Microsoft Desktop Support Certificate

Course Details

The entry level Microsoft certified desktop support technician course will kick start your IT career. Learn the skills to successfully provide desktop support to end users and troubleshoot desktop environments running on the Microsoft Windows operating system. This system operates over 90% of the world's PC's, so you can be confident that your skills will always be in great demand.

Typical jobs include Microsoft certified desktop support technician, Help desk technician, Customer Support Representative, PC or Technical Support Specialist, commanding salaries up to £35,000* per annum.

Qualifications

Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician course will  qualify you with an industry recognised MCDST qualification** which will get you started in an IT career.  MCDST proves you have the skills employers are searching for, to manage their Windows XP operating systems.

The first half of the course prepares you for exam** 70-271 to become a Microsoft Certified Professional.  Once completed you go onto study for exam** 70- 272 to qualify you as a Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician.

An MCDST qualification is the industry standard for Help Desk and Support Technicians throughout the world. Gain the practical skills to become a qualified Support Technician, a profession with great earning potential and career opportunities and for which there will always be a demand.  You will put put yourself in charge of your career. It also enables you to stand out from other applicants when job hunting and adding value to your CV. It shows a potential employer your commitment to your personal development and to the subject.

Tutors

We recognise that expert support and guidance is vital in helping students succeed, and your Home Learning College Tutor is critical to the delivery of this service excellence. When you enrol you are assigned a personal Tutor, an expert in their subject area and trained to support and coach you throughout the duration of your studies.

Tutors are recruited, employed and trained by Home Learning College, ensuring that students have access to the best quality support and tuition available. You will have unlimited access to your personal Tutor via phone, post or online. From the day you enrol, we are committed to seeing you through to the successful completion of your course and beyond.

Virtual Learning Community

Students enrolling with Home Learning College will also benefit from unlimited access to our unique Virtual Learning Community, a secure online environment designed to enhance your learning experience.

Here you will be able to:

• Meet and chat with 30,000 other students
• Set up your own student profile
• Participate in online discussion boards
• Interact with your Tutor
• Access a library of user generated content relating to your course
• Submit coursework
• Access additional learning tools and content
• Watch videocasts and online tutorials
• Access anywhere and anytime

Home Learning College is the only vocational home study provider within the UK to offer students an interactive online community.

Access to our Virtual Learning Community means that you'll have all the flexibility and benefits of studying from home whilst ensuring that you are never actually studying alone.

** Please note that some aspects of the Virtual Learning Community are not yet available.

Study Plan

• Installing the operating system
• Troubleshooting system start-up and user logons
• Managing users and the Windows environment
• Configuring and troubleshooting security policy
• Configuring and troubleshooting devices and printing
• Optimising performance
• Configuring and troubleshooting printing
• Managing access to shared resources
• Troubleshooting TCP/IP
• Application Support
• Office Installation
• Office Configuration
• Outlook Configuration
• Application Security
• Desktop Support Technicians

At the end of each chapter of the Microsoft certified desktop support technician course you may complete an optional assignment and submit this to your tutor.

Study Details

Most students can complete this course within approximately 90 hours of study.

Note: The minimum computer hardware requirements for this course are;

• 233MHz or faster processor Pentium III recommended
• 128MB RAM or higher
• 260MB of available hard disk space for installation
• CD-ROM
• Super VGA (800 x 600) or higher resolution screen
• Your operating system must be WindowsXP(SP2) or higher

Sample Course Material

Microsoft certified desktop support technician course material is written by experts. To see an example of our course material click on the link below.

• MCDST.pdf

Careers

With this course you will be able to apply for jobs as a Help Desk Technician, Customer Support Representative, PC or Technical Support Specialist, with a salary of £27,000 - £30,250* per annum.

Download PDF| for further career development information.

*Source: CW Jobs - Salary Checker 2008