Western Governors University Questions and Answers / Threads related to WGU

bhoops

Should I get all the IT certs before joining WGU? Is there a disadvantage to this? I don't mind paying a little more for the certs, if I can take the certs at my own pace. I was thinking of just plugging away at 16 proctored tech exams, and then transfer them when joining WGU. That way, I do not have to deal with WGU until later.

Bundiman

what you pay to take all of those exams would most likely cover 1 term at WGU. If you just attend WGU it part of your tuition.

TheChameleon

The MCITP is not going away. They have a note about most exams retiring but when you look at the list of those exams that will be retiring, none of the MCITP exams are on the list for 07/2014.

Only this exam is being retired which is not required for the MCITP:

70-682: Pro: Upgrading to Windows 7 MCITP Enterprise Desktop Support Technician

DoubleNNs wrote: »

You can't get the MCITP anymore. Only the MCSA.

I think what you get next depends on which emphasis you plan to take. Just remember, you need to fulfill at least 30 credits w/ WGU. And any cert/class you'd be able to bang out relatively quickly would be a waste to get before enrolling. Anything you'd be able to finish quickly, wait until you start WGU and have them pay for it.

Once you enroll, you can't transfer more credits in.

Nemowolf

Bundiman wrote: »

what you pay to take all of those exams would most likely cover 1 term at WGU. If you just attend WGU it part of your tuition.

I think the argument would be that someone could take the X number of tests on their own time without needing to make sure they completed 4 per term. If they want to take 4 per year on their own, then they have the flexibility to do it without putting themselves on academic probation for not being able to complete courses on time.

TheChameleon

This only makes sense if it is actually possible to get all of those certs in 1 term. For those that already have some experience and don't necessarily need the course work, to me it makes sense to get the certs. Getting the certs is NOT an easy thing on its own so lets not oversimplify.

I would go nuts if I was forced to get all those certs by a given date and have all my work stress and unpredictable issues and projects I have. I would love to start WGU today but for me I have too much going on and prefer to get through a few more certs so the deck isn't stacked against me.

Bundiman wrote: »

what you pay to take all of those exams would most likely cover 1 term at WGU. If you just attend WGU it part of your tuition.

Danielm7

Also consider financial aid, you may or may not qualify for grants and such. People should always apply for that first before they try to figure out if it's worth paying out of pocket for certs or not.

Nemowolf

At an average cost of 150 per cert, that would be 20 certs. I think thats more than the program actually offers.

DoubleNNs

Nemowolf wrote: »

At an average cost of 150 per cert, that would be 20 certs. I think thats more than the program actually offers.

I'm confused. What do you mean?

Nemowolf

DoubleNNs wrote: »

I'm confused. What do you mean?

150/cert * 20 cert tests = 3k = tuition of one term at WGU roughly.

IT Track = 15 certs
Net Admin Track = 8 Certs
Net Design Track = 9 Certs
Security Track = 13
Software Track = 13
Software Dev Track = 7
Informatics Track = 6
Bus Mgmt = 4

Haunt

I've been on term break and am scheduled to return to WGU June 1st. I noticed they made program changes like adding general ed courses like Biology and Physics. I'm thinking about changing to the Network Admin track from the Network Design track when I return June 1st.

When I first started, I got all of the general ed courses waived because I already have an Associates degree, however I have not taken any bio or physics courses through out my years in college and am worried that I if I do switch the Network Admin track, that I'll be subject to the new changes and will have to take those new Bio and Physics classes. Or will my Associates waive those as well?

Matavi

If you have an Associates I highly doubt even with a course change that they'll make you do any kind of general education class. It's my understanding that with an Associates they don't even look at what class you took for the degree, they just stamp all the Gen Ed as RS.

iBrokeIT

Wow so much BS going around here...

DoubleNNs wrote: »

You can't get the MCITP anymore. Only the MCSA.

"Most MCITP certifications will be retired by July 31, 2014." It was originally set to expire in July 2013, then January 2014 and now its July 2014... probably going to get extended again. Microsoft is trying to nudge people into 2012 using that method.

