683) Certification Guide

Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Administrator (Exam 70-686)

While this exam is currently not available due to technical difficulties, it should be available by the end of 2009 or sometime in the first quarter of 2010.

The Enterprise Desktop Administrator for Windows 7 exam is created to measure an individual’s ability to support Windows 7 computing environments on an Enterprise level. Candidates must have at least three years experience supporting the infrastructure and applications within the computing environment and managing the systems as a whole.

Microsoft also states that candidates should have at least three years of experience installing, configuring, and administering clients in a networked environment and have experience deploying Windows operating systems and applications. They should be familiar with client administration capabilities of Windows Server and with management tools such as the System Center suite of products.

The exam measures the following skills:

Planning and managing a client life cycle strategy
Designing a standard image
Designing client configurations
Designing a Windows 7 client deployment
Designing application packages for deployment
and identifying and resolving deployment and client configuration issues.

Once you have successfully completed this exam, you will earn credit towards becoming a Microsoft Certified IT Professional (Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Administrator). To fully earn this credential, you will need to take the exam we first went over, Windows 7, Configuring.

After you have successfully completed both exams 70-680 and 70-686, you will have earned your title of Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP)

Learn More: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Administrator (Exam 70-686) Certification Guide

Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician (Exam 70-685)

The Enterprise Desktop Support Technician exam was designed to assess an individual’s experience and ability to support and maintain computer systems on an enterprise level.

While the Enterprise Desktop Administrator exam is similar, it is based more on software, deployment, upgrading, and managing an enterprise sized network of computer systems; this exam is based on software and hardware troubleshooting and general technical support skills, much like the CompTIA A+ exam, except on a much larger scale.

The exam measures the following skills:

Identifying the cause of and resolving desktop application issues
Identifying the cause of and resolving networking issues
Managing and maintaining systems that run the Windows 7 client
Supporting mobile users
and identifying the cause of and resolving security issues.

You should have at least 3 years experience supporting and troubleshooting computer systems on a medium to large scale as well as knowledge of good support practices in the field.

After successfully completing the exam, you will have earned credit towards becoming a Microsoft Certified IT Professional (Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician.)

How to Get Windows 7 Certified?

After you decide which path to Windows 7 certifications and/or credentials is right for you, you will want to look into each exams’ requirements individually.

You can view the exam requirements on the Microsoft Learning website.

You should also look out for my next few articles, as I will be writing an in depth look at each of these exams individually to help further guide you towards your next certification.

Good luck!

Windows 7 Certification Overview

MCTS: Microsoft Certified Technology Specialists