Introduction:

Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) credential recognizes individuals who have demonstrated the skills to enter the IT industry as a support desk technician in a windows® environment. Weather you are a career – entrant or a current support technician, you can readily pursue MCDST certification as an important step in advancing you career as an IT professional.

Who is it for?
IT career entrants looking to acquire baseline skills as well as current support desk technicians who are interested in providing their Windows Desktop Operating System knowledge through training and certification.

Start with the right foundation

MCDST certification demonstrates valuable troubleshooting expertise with theWindows Desktop Operating System to employers and clients. For career-changers looking to enter the IT industry or current support desk representatives looking to
differentiate themselves, MCDST training and certification demonstrate to employers and clients your valuable troubleshooting skills supporting end-users with the
Windows Desktop Operating System.

The MCDST certification provides a framework for learning and validating the skills that support technicians need. As a desktop support technician, you will use excellent customer service skills, educate users, and solve hardware or software operation and
application problems on the desktop. You will learn valuable skills and best practices consistent with IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) and Microsoft Operations Framework (MOF) foundational operations which are emphasized throughout all of the training content.

Move ahead of the competition with quality, flexible learning solutions:

Prepare for the MCDST certification exams with Official Microsoft Learning Products. Content was designed with the help of Microsoft Product Support Services staff. All scenarios and troubleshooting methods are derived from customers with real-world problems. Comprehensive learning tools, including Microsoft Official Courses and Microsoft Press® Self-Paced Training Kits, have been designed to give you the detailed
technical information you need in a format that complements the way you want to learn. All learning products and exams were reviewed and approved by Microsoft product support staff, product developers, service experts, and technical editors to ensure the most accurate information for the Windows Desktop Operating System. Microsoft IT Academies deliver these learning resources as well as other educational opportunities to help you gain knowledge and apply your skills. If you’re not sure where to begin, Microsoft Skills Assessment, available at www.microsoft.com/assessment, evaluates whether you are ready to implement specific business solutions and provides you with recommended ways to increase your knowledge and skills.

The value of MCDST certification to candidates:

	MCDST certification validates the baseline skills needed to enter the IT industry as a support professional.
	MCDST certification helps advance support technician careers by providing a structured framework for learning skills.
	MCDST certification distinguishes job candidates from their peers.
	MCDST certification enhances job satisfaction through increased technical competency.
	MCDST certification provides a knowledge foundation for additional Microsoft certifications.

The value of MCDST certification to hiring managers and organizations:

	MCDST certification provides a tangible benchmark for identifying qualified candidates for a support technician role.
	MCDST training and certification give your organization a competitive advantage by allowing you to provide outstanding and consistent service to your customers.
	MCDST training and certification increase operational efficiency and reduce business costs.

MCDST at a glance

Target audience:

This job role represents an entry point into a career as an IT professional. Candidates for this credential work in small- to medium-sized computing environments supporting end-users that use Microsoft Windows XP Professional or Microsoft Windows
2000 Professional as a desktop operating system. They have either completed technical training on supporting Windows XP Professional and Windows 2000 Professional or have a minimum of six months of experience supporting and troubleshooting any desktop operating system in a workgroup or domain network environment.

Typical Job Titles for MCDST:

	Help Desk Technician
	Customer Support Representative
	PC Support Specialists
	Technical Support Representative

Required Background:

MCDST is an entry-level certification.

Exam Requirements:

Two Core Exams

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