70-620 Officially = MCP and MCTS or just MCTS

kctxau

This question has been beat to death. A search on several forums never indicates a clear answer, mostly just speculation. Some exams clearly identify you as an MCP with authorization to display the MCP credential. Others only the MCTS credential. Does the 620 entitle you to the MCP with authorization to display the MCP credential and the MCTS or just the MCTS? I realize that passing any exam qualifies you as an MCP, but does the 620 officially make you a Microsoft MCP with a MCP certificate, or only the MCTS. Please do not post links that indicate it is explained there. Myself and apparently many others have yet to find/follow a link that has had a clear answer with no room for speculation. As often as this type of question comes up, and as professional as MS is, one would think this would be explained in a clear and concise manner.
Thank-you, very much for your time and your help.

darkerosxx

The page at:

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/exams/70-620.aspx

States:

Credit Toward CertificationWhen you pass Exam 70-620: TS: Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client, you complete the requirements for the following certification(s):

* Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): Windows Vista, Configuration

dynamik

My understanding is that you need to take an older exam.

JDMurray

There is ambiguity on Microsoft's Web site if passing an MCTS exam will grant MCP status. There is nothing about this issue on the MCTS FAQ page, although the MCTS is part of the MCP program, and the URL does imply that the MCTS is a subset of the MCP (microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcts/default.mspx). However, the MCP Requirements page (which hasn't been updated in nearly a year) does not mention the MCTS exams.

My guess is that getting an MCTS cert will confer MCP status, but perhaps just passing a single MCTS exam will not.

ULWiz

I have asked this question before as well

Microsoft sites states that if you pass any current Microsoft Exam you are giving MCP status. The 620 is a current exam from one of the tracks. You get a MCP ID number and also MCTS status. So in my you do get MCP status here is where i pulled my info from..

MCP Certification Requirements
Updated: November 21, 2007

Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) candidates are required to pass one current Microsoft Certification exam* that provides a valid and reliable measure of technical proficiency and expertise.

MCP exams are developed with the input of professionals in the industry; the exams reflect how Microsoft products are used in organizations throughout the world. The exams are administered by Prometric, an independent testing organization with locations worldwide.

• Visit the Prometric Web site (prometric.com)


Exam requirements
Please select a Microsoft exam from any certification track here. If you intend to continue pursuing a certification track after earning your MCP credential, you may want to choose an exam that will apply to that track.

• Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator (MCSA) on Microsoft Windows 2000
• MCSA: Security on Microsoft Windows 2000
• MCSA on Windows Server 2003
• Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE) on Microsoft Windows 2000
• MCSE: Security on Microsoft Windows 2000
• MCSE on Windows Server 2003
• Microsoft Certified Database Administrator (MCDBA) on Microsoft SQL Server 2000
• Microsoft Certified Application Developer (MCAD) on Microsoft .NET
• Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD) on Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0
• MCSD on Microsoft .NET
• Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST) on Windows XP


*A current exam is any exam that has not been retired.

HeroPsycho

Here's the deal. You get MCP status, but you do not get the MCP certification. There's a post about this on Trika's blog.

http://blogs.msdn.com/trika/archive/2008/01/09/so-an-mcp-and-an-mcts-walk-in-to-a-bar.aspx

So, if you want the official MCP certification, you need to take an older exam.

darkerosxx

Why would you want a generic certification anyways? Passing that exam gets you one certification and one only.

kctxau

Many electronic resume scanners look for MCP more than they do MCTS etc. Many of the employers ask if you have an MCP certification. That will change as the industry/employers accept the newer exam terms/certifications. I will probably be retired by the time that happens.
As for "Passing that exam gets you one certification and one only" isn't that true with most/all of them?

darkerosxx

I gotcha. If they ask if you have an MCP certification and you have any microsoft cert, I'd answer them "Yes, I have a certification in X."

From my understanding, nowadays anybody with a microsoft certification is considered a microsoft certified professional just because that's the name of their program. However, I believe they've phased out calling certain certifications MCP tracks.