297 or 298?

[jrbarnett]

Late last year I completed my MCSA in Windows 2003. I took the 270, 290, 291 and 228 exams.
My employer has promised to pay for MCSE upgrade training. I know I have to do 293 and 294, plus one of 297 or 298 to complete this.

My job is basically 1st/2nd line IT support, software design/development in MS Access, with backend databases in Oracle 8/9 and SQL Server 2000. Environment is Win2K Pro workstations with NT 4/Win2000 servers.

I have no responsibility for active directory structure design, or network security. This is not likely to change in the near future, therefore neither seem particularly relevant to my job at the moment.

Question: What are the pros and cons of 297 and 298 with my situation?

John

 

[Wishdiak]

jrbarnett,

CompTIA Security+ is also an option for your MCSE elective, and from what I understand less difficult than either 70-297 or 70-298.

Wishdiak
A+, Network+, MCSA 2003 certified

http://www.wishdiak.com

 

[aftertaf]

shame they won't give you AD responsibility if they want to pay for your MCSE...

makes sense for you, career evolution....


Aftertaf (david)
MCSA 2003

 

[Wishdiak]

For the record, it looks like I posted some incorrect information above.

According to

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcse/windows2003/,

the requirements for MCSE 2003 are (70-210 or 70-270), 70-290, 70-291, 70-293, 70-294, (70-297 or 70-298) and an elective, which 70-228 satisfies. The Security+ exam would also satisfy the elective requirement, but jrbarnett is correct about needing either 70-297 or 70-298 for MCSE 2003.



Wishdiak
A+, Network+, MCSA 2003 certified

http://www.wishdiak.com

 

[jrbarnett]

Without going into details, lets just say that the structure of the IT department in which I work means that gaining responsibility for AD or security. I did the SQL admin exam because it is one area that the group in that I have responsibilty for, and nobody else in the department has that at the moment.
To be honest, I'm more likely to do 229 and 293 to get MCDBA, it is far more relevant to my job at the moment, but the wording in my contract is "MCSE training or equivalent" so this is the line I am following.

John

 

[aftertaf]

if you can get them to pay you for it... 294 is dead easy..
that way 229/293/294/297 = MCDBA & MCSE...

Aftertaf (david)
MCSA 2003

 

[Wishdiak]

294 is dead easy

Not to imply that no studying is required, but I'd say that 70-293 was relatively easy to pass as well.

Wishdiak
A+, Network+, MCSA 2003 certified

http://www.wishdiak.com

 

[aftertaf]

lol....


Aftertaf (david)
MCSA 2003

 

[aftertaf]

jrbarnett:

wording in my contract is "MCSE training or equivalent"

equivalent can be argued as being MCDBA.

MCSA is an intermediate cert,
MCSE and MCDBA are top end, or 'premier' certs.

so they're equivalent, in any case on the MS docs about MCPs

Aftertaf
if its not broken, fix it anyway - with luck you might break it and have an excuse

 

[jrbarnett]

MCSE = 7 MCP's; MCDBA = 6 MCP's, therefore in my eyes, they are not equivalent.

John

 

[Wishdiak]

jrbarnett,

Actually, it seems that MCDBA is only four exams, compared th the seven for MCSE.

Compare

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcdba/requirements.asp

with

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcse/windows2003/

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcse/requirements.asp

Wishdiak
A+, Network+, MCSA 2003 certified

http://www.wishdiak.com

 

[mrdenny]

Correct MCDBA is only 4 exams, which MCSE is 7.

Microsoft considers the MCDBA and MCSE to be at the same level do to the work required in that field.

Denny

--Anything is possible. All it takes is a little research. (Me)

http://www.mrdenny.com

(My very old site)

 

[aftertaf]

jrbarnett:
"so they're equivalent, in any case on the MS docs about MCPs"

for me too, its not the same thing... but its MS that lists them both as top level certifs.

hell, get both of them

Aftertaf
if its not broken, fix it anyway - with luck you might break it and have an excuse

 

[Wishdiak]

I've considered getting MCDBA after I complete my MCSE. From MCSE, it's only 2 more exams to have both. On the other hand, I'm not so sure that I want to keep up the same pace. Maybe I'll take a little time off...

Wishdiak
A+, Network+, MCSA 2003 certified

http://www.wishdiak.com

 

[aftertaf]

i'm waiting till may, anyway...
dont have the time off until then.
and the way things are going, might have to pass both the same day :/

would be a laugh!

Aftertaf
if its not broken, fix it anyway - with luck you might break it and have an excuse

 

[aftertaf]

speaking of which...
i've yet to try a design exam...
and to be honest, i'm not looking forward to it...

anyone got any advice on prep for the 70-297 (got transcender & the MS self learning book...)

Aftertaf
if its not broken, fix it anyway - with luck you might break it and have an excuse