Microsoft - Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST)

New to IT? Get your Microsoft MCDST and CompTIA A+/N+ in one shot and save more than 33%. Call us to find out how to kick-start your career.

Our five-day Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) Accelerated Certification Program is designed for individuals who require the skills to successfully support end users and to successfully troubleshoot desktop environments running on the Microsoft Windows operating system.

The MCDST certification covers the skills of help desk technician, customer support representative, PC support specialist, technical support representative, and technical support specialists as defined by the National Workforce Center for Emerging Technologies Skill Standards for Information Technology and other research worldwide.

Our MCDST Accelerated Certification Program:

• Allows you to achieve your MCDST certification in a fraction of the time of 'traditional training' while delivering industry-leading exam passing percentages
• Helps students grasp complex technical concepts more easily by identifying and catering to individual student learning styles through a mixed visual, auditory and kinaesthetic-tactual delivery system
• Enhances retention by employing accelerated learning techniques focused on committing information to long-term memory

Upgrade your MCDST certification to earn MCITP certifications:

The MCDST course is an ideal stepping stone to a job as a Support Technician. Many MCDST certification holders continue to further their careers by earning the following MCITP certifications:

• MCITP Enterprise Desktop Administrator 7.
• MCITP Enterprise Support Technician (Vista).

These added credentials validate your comprehension of the functions and features of the Windows 7 (or Windows Vista) operating system, your ability to deploy and support Windows 7 (or Windows Vista), and your skills related to troubleshooting network connectivity and applications issues within Windows 7 (or Windows Vista).

For IT managers, certification is particularly important because it allows them to more easily identify the skills that an individual possesses. When a company has employees that possess certain skills, it can garner a competitive advantage when seeking to attract customers. Certification can also contribute to increased productivity, because studies have shown that certified individuals are generally quicker to implement and design new technologies. And of course by knowing that their employees are certified, IT managers can feel more confident about their ability to implement and support a network infrastructure.

The IT industry, your employer, clients, and peers will recognize your MCDST credential as a symbol of the skills and knowledge you have gained. Microsoft certification demonstrates that you have the ability to successfully support Microsoft business solutions for your organization or client.

Candidates who earn the MCDST certification receive a Welcome Kit containing a wallet card, certificate, and MCDST logo that enable you to identify your MCDST status to colleagues or clients. In addition, MCDSTs receive:

• Access through the MCP Member Site to technical and product information directly from Microsoft.
• Access through the MCP Member Site to exclusive discounts on products and services from selected companies.
• Invitations to Microsoft conferences, technical training sessions, and special events.
• Access to new security-enhanced content on Microsoft Certified Professional Magazine Online.

Firebrand Training's MCDST Accelerated Certification Program is the most effective, efficient way to learn how to successfully support end users and to successfully troubleshoot desktop environments running on the Microsoft Windows operating system.

Course Materials

Students attending this blended-learning program will receive a robust set of course materials that caters to each of the three primary individual learning-intake styles (auditory, visual, and kinaesthetic-tactual) - critical for a successful accelerated learning experience.

Daily lectures, labs, and review sessions are supplemented by a combination of:

• Proprietary Lab Manual & Microsoft Courseware - developed in conjunction with Microsoft, adapting Microsoft Official Curriculum to address the demands of accelerated learners
• Self Test or Transcender Testing Software

Delivery Schedule

Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technicians (MCDST) candidates are required to pass two Microsoft certification exams that provide a valid and reliable measure of technical proficiency and expertise.

Firebrand Training has an aggressive educational schedule that thoroughly covers all essential elements necessary to become a Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST).

• Supporting Users Running the Microsoft Windows XP Operating System - Exam 70-271
• Supporting Users Running Applications on a Microsoft Windows XP Operating System - Exam 70-272

Course Objectives

Firebrand Training delivers a wholly-integrated curriculum that, while minimizing redundancy, provides students with a comprehensive, real-world competency in the following topic area:

• Supporting Users and Troubleshooting a Microsoft Windows XP Operating System
• Supporting Users and Troubleshooting Desktop Applications on a Microsoft Windows XP Operating System

Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) candidates are required to pass the following examination as prescribed by our examination track.

Client Operating System Exams

• 70-271 - Supporting Users and Troubleshooting a Microsoft Windows XP Operating System
• 70-272 - Supporting Users and Troubleshooting Desktop Applications on a Microsoft Windows XP Operating System

Credit Toward Certification

When you pass either of the above examinations, you will achieved Microsoft Certified Professional status. You also earn credit toward the following certification.

• Core credit toward Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator on Microsoft Windows 2000/2003 certification

The MCDST certification covers the skills of help desk technician, customer support representative, PC support specialist, technical support representative, and technical support specialists as defined by the National Workforce Centre for Emerging Technologies Skill Standards for Information Technology and other research worldwide.

The MCDST credential is for IT professionals working in the typically complex computing environment of small, medium, or large organizations. An MCDST candidate should have 6-12 months of experience supporting end users of a desktop operating system.

Your accelerated course includes:

• Accommodation *
• Meals, unlimited snacks, beverages, tea and coffee *
• On-site exams **
• Exam vouchers **
• Practice tests **
• Certification Guarantee ***
• Courseware
• Up-to 12 hours of instructor-led training each day
• 24-hour lab access
• Digital courseware **

* For residential training only. Accommodation is included from the night before the course starts. This doesn't apply for online courses.
** Some exceptions apply. Please refer to the Exam Track or speak with our experts.
*** Pass first time or train again free as many times as it takes, unlimited for 1 year. Just pay for accommodation, exams, and incidental costs.