Confused about all the Microsoft certifications

feng.lian

Hi, I just finished studying for Cisco's CCNA and I'm going for the ICND2 exam today. With Cisco, everything seems pretty clear. There are several path and most path start up with the CCENT and end up with the CCIE. With Microsoft, it doesn't seem to be very clear. I was wondering if you can provide me a link to read on all those certifications for someone who is new.

Examples of stuff I'm confused with are for example, you get a MCITP if you pass several exams, but there seems to be a lots of MCITP like MCITP Enterprise Admin, Server Admin, Enterprise Desktop Admin 7, etc. Which path makes you a MCITP exactly? Also, what are MCTS? Like those only seem to require one exam some of which also happen to be the exams required for MCITP.

Mojo_666

feng.lian wrote: »

Hi, I just finished studying for Cisco's CCNA and I'm going for the ICND2 exam today. With Cisco, everything seems pretty clear. There are several path and most path start up with the CCENT and end up with the CCIE. With Microsoft, it doesn't seem to be very clear. I was wondering if you can provide me a link to read on all those certifications for someone who is new.

Examples of stuff I'm confused with are for example, you get a MCITP if you pass several exams, but there seems to be a lots of MCITP like MCITP Enterprise Admin, Server Admin, Enterprise Desktop Admin 7, etc. Which path makes you a MCITP exactly? Also, what are MCTS? Like those only seem to require one exam some of which also happen to be the exams required for MCITP.

They are all MCITP which is why MCITP is followed by something else (which indicates the exact MCITP track you followed)

MCITP Enterprise Desktop Admin
MCITP Server Administrator
MCITP Enterprise Administrator
MCITP Enterprise Messaging ....

Make sense?

It is basically saying you are and Microsoft Certified IT Proffesional in >whatever it is you did it in<

earweed

You get the MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technical Specialist) for every one of the newer exams. You have a particular path to take to get your MCITP which requires a certain number of the particular MCTS's and a final exam. Example for the MCITP:EA you take the 70-640, 642, 643 and the final is the 70-647.
Here's the link to the MS MCITP page MCITP (Microsoft Certified IT Professional) | Training Courses for IT Professionals

Devilsbane

There are also older exams, that earn you the MCP (Microsoft Certified Professional). The easy way to roughly tell whether the exam is in the old series or the new is to see what it is testing you on. Things like windows xp, server2003, ect. are the old path. Windows Vista, 7, and server2008 will lead to certifications on the new path. Of course you can always look this up to tell for sure.

The first step is decided what you want to do, and then decide which tests you are going to need. It sounds like you want the server admin route, so you would be interested in MCAS, MCSE (both on XP/2003) where passing any of the tests will get you an MCP or the MCITP:SA, MCITP:EA (7/200 where passing any of the tests will get you a MCTS.

feng.lian

Okay thanks. I guess the MCSE/MCSA are still quite valuable because lots of enterprises has not upgraded to Windows Server 2008 or Windows 7 yet right? I was thinking only getting the 7/2008 ones, but looking at the number of posts, there are more on this board than the MCITP board.

Oh and I didn't know that an 8 followed by a ) emoticon is actually a smiley face with sunglasses. Always thought it was a smiley face with creepy enormous eyes.

Devilsbane

feng.lian wrote: »

Okay thanks. I guess the MCSE/MCSA are still quite valuable because lots of enterprises has not upgraded to Windows Server 2008 or Windows 7 yet right? I was thinking only getting the 7/2008 ones, but looking at the number of posts, there are more on this board than the MCITP board.

Oh and I didn't know that an 8 followed by a ) emoticon is actually a smiley face with sunglasses. Always thought it was a smiley face with creepy enormous eyes.

One thing to consider is that the MCSA/MCSE boards are older than the MCITP boards, so of course they have more posts. I'm a strong believer in the MCSA/MCSE path. Most companies use server 2003 as their bread and butter. They are starting to implement 2008 into their networks but I think it will be some years before an organization is ready to go full 2008. And even when they do, the MCSE will provide 90-95% of the skills necessary.

MCSE usually carries more weight than an MCITP:EA right now. Many people belive that HR departments are unfamiliar with this new certification. Some will list MCITP:EA on their resume with the side note of (2008 equivalent to MCSE).

I don't think either route will steer you wrong. As long as you are serious and are committed to taking all of the tests.

earweed

Yeah the MCSE has been around longer plus as you stated a lot of places are still running Server 2003. The 2003 MCSA/MCSE will be around for a while still but the MCSE takes a while to obtain so if you want to go that route it'd be a good diea to get started.
Windows 7 can also count as the client exam for the MCSE track.

Devilsbane

earweed wrote: »

Windows 7 can also count as the client exam for the MCSE track.

