Certification Goals for the Year

Bouncing around the various boards here recently I have noticed a lot of people passing exams this month. So many, in fact, that I am starting to wonder if people got CBTNuggets or Transcenders in their stockings. That or the weather kept everyone inside studying.

First, congratulations if you have recently passed an exam.
Second, what are your exam goals for the rest of the year?

I'll go first:

1. BCMSN. This was a goal last year, but it just didn't happen. Plenty of excuses - not all the training material was out for the new exam, I spent more time on personal stuff, I switched gears and decided to update my MCSE - but I still should have got it done. Our MetroEthernet conversion project was also delayed until this year, and between that and a new SAN implementation (and perhaps a relocation of our disaster recovery site) I should get all the hands-on switching experience I need to pass it this year. Plus I already read the training guide, I just need to go over the certification guide.

2. MCSE:Messaging. I just updated my MCSE so everything's fresh, plus I work with Exchange 2003 every day, and it's just two tests. However, the resource kit is 1300 pages and I am kind of busy.

3. EMC Proven. How often do you get a chance to implement a new SAN? How often do you get free training credits? I need to take advantage of both the experience and training so I can sit for an exam (or two). Hours of time waiting for data to copy would be better spent studying than playing Halo against my co-workers.

Find more posts tagged with

Free for TechExams community: Cybersecurity salary guide

Compare cert salaries and plan your next career move

Button

Comments

jamesp1983

My goal this year is to be CCNP, and if time allows CCDP

This is my best guess at the time table:

March 08 - BSCI

June 08 - BCMSN

September 08 - ISCW

December 08 - ONT

hypnotoad

My goals:

Network+: Maybe soon. I'm convinced that this won't help me career-wise but might be fun.
MCTS: Exchange 07 Config -- April
CWNA: Possibly Summer
CCNA: 1-2 years

jkstech

finish MCSE:Security (293,294,298,299)

wireless # and maybe the rest of the CWNP lineup, CWNA & CWNP

Offensive Security OCSP and OSWP courses/certs.....

Just went through an EMC san implementation, may be some certification involved with that....

maybe start on Cisco, or whatever new switches we get at work, certify on those........

yeah....I got a lot more to do....we'll see what that list looks like at the end of the year, gotta stay focused.

ConstantlyLearning

By the end of the year I want to have:

1. Security+

2. CWNA

3. CCNA

Very realistic goals and I'll be very disappointed if I don't achieve them.

c0d3_w0lf

By the end of the year, I hope to obtain:

CCNP
MCSE + Security
Security+ (I think this can be used as an elective for the MCSE-Security?)
Linux+

And if there's still time after that, maybe the Sun Certified Java Programmer.

coax31

Short term next 6 months:

1. 70-290 Feb 21st

2. 640-816 will give me CCNA

3. 70-291 will give me MCSA

4. Linux +

5. Security +

Long term:

6. MCSE

7. CCNP

Munck

For 2008: CCSE+ and perhaps som BlueCoat (BCCPP).

xwesleyxwillisx

My goals are:

1. AWLANFE (done)

2. CCDA (in progress)

3. BCMSN

4. BSCI

5. ISCW

6. ONT

Anything beyond that is icing on the cake

Slowhand

On the certification-end, I'm looking to finish up the remaining MCSE exams I've been procrastinating with, along with moving to the upgrade-path for MCITP: Enterprise Administrator. Aside from that, I'm also working on knocking out the Certified SonicWall Security Administrator (CSSA) test, but that's really not a big stretch from the work I do with SonicWall devices every day. And, depending on where I am in November/December, I'd like to be started on my first CCNP exam-studying.

The official hit-list, in the order I plan to take them:

2008 Q1
70-293 (Just about ready to take)
70-298 (Scored 80% cold on a Transcender practice quiz)
70-294

2008 Q2
Continue MCSE exams from Q1, if applicable
Begin MCITP: Enteprise Administrator path:
70-649

2008 Q3
Continue work on 70-649, if applicable
70-647

2008 Q4
70-620
CSSA
Purchase CCNP study guides and begin reading up for BCMSN or BSCI

mog27

Security+ and starting my Masters.

remerolle

remerolle wrote:

CCNP - January
CCIE - December ?
SND, SNRS, SNPA - Sprinkled in between since I am proficient enough in the material.

Maybe add the CCDA in there who knows. Will be hard since I start a new full time job at the end of July. Will not have as much free time as I do now consulting, studying, and working part time.

CCNP is done...1/31/08 just in time

On to working towards CCIE. I have been studying written which hopefully is a comprehensive CCNP material type exam. (that is what the blueprint is leading me to believe) I have tons of time to focus on this (about 40+ hours per week). It is nice being a student. This is all for my course not because I am not really really in need of the CCIE right now. I will not have access to this lab after graduation, so why not work on it. Worst comes to worse I learn so much more than I know now and end up not going for the lab for a few years and more experience.

