Advice on concentration.

[SGDOhio]

I ahve been in the IT industry for over ten years but never achieved any certifications. The paces that I worked never needed them. That was a huge mistake on my part. After being laid off about 10 months ago some reality set in. I quickly got my A+, Network+ and MCP (70-290) all passed the first go around. This weekend is the 70-290 fearing that after reading stuff here. Anyway here is my dilema. I have already completed and paid for the MSCA training and exam vouchers but not taken all the tests yet. I want to complete but worry about its importance now that the MCITP track is main stream. I am with a small company that is planning some radical chages in their IT environment. I am going to be thrown into new installs that I am going to be involved in of the following technologies VMWare enterprise, Citrix and a SAN. I am going to be trained to be the administrator for all the above. I want to continue with my MCSA which i want to have by the end of this year. With all the above mentioned any ideas of what I should really concentrate on for future growth. I am the adminstrator presently learing the hard with exchange 2007. All of my experince has been in earlier iterations. I would also like to try to plan a growth path to management since I also just achieved my BA in management. I was a manager before in a much smaller organization.

I'm glad I found this site..

Thank you inadvance

SGD

 

[kmcferrin]

It sounds like you have a lot on your plate.

If I am reading this correctly, you have already passed A+ and Net+, which combine to meet the elective exam requirement for the MCSA. You have already passed one exam in the MCSA track and have another scheduled (I'm unclear on which ones because you mention 70-290 twice, I'm assuming that one of them is 70-291). That means that assuming you pass the 70-290/291 this weekend that you will be only one exam away from an MCSA certification AND you have already paid for the training and exams. If I were in your shoes I'd finish it as quickly as possible, then you would also have an upgrade path to the MCITP Server Administrator credential.

By the way, if you have not done the client OS exam yet I recommend taking either the Vista (70-620) or Windows 7 (70-680) exams because they will count towards the MCITP as well as the MCSA, while the XP exam (70-270) does not.

Regarding everything else, if your employer is providing training for the new technologies then you should be good to go. VMware, Citrix, and storage are all high demand areas these days.

________________________________________
CompTIA A+, Network+, Server+, Security+
MCTS:Windows 7
MCSE:Security 2003
MCITP:Server Administrator
MCITP:Enterprise Administrator
MCITP:Virtualization Administrator 2008 R2
Certified Quest vWorkspace Administrator

 

[SGDOhio]

Sorry about any confusion. I have the 70-290 scheduled this weekend and the 70-291 next month. I already passed the A+, Network+ and 70-270 test. All I will need after that is the 70-284 which I already paid for. Yes I am going to be very busy. What I find interesting is once I had the MCP on my resume the phone has been ringing. Not planning on going any place but if something great comes along you never know. My supervisor stated that he is willing to pay for me to obtain certification in VMware and Citrix. Not sure if any one has taken any of those exams or not but if so I am curious what you thougt of them.

So in saying that I guess I should cram to get the MCSA stuff done then hoepfully be able to get the VMware and or Citrix. Sometimes my head feels like it is going to explode with all the new stuff being thrown my way.

 

[kmcferrin]

I have the 70-290 scheduled this weekend and the 70-291 next month. I already passed the A+, Network+ and 70-270 test. All I will need after that is the 70-284 which I already paid for.

If you have 70-270, 290, 291 and the Net+ and A+ combo then you will have met the requirements for the MCSA without taking the 70-284.

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/certification/mcsa.aspx?#tab2

Also, it looks like the 70-284 exam will be retired in March anyway.

________________________________________
CompTIA A+, Network+, Server+, Security+
MCTS:Windows 7
MCSE:Security 2003
MCITP:Server Administrator
MCITP:Enterprise Administrator
MCITP:Virtualization Administrator 2008 R2
Certified Quest vWorkspace Administrator

 

[SGDOhio]

Hum that's interesting I was wondering about that but the school I attended insisted that I had to do the exchange or something else in that group. That would be great if I don't have to take the 70-284. I have more study material and access to an 07 eschange server anyway. I hope thats true and if so my school sold me a bill of goods.

 

[kmcferrin]

If you log into the CompTIA website you find find instructions for sending your transcript to Microsoft. Once MS has your CompTIA transcript they will give you an elective credit towards the MCSA. You can verify this in the Certification Planner tool on the Microsoft MCP site (

http://mcp.microsoft.com).

The MCSA cert has three required exams and then you need one elective. A+ and Network+ will count as the elective if you send Microsoft your transcript.

________________________________________
CompTIA A+, Network+, Server+, Security+
MCTS:Windows 7
MCSE:Security 2003
MCITP:Server Administrator
MCITP:Enterprise Administrator
MCITP:Virtualization Administrator 2008 R2
Certified Quest vWorkspace Administrator

 

[SGDOhio]

I toook the 70-290 test on Saturday as planned and passed. I didn't ace the thing but hey a pass is a pass. I submitted my A+ and Network+ to Microsoft and much to my surprise the transcript has already been received and accepted. I am thinking about doing the Security+ before the 70-291 since Comptia is changing the way they do their certs.

Thanks for your input about the A+ and Network+ filling my elective for the MCSA.

 

[kmcferrin]

You're welcome. Just make sure to re-transmit your transcript when you pass additional CompTIA exams so that MS has current information.

Also, if you pass Security+ and the 70-299 then you get the MCSA: Security specialization as well.

________________________________________
CompTIA A+, Network+, Server+, Security+
MCTS:Windows 7
MCSE:Security 2003
MCITP:Server Administrator
MCITP:Enterprise Administrator
MCITP:Virtualization Administrator 2008 R2
Certified Quest vWorkspace Administrator

 

[SGDOhio]

Interesting. I may have to consider that. There seems to be a big demand for people that are focused on security. I'll have to investigate what is needed to pass that one.