Looking for advice regarding my future certification path

Hektik1n

I currently have completed:
70-270
70-290
70-291
70-293 Work in progress

Need one more to complete my MCSA. I was thinking of completing my MCSE and jumped right into studying 70-293 while the previous exam was still fresh in my memory. Once I complete my 70-293 im going to take the 70-351 which counts as an MCSE course and counts as a completion of my MCSA.

Recently I’ve been having 2nd thoughts about getting my MCSE. I think by the time I get finished with the MCSE it will be close to the end of this year, early next year. I mean I always wanted to get the MCSE, but as more time goes on and the more time I invest I feel like im working backwords, as technology is moving forward, I should be working on the newer exams like the server 08. Maybe I should drop the 70-293 and just complete my MCSA , and possibly work on the newer certifications Microsoft offers for Server 08 ?

I guess my main goal is to obtain certification along with experience for a job role that’s valuable and pays top dollar. Even if it’s a combination of Certs, MCSA / E, Cicso, Security… etc etc… Trying to save A LOT of time, and money by doing it right. I need some advice putting together a goal to work towards with the above pre requisites in mind.

Any suggestions would be great !

Thanks

jbrown414

I would say go ahead and stick with the MCSE. You've done quite a bit on it already, why quit? I was in the same boat as you, well, kind of. I started the MCDBA not really knowing about the new certs Microsoft put out. I am halfway through with my MCDBA and I would feel like a quiter if I just stopped and picked up the 2005 stuff. It's good to know the older technology. It will be awhile before companies start using the 2008 stuff. Most of the 2008 stuff is going to be on vista, so I have heard, could be wrong. It seems that a lot of people are trying to stay away from vista. I think server 2003 will be around longer than you think.

networker050184

I'd say stick with it also. Server 2003 and XP are not going away in the near future.

You can always build on the knowledge you gain from the MCSE, you do not have to stop there.

HeroPsycho

As much as I like what Microsoft is doing with the new certs, the reality is no one knows what MCTS, and MCITP are yet. So I would encourage you to get MCSE to validate your Microsoft skills.

Whether you go for MCITP after that or not is up to you. I have a friend who is an NT4 MCSE, and as far as some potential employers go, since he's not a Microsoft specialist (he does storage), that version of MCSE validates his general Windows knowledge as well as MCSE 2000 or 2003 would in storage related jobs.

Also, keep in mind that the true top dollar jobs are usually not "jack of all trades" jobs, but specialists. CCNA and MCSE are good certs to get midrange level IT jobs, but at some point, you'll need to develop a specialized technology skill. In other words, don't get MCSA/MCSE, then CCNA, then Security+. Instead, get the core tech certs like an MCSE or CCNA, and start gearing up from there into your speciality, and get the higher end certs related to those areas. If you're gonna go Cisco, gear up for CCNP and CCIE, or if you're Microsoft, go for MCITP and the new Master cert, or if you're wanting to go into security, get CISSP, CEH, etc.

undomiel

Why not finish out your MCSE and then push through for the upgrade to MCITP:EA? That way you have a high profile certification for your resume and also you'll be ready for when 2008 starts coming into high profile. It is still going to be a few years before that happens so that MCSE is still worthwhile, as others have already mentioned.

Hektik1n

HeroPsycho wrote:

As much as I like what Microsoft is doing with the new certs, the reality is no one knows what MCTS, and MCITP are yet. So I would encourage you to get MCSE to validate your Microsoft skills.

Whether you go for MCITP after that or not is up to you. I have a friend who is an NT4 MCSE, and as far as some potential employers go, since he's not a Microsoft specialist (he does storage), that version of MCSE validates his general Windows knowledge as well as MCSE 2000 or 2003 would in storage related jobs.

Also, keep in mind that the true top dollar jobs are usually not "jack of all trades" jobs, but specialists. CCNA and MCSE are good certs to get midrange level IT jobs, but at some point, you'll need to develop a specialized technology skill. In other words, don't get MCSA/MCSE, then CCNA, then Security+. Instead, get the core tech certs like an MCSE or CCNA, and start gearing up from there into your speciality, and get the higher end certs related to those areas. If you're gonna go Cisco, gear up for CCNP and CCIE, or if you're Microsoft, go for MCITP and the new Master cert, or if you're wanting to go into security, get CISSP, CEH, etc.

Not sure if i understand the full workings of the MCITP. I looked at it in Microsofts website, but again even the MCITP branches into multiple sections.

• IT Professional: Business Intelligence Developer
• IT Professional: Consumer Support Technician
• IT Professional: Database Developer
• IT Professional: Database Administrator
• IT Professional: Enterprise Messaging Administrator
• IT Professional: Enterprise Project Management with Microsoft Office Project Server 2007
• IT Professional: Enterprise Support Technician
• IT Professional: Enterprise Administrator
• IT Professional: Server Administrator

If one has the MCSE or MCSA which course of certs would one follow from the above ?

For example, If i choose the IT Pro. Enterprise Admin. Thats like an MCSE / MCSE but with the newer exams for the Server 2008 / Visa exams. So to me that is working on a new set of exams geared towards the 2008 server OS, instead of working on my current MCSE i could just do the MCITP which seems to me like its the newer version of the MCSA / MCSE with alittle more focus ?

Thanks for the advice, All !

dynamik

You'd go on to Server and/or Enterprise Administrator from an MCSA/E.