Sulblk27

Stepping into xp test

around the end of February
Trying the CCNA, for the third time Round bout that same time frame

, no later than mid-march.

royal

MCITP: Enterprise Messaging Administrator - currently studying for last exam out of 3
MCTS: Server 2008 Upgrade (to obtain all 3 MCTS certs). Not sure if i'll go for the MCITP ones.
MCTS: Office Communications Server, Configuring
MCTS: Vista 70-620

Slowhand

royal wrote:

MCITP: Enterprise Messaging Administrator - currently studying for last exam out of 3
MCTS: Server 2008 Upgrade (to obtain all 3 MCTS certs). Not sure if i'll go for the MCITP ones.
MCTS: Office Communications Server, Configuring
MCTS: Vista 70-620

If you're doing the upgrade exam (70-649), along with 70-620, all you'll need for MCITP: Enteprise Administrator will be the actual Admin Pro exam (70-647). Something to think about, maybe for next year.

royal

Slowhand wrote:

royal wrote:

MCITP: Enterprise Messaging Administrator - currently studying for last exam out of 3
MCTS: Server 2008 Upgrade (to obtain all 3 MCTS certs). Not sure if i'll go for the MCITP ones.
MCTS: Office Communications Server, Configuring
MCTS: Vista 70-620

If you're doing the upgrade exam (70-649), along with 70-620, all you'll need for MCITP: Enteprise Administrator will be the actual Admin Pro exam (70-647). Something to think about, maybe for next year.

I'm thinking next year I'll probably go for the next 2 MCITP Exams. I'm hoping that I can complete the above goals before the fall so I can spend some time learning SCCM and maybe go take the exam for it if time permits.

Darthn3ss

I thought i replied to this but i guess i didn't:

Cisco:
CCNA (will take this month)
BSCI, BCMSN (taking classes and i intend to study for these)

CompTia:
A+, Net+ (already studied, going to review and take them when funds are available.)
Server+ (in class for this now)

Microsoft:
70-270 and/or 70-290 (took classes, need lots of review though)

Other certs that will probably get in the way of all of the above:
CWNA
VMWare certification

btowntech

I was planning on CWNA but after accepting a new job, I'll be working towards CCNP.

1. BSCI

2. BCMSN

3. CCDA

4. ISCW

Throw Security+ in there somewhere when I want a break!

Turgon

Pass the CCIE R&S lab sometime this year.

Networkhead

MCSE 2003: security-- March 2008
MSCE 2003: Messaging-- April 2008
CEH ----May 2008
CCNP --June 2008

JDMurray

Doesn't anybody here need to renew any certifications? I have a CWSP renewal to complete by December. I'm also scheduled to take the SSCP exam in April; hopefully I'll be ready for the CISSP exam a few months after that.

Ahriakin

Nice thing about the CCIE, it renews them all in one swoop

...well if you actually pass of course

ajs1976

JDMurray wrote:

Doesn't anybody here need to renew any certifications? I have a CWSP renewal to complete by December. I'm also scheduled to take the SSCP exam in April; hopefully I'll be ready for the CISSP exam a few months after that.

I should find out in the next couple of weeks if I have any Citrix exams to take as part of my companies partner renewal.

Slowhand

JDMurray wrote:

Doesn't anybody here need to renew any certifications? I have a CWSP renewal to complete by December. I'm also scheduled to take the SSCP exam in April; hopefully I'll be ready for the CISSP exam a few months after that.

I need to renew my EMT cert, does that count? Come to think of it, I've been needing to renew it for a while, now. . .

Claymoore

Claymoore wrote:

Bouncing around the various boards here recently I have noticed a lot of people passing exams this month. So many, in fact, that I am starting to wonder if people got CBTNuggets or Transcenders in their stockings. That or the weather kept everyone inside studying.

First, congratulations if you have recently passed an exam.
Second, what are your exam goals for the rest of the year?

I'll go first:

1. BCMSN. This was a goal last year, but it just didn't happen. Plenty of excuses - not all the training material was out for the new exam, I spent more time on personal stuff, I switched gears and decided to update my MCSE - but I still should have got it done. Our MetroEthernet conversion project was also delayed until this year, and between that and a new SAN implementation (and perhaps a relocation of our disaster recovery site) I should get all the hands-on switching experience I need to pass it this year. Plus I already read the training guide, I just need to go over the certification guide.

2. MCSE:Messaging. I just updated my MCSE so everything's fresh, plus I work with Exchange 2003 every day, and it's just two tests. However, the resource kit is 1300 pages and I am kind of busy.

3. EMC Proven. How often do you get a chance to implement a new SAN? How often do you get free training credits? I need to take advantage of both the experience and training so I can sit for an exam (or two). Hours of time waiting for data to copy would be better spent studying than playing Halo against my co-workers.

I passed the Storage Technologies Foundations exam this morning and earned my EMC Proven Associate certification. I'll post a review of the exam later.

So what's next? I'm definitely waiting on Exchange until the summer. I really feel like I'm close to ready for the BCMSN. I have to take a week off this month or lose the vacation time and a few days on lockdown with the exam certification guide should put me over the edge. On the other hand I already registered for the training and downloaded the material for both the SAN and NAS EMC Specialist exams. Since I can skip the two basic networking sections, I could also be ready for one of these exams after my vacation. I think I'll compromise and watch EMC SAN trainining modules when I'm home and read the BCMSN guide when I'm at the pool.