Planning on MCSA 2003 the MSCE

mishy

I need help here, I might sound silly but I had last done any MS exams four years ago and also had not worked in IT for a long time so I have started trying to complete my qualifications again.

I will be sitting for the 70-270 exam I decided to do that first because at my work place we are still using XP and doing the exam would help to make things easier for me at work.

I planning to sit for 290 and 291 after XP so my question is after I finish with XP and 2003 I need to focus more on the new exams like 2008 and above. Is there going to be way of achieving the MSCE using 2008+ qualifications or the titles of the final qualification will not be MCSE?

I know through the forums many have mentioned that to recruiters the MCSE qualification is one the recruiters are familiar with and understand so when it comes to these new titles eg MCTIP it is really hard to make yourself marketable.

What route will be most appropriate for me after MCSA? I plan to move from 1st and 2nd line to more 3rd line and above roles.

Slowhand

If you're really wanting to sit for the 2003 era exams, then your best bet is going to be finding the books and other training material you need for the three exams you're planning to take: 70-270, 70-290, and 70-291. Your A+/Network+ combo qualifies as the elective you need for MCSA: Windows Server 2003.

And it's funny that you should mention the popularity of MCSA/MCSE vs. MCITP, since Microsoft is doing away with the MCITP titles and moving back to MCSA and MCSE. This time the acronyms will be Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate and Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert. The long and the short of it: most of the MCITP certifications are retiring, but some of the exams are sticking around and being re-worked into MCSA-titled specialties. For example, the MCITP: Enterprise Administrator cert, which was the spiritual successor to the MCSE, is being retired. The MCITP: Server Administrator certification is being changed to MCSA: Windows Server 2008, and I think this should be your immediate goal after finishing up your Server 2003 studies; after that it will be time to think about working towards a Windows Server 2012 MCSE title.

So, your basic path would look something like this, if you want to start with the Server 2003 cert and move up from there:

MCSA: Windows Server 2003 (70-270 + 70-290 + 70-291)

MCSA: Windows Server 2008 (70-648* + 70-646)

MCSA: Windows Server 2012 (70-417*)

And for more information on the various paths and upgrades towards MCSE: Windows Server 2012, have a look at the sticky thread in the 2012 forum.


*(Upgrade exam)