TheChameleon wrote: »

What? Can you elaborate on this. What courses does it eliminate? Isn't the MCITP like three exams?

Um no, its more than three exams.. Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP)

Seriously guys look at Microsoft site!

The MCITP:EA transferred into WGU:
AJV1 - 6
EAV1 - 4
EBV1 - 4
DVH1 - 3
CRV1 - 4
ABV1 - 6
AHV1 - 6
AIV1 - 6

---

Total 39, sorry was 1 off

This was transferred in for the BS IT-Net Admin track start date of June 1st 2014

DoubleNNs

TheChameleon wrote: »

The MCITP is not going away.

iBrokeIT wrote: »

"Most MCITP certifications will be retired by July 31, 2014." It was originally set to expire in July 2013, then January 2014 and now its July 2014... probably going to get extended again. Microsoft is trying to nudge people into 2012 using that method.

I was wrong. I guess I need to do better keeping up with all the changes w/ Microsoft Exams.

Funny thing is that I lost interest in the MS exams when they started announcing they were going to be retiring the MCITP - if they hadn't said that, I probably would have been halfway thru it by now. I have the study materials and read thru 1 of the books already.

DoubleNNs

Nemowolf wrote: »

150/cert * 20 cert tests = 3k = tuition of one term at WGU roughly.

IT Track = 15 certs
Net Admin Track = 8 Certs
Net Design Track = 9 Certs
Security Track = 13
Software Track = 13
Software Dev Track = 7
Informatics Track = 6
Bus Mgmt = 4

I think it would be pretty hard for an individual to pass 20 cert tests in a single term however.

Haunt

DoubleNNs wrote: »

I was wrong. I guess I need to do better keeping up with all the changes w/ Microsoft Exams.

Funny thing is that I lost interest in the MS exams when they started announcing they were going to be retiring the MCITP - if they hadn't said that, I probably would have been halfway thru it by now. I have the study materials and read thru 1 of the books already.

I actually just finished chatting with a Microsoft rep over at the Certification website and asked him about all the changes and he let me know that the MCITP: Enterprise Administrator certification has been removed from the expiration list and as of now has no set retirement date. Same goes with the MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Admin on Windows 7/Enterprise Desktop Support Technician on Windows 7.

He did say though that the MCITP: Server Administrator will remain retired but that the MCSA: Server 2008 certification is still valid in its place.

Qord

Matavi wrote: »

If you have an Associates I highly doubt even with a course change that they'll make you do any kind of general education class. It's my understanding that with an Associates they don't even look at what class you took for the degree, they just stamp all the Gen Ed as RS.

This is what happened for me. I walked in with an AS in Business and all my gen-eds were waived. That brought in 53 credits. Unfortunately, my non-degree classes (web dev, management, technical writing) and expired CCNA didn't get me anything.

Haunt wrote: »

I actually just finished chatting with a Microsoft rep ... MCITP: Enterprise Administrator certification has been removed from the expiration list and as of now has no set retirement date.

It's unfortunate that this title has led to so much confusion, and it's still not quite clear on the website. The learning page still says:

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en-us/mcitp-certification.aspx wrote:

Most MCITP certifications will be retired by July 31, 2014

Even though there's no other (obvious) details about it. A lot of people also don't realize that MCITP=MCSA, so they give up on the cert altogether thinking it's something different. Would have been so much easier if M$ just kept the MCITP title for 2008, and brought back the MCSA for 2012.

iBrokeIT

Qord wrote: »

Even though there's no other (obvious) details about it. A lot of people also don't realize that MCITP=MCSA, so they give up on the cert altogether thinking it's something different. Would have been so much easier if M$ just kept the MCITP title for 2008, and brought back the MCSA for 2012.

I think you may be confused because there is no certification called just "MCITP" and the MCSA 2012 does exist.

The MCITP:EA is the higher level meta certification for Windows Server 2008 and is equivalent to the MCSE for Windows Server 2003 and 2012.

