I am a Microsoft Certified System Administrator (in Windows 2000 and 2003) if that is the course you are talking about (
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcsa/windows2003/new.asp) You need at least 4 microsoft exams and if you consider that each exam requires a course and each course is about �1000 it is not cheap. Most MCSAs and MCSEs have had the courses paid by their employer (I know I did). You should really be into computers, OSes, servers, active directory and all that old rubbish. Bear in mind that it is a Microsoft course so it is very biased. But there again most operating systems used are Microsoft based. An alternative is the CompTIA N+, A+ which is OS independent. The microsoft site has links to practice tests so you can try one out. I thought it was hard but there again I am a bit of a duncer. You will also get all the "boot-camp" slurs if you take microsoft exams: just be strong and ignore all the hostility. It is an IT industry standard perhaps more so than a degree.