Do Microsoft Certs Suck?

I know I am going to get flamed for this...

I don’t mean to offend anyone who has worked hard on there micorsoft certs either.

I just recently earned my CCNA. I liked the curriculum and material that I used to study for the certification. I enrolled in the Cisco Networking Academy and I really liked the class because it seemed like the networking fundamentals that you learn are universal in today’s computing environment. Virtually everyone uses TCP/IP.

But the MS certs are so proprietary. Do you really learn in depth material that is applicable to computing in general?<-- And I am seriously asking this b/c I don’t really know.

To me Microsoft seems a little Big Brother-ish. Also I don’t know that I would put so much investment into a software suite that could easily become obsolete? I know MS is a power house in business computing environment, but their certs seem to suck the general theory out of Computer Science b/c is it so proprietary. And who knows where they will be in 10-15 years.

I picked up the sybex book for the 70-270 exam, b/c I used one of the sybex books to help me prep for the 640-801. But I don’t find it as nearly as interesting. Should I just keep reading?

I want a career in computer science that will last for the rest of my life, not for the next couple of years.

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Comments

bighornsheep

ajs1976 wrote:

Grigsby wrote:

For my CCNA I think I learned a lot of fundamentals of networking that I did not know before. There is a lot of proprietary stuff in there as well, but you also learn standards that everyone has to adhere to. Do you gain the same benefit from MS certs? I hope so, b/c it will probably be the mose lucractive and logical way to go.

Back in the day (NT 4.0 MCSE and earlier), there was an exam called Network Essentials that was part of the MCSE core exams. When the Network+ came out and picked up steam, MS removed the Network Essentials exam from the new exam track (Windows 2000). It is assumed that before you start the MCSE that you will have some networking background. I'm assuming that is why the A+ and Network+ combo counts as an elective.

A+ & Network+ doesnt count as an elective for MCSE...only for MCSA

sir_creamy_

Sure do.

Danman32

From http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcse/windows2003/

As an alternative to the electives that are listed in the Electives Table, these third-party certifications may be substituted for an MCSE elective:

Certifications:
CompTIA Security+
Unisys UN0-101: Implementing and Supporting Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Solutions in the Data Center

Not even A+/Server+ listed here, as it is under MCSA.

Slowhand

Speaking as a brand-spankin'-new MCSA, I can tell you that Microsoft certifications absolutely don't suck. I finished my last test today, about two hours ago. I feel slightly violated, a little cold and used, but there was absolutely no sucking, whatsoever. . .

(And now. . . a head start on Martini Monday.)