from nothing to MCSE - how long did it take you

Hello

Starting tward an MCSE and wondering what type of timeline I am looking at.

Obviously it will depend on study habits, job, family, time off...just curious how long it took you to do it - or if you are working on it how long you expect it to take...and how long for each test.

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Danman32

I started out with 2 W2K exams (W2K pro and server) to my credit from years ago, along with A+ and Network+. From there, I took the MCSA 2K exam April 24. Probably took me about 2 weeks to study. Upgraded to MCSA 2K3 May 3rd. Took the 2 remaining required exams for MCSE June 6th, 19th and 26th. The gap in May was for my attempt in Security+, which I then put on hold to take advantage of MS's retake promo, which I ended up not having to take advantage of after all.

So, I'd say it took me 3-4 months with constant study if you consider the early stuff several years ago. Phones at work were slow, so much of the time my nose was in a study book.

SWM

Hi

I took 2.5 months for all 7 exams to achieve MCSE. It would have taken me longer if not for the second shot offer. I sat 2 exam's alot sooner that expected but I wanted to try them before the offer expired. Thankfully I passed them. Good luck to you.

Olajuwon

I did my MCSE in 5 months.

agustinchernitsky

Well, my exam rate is 2 exams per month (each 15 days)... I'm on the 5th month and 2 exams to go... but I'll make it 3 for Messaging

LukeQuake

Do you all work as well? :S

I'd love to be able to take exams so quickly, but with working full time plus doing plenty overtime i'm often too tired when I get home.

It takes me a good month to read one of the MS books from cover to cover.

SWM

Yeh its tough. I work full time, wife two kids. I was a zombie around the house for a couple of months.

Do you all work as well? :S

agustinchernitsky

I work too,

Just trying to read at least a chapter per day of my study book...

Gabe7055

Took me about 8 months to do all of my MCSE.

sprkymrk

Gotcha all beat (so far). I got my MCP back in 1999 on NT4. Took a couple of exams in 2001 (70-210 and 70-215). Got my CCNA in 2003. Got my Sec+ a few weeks ago. Taking Net+ tomorrow, then on to 70-218 to finish up MCSA 2K, then 70-292 to finish up MCSA 2K3, and finally planning on 70-350 in Jan 07 to get the MCSA+Security designation on both tracks.

So let's see, that will be over 7 years and still no MCSE...

Obviously, I never got into the "Cert Race" but I do see their value and I look forward to completing this plan of action. Good luck to you!

SRTMCSE

From nothing I got...
A+, Dec. 03
Net+, Dec. 03
MCP, Feb. 04
Security+, sometime in Spring 04
MCSA, sometime in Summer 04
MCSE:Security Feb. 05
MCDST, Feb. 05

LukeQuake

SRTMCSE wrote:

From nothing I got...
A+, Dec. 03
Net+, Dec. 03
MCP, Feb. 04
Security+, sometime in Spring 04
MCSA, sometime in Summer 04
MCSE:Security Feb. 05
MCDST, Feb. 05

How many years working experiance?

billg

7 Weeks. I was working for a Microsoft Certified training company back in the 90s and they had a big contract to teach SQL Server Administration and Programming classes to a client. I knew SQL Server but in order to teach the MS certified classes you had to be an MCSE and also be certified in SQL Server. I had 7 weeks in order to take the Networking Essentials, NT Server, NT Workstation, NT Enterprise, SQL Server Admin and SQL Server programming exams. I studied day and night. Fortunately they freed up my schedule and I didn't have to teach in the meantime. So I got my MCSE in NT 4 in 7 Weeks.

LukeQuake

Jeeeeez........ nice

TeKniques

It took me almost 13 months to complete it.

iloco808

LukeQuake wrote:

SRTMCSE wrote:

From nothing I got...
A+, Dec. 03
Net+, Dec. 03
MCP, Feb. 04
Security+, sometime in Spring 04
MCSA, sometime in Summer 04
MCSE:Security Feb. 05
MCDST, Feb. 05

Question... why the heck would you want/need to get a MCDST after you accomplished a MCSE?
i don't understand at all

jpeezy55

iloco808 wrote:

LukeQuake wrote:

SRTMCSE wrote:

From nothing I got...
A+, Dec. 03
Net+, Dec. 03
MCP, Feb. 04
Security+, sometime in Spring 04
MCSA, sometime in Summer 04
MCSE:Security Feb. 05
MCDST, Feb. 05

Question... why the heck would you want/need to get a MCDST after you accomplished a MCSE?
i don't understand at all

I don't know, but I plan on getting MCDST after I get my MCSA...

rockstar81

A+ 2002
Network+ 2003
70-270 May 2005
70-290 July 2006

I am a bit of a slow coach compard to others but I am aiming for MCSE by end of 2006, 5 exams to go!

bighornsheep

rockstar81 wrote:

A+ 2002
Network+ 2003
70-270 May 2005
70-290 July 2006

I am a bit of a slow coach compard to others but I am aiming for MCSE by end of 2006, 5 exams to go!

How much of the gap between each cert/exam was studying? Did 70-290 take so long after 70-270 because of other committments? Or because it was a difficult exam?

rockstar81

I should have taken the 290 exam in sept 05 however I got side tracked and even thought about leaving IT as my job at that time was becoming very stressfull. IMO the microsoft exams can be passed 6 weeks each or less if you have the resources.

booboo2

I got the bug to Cert up in May. Since then have sat for both A+, Net +, and about to sit for 70-290 in next week or 2 tops and then 70-291 by September. Once Summer is over and kids back in school I plan to finish out by the end of the year for MCSE.