Or the elective if you are positive you want the 70-270. Using either of these methods means you can boast windows 7 knowledge, and kill 2 birds in 1 stone since the windows 7 exam is also part of the MCITP path.

feng.lian

I'm going to start studying for Windows 7 70-680. Then, I'll use that time to decide whether I want a MCSE or MCITP. I have done a quick job search and it looks like I'll probably go for the MCSE. Boy, lots of exams to take.

I hope Microsoft exams are less hard than Cisco exams. Its not that I found Cisco exams particularly hard, but that's because I took those exam with almost certainty that I'll pass by taking more time to study. I used 1 month for each Cisco exam. I hope I'll maybe only use 3 weeks for Microsoft ones.

earweed

3-4 weeks is a good goal if you have time to study. The MCSE exams are pretty hard from what I've heard. Make sure you set up a good virtual lab and lab a lot. I personally went the MCITP:EA route and I'm finding 4-5 weeks per exam to be sufficient but I have a wife and kid and 2 jobs.

RDEY

Hello All,
I am new to this forum.

I have completed 70-270, 70-290, 70-291 and 70-229 certifications long back in 2005 and 2006.

but now I am working in support as in a company.
I am confused and need your suggestions.

either to go for one more exam and finish the MCSA or prepair for MCDST for support.

will MCDST help me in career growth?

any suggestions are welcome
Thanks

Devilsbane

RDEY wrote: »

Hello All,
I am new to this forum.

I have completed 70-270, 70-290, 70-291 and 70-229 certifications long back in 2005 and 2006.

but now I am working in support as in a company.
I am confused and need your suggestions.

either to go for one more exam and finish the MCSA or prepair for MCDST for support.

will MCDST help me in career growth?

any suggestions are welcome
Thanks

Depends where you want to go. Would you rather be in a desktop support position, or be in a server administration position?

Just a note, the 271 and 272 will be retired in March of next year. So if you don't hurry up on that, you might be forced to go the windows 7 route.

If you complete the MCDST, that can be your elective for the MCSA. So you could kill 2 birds with 1 stone if you wanted to.

RDEY

Many Thanks for your Reply.
can you please suggest if i clear the 271 and 272 before March . will it still count for my MCSA .
and can I carry my MCDST after march or do I have to upgrade to Win7 MCDST

Thanks & Regards

Devilsbane

RDEY wrote: »

Many Thanks for your Reply.
can you please suggest if i clear the 271 and 272 before March . will it still count for my MCSA .
and can I carry my MCDST after march or do I have to upgrade to Win7 MCDST

Thanks & Regards

MCDST is kind of out of my experience zone. But what will happen in March is that the 271 and 272 will no longer be able to be taken. If you already have the MCDST, you don't lose it. (But if you had finished the 271 but not taken the 272 yet, you would be hosed)

There is a test, and I forget the number, that will upgrade the MCDST to an MCITP something or other that is basically the MCDST for Windows Vista. This test also retires on March 31st. (But if you took these 3 tests, you would get your MCSA, MCDST, MCTS, and MCITP:[something]). Pretty good bang for your buck there, in my opinion. I'm not sure what the upgrade path to Windows 7 looks like. I would guess the vista-7 path should be pretty easy though.

za3bour

RDEY wrote: »

Many Thanks for your Reply.
can you please suggest if i clear the 271 and 272 before March . will it still count for my MCSA .
and can I carry my MCDST after march or do I have to upgrade to Win7 MCDST

Thanks & Regards

If you pass both exams before March it will be counted for your MCSA and you can upgrade it to

MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Support Technician – Windows 7

by doing this exam

Pro: Upgrading to Windows 7 MCITP Enterprise Desktop Support Technician

RDEY

Many Thanks for your reply.I will Start looking on 271 & 272
cleared most of my quries.

Any suggestion on A+ or any other same kind of certification.
Many Thanks Again

Devilsbane

Check this out too Microsoft Learning: Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician (MCDST)

RDEY

Many Thanks Again.

DoubleD

Just a quick question from me
If I passed the 70-680 Exam on its Own Would I then Be classed as an MCITP just by passing that exam?? Or Would I have to complete other exams before I could take the MCITP Title?

[Deleted User]

DoubleD wrote: »

Just a quick question from me
If I passed the 70-680 Exam on its Own Would I then Be classed as an MCITP just by passing that exam?? Or Would I have to complete other exams before I could take the MCITP Title?

No, you would be an MCTS. You could become a MCITP:Enterprise Desktop Admin or MCITP:Enterprise Desktop Support Technician if you take the respective exams for each. There are more details here if you want to explore that:

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/cert-windowsclient.aspx#tab3

za3bour

Btw when you are MCITP-SA you get two certs MCITP and MCITP-Server Administrator and this is the case with any MCITP cert.