Certification life-time and studying enviroment 1

[manners]

Hi,

I am thinking about enbarking on a MSCA, or maybe perhaps taking some exams to add to my resume - i'm a little undecided. My first question is what is the life of a certicication when you have passed the exam, is it three years? (I'm sorry but i cannot find this information anywhere on the Microsoft site, and i have browsed this forum for a few hours reading posts)

Secondly, as I am currently un-employed and have no access to a networking enviroment/classroom (I do have a Computer Science Degree though), I was planning on buying the official Microsoft books and studying at home (I have a spare PC and eval versions of Server, Profesional). Do you think that this will be adequate enough? .

The exams i will be studying for are 70-210, 70-215, 70-216 and 70-217 and the books i will use are;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0735617716/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_f/026-6230828-7396421

Thanks for your reply

 

[setnaffa]

Microsoft certs are essentially good forever; but there will come a time when my MCSE in NT4 won't be worth mentioning...

Setnaffa is an MCP-W2K (working on W2K) with a few other certs, too...

 

[setnaffa]

ooops! fast send button...

one PC is enough; but 2 or 3 is better... you will want to visit the ms website and thoroughly immerse yourself in the W2K resource guide...

Study and practice. Practice and study. Buy the transcenders --if you can afford them--to test your knowledge and help you work out some of the rough edges... they're not the only study guide you need; but they're pretty useful...

210/215/217 are easy if you have hands-on. 216 is only possible if you have hands-on. 218 is a tough overview of the 4. Or so I've been told...

It helps to have a study group, so if you have any friends in a similar situation, you may want to hook up with them. Thus adding PCs to your test network.

Good luck!!!

Setnaffa is an MCP-W2K (working on W2K) with a few other certs, too...

 

[dogbert2]

Yeah, MS has a little bit more sense in this area than say Cisco. Cisco Certs have to be renewed every 3 years at the CCNx/Dx/Sx level, and every two years at the CCIE level.

My read is more $$$ going into cisco's pocket.

CompTIA Certs are good forever also...

 

[tcambridge]

The Transcenders work well if you use them to learn and not to study. There's an option to print/review your tests with the answers AND reasoning behind the answers. You that to your advantage - learn it!

Hands-on is invaluable. That's where your experience comes from. 90% of what you learn comes from actually doing it. The more you can practice the better off you will be.

As far as the Cisco vs. M$ testing, yes, Cisco requires you to retest more often, however, that equates to Cisco-certified individuals being on top of their game (at least on paper), vice MCPs/MCSEs still getting by on NT4 credentials.

Don't get me wrong - no disrespect to those with NT4 certs. I started out on NT4. My point is: don't let the $$$ blind you from the actual benefits of recurring certification testing to our industry and our customers. If our customers know that we're current on the latest and greatest, they will also know that they're getting the best. It also ensures that those who are current aren't getting left behind.

Good Luck!!!


Tim
Certified AND Qualified