MCSA: Windows Server 2012 question

techwizard

I have access to testout/labsim library suite, which has the following courses available:


MCSA: Windows Server 2012:

config windows 7
70-680

config windows 8
70-687

and the following:

70-410
70-411
70-412

LabSim - MCSA

so, my question is this: what is the quickest route to MCSA? Do I need to take both 70-680 and 70-687? Or just one of those? Or do I need to take all 5 exams?

I already have A+, Net+, and Sec+. Did Sec+ used to count as an elective course towards MCSA or no? I understand this may not be the case anymore, when I did a search it wasn't clear to me.

It looks like their 70-411 course wont be ready until 12/17, and the 70-412 wont be ready until some time next year. I am guessing I should just at least knock out 70-680 and 70-687, and 70-410 for now?

Theegg911

By next year the 70-680 and 70-687 will not net you a cert on their own. You need to take the 685 exam with the 680 or the 688 with the 687 in order to get the MCSA for that OS. You can get the MCSA for Server 2012 by doing the 410, 411, and 412 exams. But do not take those 3 lightly. It never hurts to know too much when going into an exam.

As for the CompTIA exams, they no longer count as competencies to MS certs

techwizard

Theegg911 wrote: »

By next year the 70-680 and 70-687 will not net you a cert on their own. You need to take the 685 exam with the 680 or the 688 with the 687 in order to get the MCSA for that OS. You can get the MCSA for Server 2012 by doing the 410, 411, and 412 exams. But do not take those 3 lightly. It never hurts to know too much when going into an exam.

As for the CompTIA exams, they no longer count as competencies to MS certs

ok, but do they still net MCP on their own? the 70-680 and 70-687, i mean.

alokin123

if you want to be MCSA 2012 you need to sit and pass:


70-410
70-411
70-412


or if you want an MCSA 2008 you would need to sit and pass:


70-640
70-642
70-646


Then if you wanted to upgrade to MCSA 2012 you would need to sit and pass 70-417.


So it all depends. You can skip Server 2008 and just do 3 exams (70-410,411,412) and be MCSA 2012 certified OR do 4 exams (70-640,642,646,417) and get MCSA 2008 + 2012.


For Windows 8 MCSA you would need to sit and pass:


70-687
70-688


Or, if you wanted to be MCSA Windows 7 you would need to sit and pass:


70-680
70-685


Then if you wanted to upgrade to MCSA Windows 8 you would have to pass 70-689.

So as with the MCSA server options, do two exams (70-687,688 and be MCSA W8 OR do 3 exams (70-680,685,689) and be W7 + W8 MCSA.


So to summarise

70-410 + 70-411 + 70-412 = MCSA Server 2012
70-640 + 70-642 + 70-646 = MCSA Server 2008
MCSA Server 2008 + 70-417 = MCSA Server 2012


70-687 + 70-688 = MCSA Windows 8
70-680 + 70-685 = MCSA Windows 7
MCSA Windows 7 + 70-689 = MCSA Windows 8

Dont know if that makes any sense but these might be good pages to review before you decide what track to go down. If it was me personally i would probably do the Win7/2008 stuff and then do the upgrade exam for each. A lot businesses are probably not ready to go to Windows 8 just yet:


MCSA: Windows Server | Microsoft


MCSA: Windows 8 Certification | Microsoft

Upgrade to MCSA: Windows Server 2012 Certification with Exam 70-417 - Veronica's Blog - Born To Learn - Born to Learn

techwizard

alokin123 wrote: »

if you want to be MCSA 2012 you need to sit and pass:


/snip

yeah, that makes sense. Thanks. As far as course training goes, all i have to go on is the testout/labsim right now. So, I guess I should just do the 70-680 and 70-687 for now, and wait and see what I might need to do after that. Those two are lumped together as a course. Would you take both of those on the same day? or spread those out? I did A+ 801 and 802 the same day, and didnt skip a beat, but idk. I know MS exams are probably a little different. My biggest issue is the testing facility is kinda far (4.5hr drive) from where I live and spreading out a couple of exams like that is a big deal. I am already pretty familiar and comfortable with Win7, fwiw.

Theegg911

If you pass any MS exam it nets you the MCP title. But you can only earn it once. Not for each test.

Theegg911

I would say take them on different days at least. I like to go into an exam with my mind only set on that one exam. I don't want my mind to get sidetracked and start thinking of another exam and if I will pass that. FOCUS will play to your benefit with these Microsoft Exams. But do keep the Second Shot available in case things go south.