The MCSA DOES exists at all level of Windows Server including 2003, 2008 and 2012. MCSA 2012 straight from the Microsoft website: MCSA: Windows Server | Microsoft

Here's a little background on the name changes: by far the most popular certification level for Windows Server NT, 2000 and 2003 was the MCSE which stood for Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer and followed by the MCSA which stood for Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator.

Many countries and institutions had issues with Microsoft issuing a professional level credential with the term "Certified Engineer" that did not follow a traditional level of engineering curriculum like a Civil or Electrical Engineer would complete. Due to those reasons they changed the MCSE level certification for Windows Server 2008 to MCITP:EA (Microsoft Certified IT Professional - Enterprise Administrator) and the MCSA certification for for Windows Server 2008 to MCITP:SA (Microsoft Certified IT Professional - Server Administrator).

Unfortunately those acronyms are ridiculous to say out loud in an interview and never took hold with the HR types who still asked for a MCSE even though it no longer existed. Due to those reasons they went back to the popular MCSE/MCSA acronyms except now they stand for Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate and Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert.

So to review the levels:
MCSA 2003 = MCITP:SA(retired) / MCSA 2008 = MCSA 2012
MCSE 2003 = MCITP:EA = MCSE 2012

Qord

iBrokeIT wrote: »

I think you may be confused because there is no certification called just "MCITP" and the MCSA 2012 does exist.

While I do appreciate your thorough explanation, you're talking to the wrong guy. I am in no way confused, but it is obvious that I should have worded that different since you misunderstood my point. Most folks here at TE that have any interest in M$ Server certs, myself included, are well aware of the details about the certification changes over the past few years.

The issue at hand is that M$ retired the MCITP SA cert title, but did not retire the 3 exams that get it or the MCITP EA 2008 title. At one time, they did say both the SA and EA titles were being retired, and replace by the MCSA/E and have since changed their minds by keeping the MCITP EA. By using both the MCSA/E AND MCITP EA certification titles for 2008, but not using the MCITP SA title anymore is what causes the most confusion for folks new to this stuff. These things used to be explained fairly well on the M$ Learning pages, but that content has long since been removed.

iBrokeIT

Qord wrote: »

While I do appreciate your thorough explanation, you're talking to the wrong guy. ... By using both the MCSA/E AND MCITP EA certification titles for 2008

You are still consfused and wrong apparently. There is no MCSE title for Windows Server 2008, only MCITP:EA

Qord wrote: »

The issue at hand is that M$ retired the MCITP SA cert title, but did not retire the 3 exams that get it

They didn't retire those exams because the MCITP:SA level title was replaced by the MCSA 2008 level title. Same level, same requirements, different cert title is all. If they did retire those three exams then there would be no way to complete and Windows Server 2008 level exams and achieve the MCSA 2008 and the MCITP:EA. Windows Server 2008 is still wildly popular and nowhere near end of life cycle.



I do think they should have replaced the MCITP:EA with the MCSE for Windows Server 2008 to be consistent but THEY DID NOT DO THAT.

I know all of this because I went through the process last summer of upgrading my MCSA 2003 to the MCSA 2008 which replaced the MCITP:SA but had the same requirements. I then took the two additional exams to get the MCITP:EA for Windows Server 2008.

Qord

iBrokeIT wrote: »

You are still consfused and wrong apparently.

Gotcha. Thanks for the clarification, no E only A.

josephandre

Hi guys,

Awesome thread and very informative. I'm currently two classes shy of an associates from UMUC, but my full intentions are to complete a BS with WGU.

My question is would it be better to just go ahead and finish the Associates before transferring? is there any more benefit to transferring an actual degree over the equivalent amount of credits?

Full disclosure: I've been in this position for over a year now and only just had the opportunity to resume school. It's not as if I'm stopping and saying hmm maybe I'll just transfer now even though I'm so close. I've already stopped going to school and I'm just now resuming. Just trying to figure the best course of action.

Thanks

ratbuddy

I think if you have any AS or AA, WGU waives all your general education stuff. If you don't finish before transfer, they might do it class by class and give you less CU.

