What cert path for me? (with a twist)

bar182

I have just been offered a new job where I get an increase of $1000 to my base pay upon successful completion of each exam towards MCTS Windows Server 2008, Server Administrator, MCITP Enterprise Administrator and Citrix Certified Administrator.

Current certs:

CCA: XenApp on Windows Sever 2008 ($1000 here)
MCTS: Vista Configuration 70-620
MCP: XP Configuration 70-270
MCP: Windows Server 2003 70-290

My question is what the hell should I do? haha I can do the 70-291 to get my MCSA then upgrade to 2008 but then I may miss out on the MCTS Server 2008 cert?

Any ideas?

Edit: Actually its $1000 for every exam in the MCITP track I dont have. I have Vista which means 5 left. Would they pay if I did MCSA then upgrade to MCITP would iot be quicker?

stephens316

Finish MCSA > Upgrade to MCITP it is the easiest and saves you half of what you will make $1000,

MCTS 70-680
MCITP 70-647
MCITP 70-648

steve13ad

Since you need five independent exams (EA + SA), I'd start at the bottom (640) and work my way up. If you get 1k per exam that's an extra 5k.

Stephens316's solution is the quickest but for your situation, it's not the most profitable, only +3k.

I'd try and go back to get the 70-291 just so you have your MCSA.

stephens316

Maybe I mis read this earlier but I took it as they were going to increase you base pay only $1000 for example if you make like 37k you would then make 38k after passing.

I have not heard of a company paying 1k for each cert but then you would want to prolong this certification track the best you can heck if thats the case you can make about 10k thats what I would do. What is this company out of curiosity?

mikedisd2

Definitely get the 70-291. The info is indespensible for AD sys admin work and an MCSA is a nice tidy up on your resume.
Also 291 isn't that hard nowadays.

bar182

Hi guys thanks for the replies

I have clarified what happens so to answer the questions this is what happens:

Steve13ad is right I get $1k added to my annual base pay for EVERY exam I get on on the MCITP:EA track (Excluding the ones I already have, only 70-620)

70-620 X
70-640 +$1k
70-642 +$1k
70-643 +$1k
70-646 +$1k
70-647 +$1k

I will be a consultant at an IT company looking after medium sized enterprises that do not have their own internal IT departments

I think the best thing for me to do is start the MCITP:EA track from scratch and once finished just go back and finish the 70-291 for MCSA (Will probably not carry on to complete MCSE).

Thoughts?