Active Directory Certification Training Course

Active Directory remains the backbone of identity in most Australian organisations, so administrators who can deploy, manage and secure AD DS are in steady demand. Building these skills, and validating them with the Microsoft Applied Skills credential for Administer Active Directory Domain Services, gives you a recognised, current way to prove what you can do, whether you are stepping into a Windows administration role or strengthening an existing one.

You receive digital course material that is yours to keep, practise questions, and hands-on lab access so you can practise on a real Active Directory environment. Full-time courses include a mock test. Our price beat guarantee means we will beat any competitor’s advertised price on the same training. Train in person in Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane, or join the same live class online from anywhere in Australia, with small class sizes and experienced trainers.

There are no formal prerequisites. To get the most from the course, you should have a working knowledge of Windows Server and an understanding of core networking technologies such as IP addressing, DNS and DHCP. Some exposure to administering Windows client operating systems is helpful.

If you are newer to server administration, the Windows Server 2025 administration course is a good way to build the background first.

There is no paid Pearson VUE certification exam tied to this course. The current Microsoft credential for Active Directory is the Microsoft Applied Skills: Administer Active Directory Domain Services (APL-1008), which is a free, hands-on assessment taken online through Microsoft Learn. This course prepares you for that assessment by building the practical skills it tests.

The older MCSA path that the original Microsoft 10969 course belonged to was retired by Microsoft in 2021, so this course has been updated to the current Active Directory Domain Services skills. On finishing, you also receive a Logitrain Certificate of Attendance.

Digital course material covering Active Directory Domain Services on current Windows Server is included, and is yours to keep for revision.

• Describe Active Directory Domain Services forests, domains and trusts
• Deploy, manage and maintain AD DS domain controllers
• Manage the operations master (FSMO) roles and the global catalog
• Create and manage users, groups, computers and organisational units
• Perform bulk Active Directory management tasks with PowerShell
• Configure AD DS sites and manage replication
• Design, implement and troubleshoot Group Policy Objects, scope and inheritance
• Configure domain password policies and fine-grained password policies
• Manage user settings with administrative templates and folder redirection
• Delegate administrative permissions following least privilege
• Secure Active Directory with the Protected Users group, Credential Guard and by restricting NTLM
• Locate and remediate problematic accounts and audit authentication
• Deploy and manage certificates with Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS)
• Maintain, monitor, back up and restore Active Directory for business continuity

This course is likely to add to the employment-related skills of the participants. The skills developed are likely to be used in the course of being an employee or working in a business.

• System administrators and Windows Server administrators
• Active Directory and identity administrators
• Infrastructure and systems engineers
• Help desk and desktop support staff moving into server administration
• Network administrators who manage Windows environments
• Security analysts responsible for Active Directory security
• IT professionals preparing for the Administer Active Directory Domain Services credential
• Career changers building a foundation in Windows administration

Active Directory Domain Services and domain controllers

• Active Directory forests, domains, trees and trusts
• Deploying and cloning domain controllers
• Managing operations master (FSMO) roles and the global catalog
• Migrating a domain controller to a new site

Managing Active Directory objects

• Creating and managing users, groups and computers
• Designing and managing organisational units
• Managing object properties and delegation
• Bulk administration with PowerShell

Group Policy

• Introducing Group Policy and Group Policy Objects
• Group Policy scope, inheritance and processing
• Domain password policies and fine-grained password policies
• Administrative templates, folder redirection and Group Policy preferences
• Troubleshooting the application of GPOs

Sites and replication

• Overview of AD DS replication
• Configuring AD DS sites
• Configuring and monitoring replication

Securing Active Directory

• Securing domain controllers and implementing account security
• Protected Users group and Windows Defender Credential Guard
• Restricting NTLM authentication and configuring user account rights
• Locating problematic accounts and auditing authentication

Certificates and maintenance

• Deploying and managing Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS)
• Deploying, managing and revoking certificates
• Monitoring, backup, restore and business continuity for AD DS

• Windows Server 2025 administration course, the broader server administration companion to Active Directory.
• Microsoft Azure training courses, for cloud identity with Microsoft Entra ID, formerly Azure Active Directory.
• Browse the full range of Microsoft training courses to plan your pathway.
• For an IT support-focused career, the IT Support job ready program brings together training, certifications and placement support.

Got a team to train? Logitrain can deliver this Active Directory course in house at your premises anywhere in Australia, with experienced trainer, digital course material and hands-on labs as the public courses. It suits IT teams who want everyone trained together on Active Directory administration, on dates that suit the business, and we can tailor the delivery to your environment.

What is Active Directory?

Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) is Microsoft’s directory service for Windows networks. It stores information about users, groups, computers and other objects, and it handles authentication and authorisation across a domain. It is the identity backbone of most on-premises Windows environments.

Is there an Active Directory certification?

Yes. The current Microsoft credential is the Microsoft Applied Skills: Administer Active Directory Domain Services (APL-1008). It is a hands-on assessment taken online through Microsoft Learn. This course prepares you for it and also gives you a Logitrain Certificate of Attendance.

How much does the certification cost?

The Microsoft Applied Skills assessment is free to take through Microsoft Learn. What you pay for is the training that prepares you for it. The older paid MCSA path was retired by Microsoft in 2021.

Do I need experience before this course?

No formal prerequisites are required. A working knowledge of Windows Server and core networking such as IP addressing, DNS and DHCP will help you get the most from it.

Which Windows Server version does the course cover?

The course covers Active Directory Domain Services on current Windows Server, including Windows Server 2019, 2022 and 2025.

How long is the course?

Five days full-time, or five weeks part-time on weeknights or weekends.

Where can I attend?

In person in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, and live online across Australia, including Adelaide, Perth and Canberra, delivered live in real time with a trainer.

Is this on-premises Active Directory or Azure Active Directory?

This course covers on-premises Active Directory Domain Services. Azure Active Directory is now called Microsoft Entra ID and is covered in the Microsoft Azure courses.

How long does it take to learn Active Directory?

You can learn the core administration skills in a focused course of about a week, then build fluency through hands-on practice in a real environment, which the course lab access supports.

Is an Active Directory certification worth it?

For people working in or moving into Windows administration, Active Directory skills are consistently in demand, and a recognised credential plus hands-on ability is a practical way to stand out for system administrator and identity roles.

Is this course suitable for beginners?

Yes. It begins with Active Directory fundamentals and assumes no formal prerequisites, while still going deep enough for working administrators. Some general Windows and networking familiarity helps, but it is not required.