Bossk

I have 2 AAS degrees, all gen-ed except humanities transferred in.

m7945

I begin my WGU journey on June 1st. One of my requirements is to take both A+ exams, has anyone completed these exams before your start date without transferring them in originally? If so did you encounter any problems?

ratbuddy

You start in less than a month, why not let WGU pay for the exams?

Danielm7

m7945 wrote: »

I begin my WGU journey on June 1st. One of my requirements is to take both A+ exams, has anyone completed these exams before your start date without transferring them in originally? If so did you encounter any problems?

You are scheduled to start, which means you can't transfer anything else in. You'd likely screw yourself if you tried to take an extra cert now. Just study for them and then as soon as your term starts just take those classes first and knock them out quickly.

TheChameleon

Confused about this? How are there 20 cert tests?

If I take the Network Design and Management, there are 9 certs? Where do the extra 11 come from?

150/cert * 9 = $1350. That is less than half of $3k.

So far I've done 3 of 9 and not sure the MTA certs are required if you have Network+ and A+. I've also done two other certs not on the WGU list.

Nemowolf wrote: »

150/cert * 20 cert tests = 3k = tuition of one term at WGU roughly.

IT Track = 15 certs
Net Admin Track = 8 Certs
Net Design Track = 9 Certs
Security Track = 13
Software Track = 13
Software Dev Track = 7
Informatics Track = 6
Bus Mgmt = 4

ratbuddy

You really can't just say 'cert = $150.' Many cost much more, and I don't know of many that cost less, except the MTAs. My first term, I took A+ ($178+$178=) $356, Network+ $260, Security+ $283, two MTA $70 each, and a CIW or two, which are the only ones that actually cost $150.

The MTAs are pretty much worthless, and are a total waste of money to earn on your own. Those are a no-brainer to skip, or let WGU pay for. That leaves only exams costing $150 or higher. The only way a CIW exam is worth $150 is if you are a very slow learner and would take more than a week or two to study the material with WGU. WGU includes the study materials and practice tests, stuff that isn't widely available for CIW certs. Comptia, well, I got $900 worth, and that's at the getcertify4less prices. Also got those study materials and practice exams included, probably worth another few hundred bucks.

As you can see, the cert costs vary wildly. I'm not sure how much Cisco or 'real' MS certs costs, but they can't be cheap. It's really not fair to arbitrarily select $150 as the cost of a cert, and complain if WGU tuition costs more than $150*certs completed in a term. WGU is about more than just certs. In any conceivable case, if you're planning on attending WGU, you are better off studying for the certs ahead of time, then enrolling and knocking them out very quickly. You're going to pay the tuition anyway, and you're going to get the certs anyway, so why would you pay to take them ahead of time, unless you aren't confident you can retain the knowledge?

Oh, and if you qualify for Pell, all bets are off, you are, in all cases, no ifs ands or buts, better off taking the certs with WGU vouchers.

Haunt

Does anyone have any insight on what's going on with the changes to the Network Admin track IT program at WGU?

I know that they got rid of the Cisco CCNA classes, but I saw something in an e-mail from my mentor about them adding a Linux course to it in June? I've e-mailed him for clarification but wanted to know what else you guys have been told.

I'm currently on the Network Design track, but I've thought about switching to the Network Admin track before because you can get the MCSA: Server 2008 with only 3 classes, but was not interested in taking the Cisco classes for the CCNA, but now that they got rid of the Cisco classes, I'm thinking it's a no brainer to switch over. But now I'm hearing this talk about them adding a Linux class to it or something....

Matavi

@Haunt: I don't know anything specific about that track in particular, but it appears like they updated all the PDF's on their website for all the tracks. Scanning through that I don't see any Linux or CCNA courses, but again, I'm not familiar with that track and can't verify that it was updated like the others.

Also, if anyone else is interested, they finally uploaded the PDF for the new Software Development track. It looks like they took all the CIW/MTAs, and the CompTIA A+, in the IT-Software track and swapped them out for in house exams, then added a few mobile app focused courses and the Oracle Certified Professional instead of the Perl.