MCITP:EA Cert Path Question

CompuTron99

Hi,

I was going through the Microsoft certification exams that I need to complete for the Network Design and Management BS degree at WGU.

My Degree Plan has these MS exams listed:

70-640, 70-642, 70-643, 70-647, And that's it.

I am missing my 70-291 exam for my MCSA (I've completed 70-270 and 70-291).

I did not need to take an OS course, so I do not have the Windows 7 exam on "My Degree Plan". Unless WGU is taking my previous certifications (A+, Net+, Server+, Sec+, Proj+, or the CCNA) into account, I am worried that I could graduate and still not have the MCITP:EA.

Any ideas?

veritas_libertas

CompuTron99 wrote: »

Hi,

I was going through the Microsoft certification exams that I need to complete for the Network Design and Management BS degree at WGU.

My Degree Plan has these MS exams listed:

70-640, 70-642, 70-643, 70-647, And that's it.

I am missing my 70-291 exam for my MCSA (I've completed 70-270 and 70-291).

I did not need to take an OS course, so I do not have the Windows 7 exam on "My Degree Plan". Unless WGU is taking my previous certifications (A+, Net+, Server+, Sec+, Proj+, or the CCNA) into account, I am worried that I could graduate and still not have the MCITP:EA.

Any ideas?

Yes, do the Win7 cert after graduating Oh, and be happy you don't have to take the class.

Krunchi

You need Vista-620 or the Win7-680 For the EA.

ptilsen

To me, it makes more sense to complete MCSA, then take 70-648. I'm betting WGU would let you do that since it achieves the same certifications and 70-640 and 70-642.

You will still need to complete 70-680 or another client exam (currently just Vista, presumably 8 when it comes out) to achieve MCITP:EA, as Krunchi indicated.

whatthehell

Newb question for you guys --- is it absolutely necessary to go 640, 642 then 643?
I made the mistake of signing up for the 642 and 643 classes before the 640 class at my school, and was planning to take those certs before the 640...bad idea?

ptilsen

It isn't necessary to do them in any particular order. I think 643 without 640 will be a huge challenge, but it's not impossible.

method115

whatthehell wrote: »

Newb question for you guys --- is it absolutely necessary to go 640, 642 then 643?
I made the mistake of signing up for the 642 and 643 classes before the 640 class at my school, and was planning to take those certs before the 640...bad idea?

You can take them in whatever order you want from my understanding. A lot of pole seemed to like starting from the 642 it's shorter then the other books plus if your coming from Cisco it helps. I started with 640 since it seems to give you a great base for the other two test.

cyberguypr

method115 wrote: »

You can take them in whatever order you want from my understanding. A lot of pole seemed to like starting from the 642 it's shorter then the other books plus if your coming from Cisco it helps. I started with 640 since it seems to give you a great base for the other two test.

This. I went with 640 > 642 > 643. The other approach that seems popular is 642 > 640> 643.

mbarra

Unfortunatly WGU does not let you take the upgrade exams and take care of 2 or 3 classes you have to take all exams 70-640, 70-642, 70-643

lenell86

mbarra wrote: »

Unfortunatly WGU does not let you take the upgrade exams and take care of 2 or 3 classes you have to take all exams 70-640, 70-642, 70-643

+1 you are correct. I am switching back to NDM track from WGU and I have my MCSE:S from last year and I asked my mentor if I could just take the upgrade approach of 3 exams vs the full 4 (I got 70-680 transferred in since I came on with a MCSA at the time) and she flat out said no, I would have to do the full 4 exams. Now granted, completing those would fulfill my requirements at WGU but still wouldn't net me the MCITP:EA due to me not completing the 680 or Vista requirement so I will have to do that on my own.

ptilsen

That's crazy. WGU makes you take specific exams, which otherwise serve no purpose other than certification, but will not let you take a different exam that grants the same certification? Basically, you could take the upgrade, then still take the 640 and 642? I'm sorry, but that is simply absurd.

Edit: I mean, if I enrolled, would I have to take A+ again, since I got mine in 06? I wouldn't be anymore A+ certified than I already am, but I would have taken another test...

lenell86

yea I'm with you. My mentor told me it's not the exam path, it's because WGU, along with other universities, base their courses by CU's and credits so if I were taking the shorter upgrade path, I wouldn't fulfill my CU's...something to that effect...

Psoasman

ptilsen wrote: »

Edit: I mean, if I enrolled, would I have to take A+ again, since I got mine in 06? I wouldn't be anymore A+ certified than I already am, but I would have taken another test...

Yes, you would. They only go back 5 years for certs. But, with your experience, you could do both exams in a weekend.

Psoasman

lenell86 wrote: »

yea I'm with you. My mentor told me it's not the exam path, it's because WGU, along with other universities, base their courses by CU's and credits so if I were taking the shorter upgrade path, I wouldn't fulfill my CU's...something to that effect...

They would probably have to fill in the gaps with other certs, like add more Cisco, CIW, etc.

CompuTron99

veritas_libertas wrote: »

Yes, do the Win7 cert after graduating Oh, and be happy you don't have to take the class.

Thanks..

I should take the Win7 exam for work. My employer will pay for a pass. I may work on this in between semester 2 and 3.

jmritenour

I was in the same boat - I already had my MCSA, which waived my OS waived my requirement for the OS course. So I took 70-680 on my own last year. My employer wanted me to complete at least one exam required for the EA cert by the end of the year, and I knew I wouldn't hit the 70-64x exams at WGU until this year.

It was a win win.