MCSA Exam substitution question

According to MS you can substitute Exam 346: Managing Office 365 Identities and Requirements, Exam 409: Server Virtualization with Windows Server Hyper-V and System Center, or Exam 462: Administering Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Databases, for Exam 412. Do most cert seekers obtain the MCSA using the standard template 410,411, & 412? I eventually want to obtain the MCSE:Server Infrastructure. Would I miss out on important information needed for the MCSE exams if I decided to swap 409 for 412?

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pjd007

IMO if you've already got 409 then don't bother with the exam as in the end all that employers will see is either MCSA or MCSE they won't look at how you achieved it and then you could cover the 412 material when you have some spare time.

nster

I'm personally going for the 462 so that I can have intermediate knowledge on administering SQL, which opens up more possibilities. Also if I ever start liking SQL more, getting an MCSA: SQL is one exam away afterwards.

I'm also going to eventually go for a VCP so I figured in terms of certifications, it'll show that I know something about Virtualization, and I'll learn Hyper-V and SCCM on my own without certifying that knowledge

auxiliarypriest

I don't have any MS exams completed, yet. If I did, I wouldn't care. I would just continue on to get the MCSA, but since I don't have any completed I was just curious.

auxiliarypriest

nster wrote: »

I'm personally going for the 462 so that I can have intermediate knowledge on administering SQL, which opens up more possibilities. Also if I ever start liking SQL more, getting an MCSA: SQL is one exam away afterwards.

I'm also going to eventually go for a VCP so I figured in terms of certifications, it'll show that I know something about Virtualization, and I'll learn Hyper-V and SCCM on my own without certifying that knowledge

Good point, I'm also considering going for my VCP next year.

alan2308

Which MCSE are you looking at? If you're thinking MCSE: Server Infrastructure, you may be a little behind the ball my not doing the 412. But for any other MCSE, you probably won't miss it at all. But either way, I doubt it'll take long to catch up on the pieces you missed.

netsysllc

The 70-409 is an easier exam, I dont think you will miss too much by doing it though as the 410,411 and 412 all overlap in some areas. The 413 and 414 for the MCSE will fill you in.

nascar_paul

pjd007 wrote: »

IMO if you've already got 409 then don't bother with the exam as in the end all that employers will see is either MCSA or MCSE they won't look at how you achieved it and then you could cover the 412 material when you have some spare time.

I initially thought the same thing, but that's not exactly true. Looks like passing the 70-409 earns you an MCITP: Virtualization Administrator all by itself! So that's MCSA: Server 2012 AND MCITP: Virtualization Administrator by doing the 70-410, 411 and 409!

PJ_Sneakers

No, 409 by itself is only a Specialist certification. Whatever that is.