Next Step in Study 4

[rawle24]

Guys i need some guidance in my next step to be certified; i have been a Helpdesk technician for over 5 years mostly from experience and not any certifications. I want to start studies to be Microsoft Certified. Do you guys think i should get Microsoft cerified or go another way? If so what studies should i be looking into.

Thanks In Advance

 

[DonMc67]

Helpdesk for 5 years?! Wow! You must have the patience of a saint.

What do you want to do? I mean do you want to stay on the helpdesk? Do you want to be an Admin?

MS certs are pretty helpful. Take a look around the Microsoft web site.

 

[rawle24]

I want to be MS Certified but which MS test should i study for first?

 

[NetworkTek]

I would recommend going for some of the new microsoft certs. Mcts and Mcitp. Microsoft has now gone product specific with their certs so you may want to start with Mcts Server 2008 and work up to a Mcitp Server 2008.

Network+ Inet+ MCP

 

[kmcferrin]

When you say that you want to be "Microsoft Certified," what do you want to be certified in? Microsoft literally has dozens of certifications. Do you want to be a Microsoft Certified Enterprise Support Technician? Microsoft Certified Helpdesk Technician? MCTS on Sharepoint? MCSE? MCITP: Enterprise Administrator? Microsoft Certified Application Developer?

What is it that you want to do? That will determine which certification you should be working towards, and therefore what exams to start with.

________________________________________
CompTIA A+, Network+, Server+, Security+
MCTS:Windows 7
MCTS:Hyper-V
MCTS:System Center Virtual Machine Manager
MCSE:Security 2003
MCITP:Enterprise Administrator

 

[rawle24]

What do you suggest, since i am in helpdesk now; what route do you think i should go?

Thanks

 

[kmcferrin]

Only you can decide where you want to go in your life. If you were going to college, would you ask someone else what you should major in?

Go to

http://www.microsoft.com/certification

and take a look at the different certifications that they offer. That might give you a better idea of what's out there and possibly spike some interest.

________________________________________
CompTIA A+, Network+, Server+, Security+
MCTS:Windows 7
MCTS:Hyper-V
MCTS:System Center Virtual Machine Manager
MCSE:Security 2003
MCITP:Enterprise Administrator

 

[DonMc67]

You might consider going for comptia A+ and Network+. They will probably be somewhat remedial, but those certifications together are accepted as an elective for some MS certs. It will also give you some time to do some research and find out where in IT your interests lie.

 

[Panarchy]

Get your MCSE on Server 2003

Although a little dated, still the most recognised in the Indsutry.

Then get your CCNA

From then on, you've got it made (well, you can make a living at least)

Seriously, being in a HelpDesk more than a year is too much for me :S

 

[kmcferrin]

Get your MCSE on Server 2003

Although a little dated, still the most recognised in the Indsutry.

Then get your CCNA

From then on, you've got it made (well, you can make a living at least)

That would be fine if he were interested in being a network admin. But what if he wants to be an application developer? Or a DBA? Or a BI Specialist? Maybe he wants to be a Sharepoint developer?

Playing the cookie-cutter game is silly. Not everyone has the same career path, even if they start in the same place.

________________________________________
CompTIA A+, Network+, Server+, Security+
MCTS:Windows 7
MCTS:Hyper-V
MCTS:System Center Virtual Machine Manager
MCSE:Security 2003
MCITP:Enterprise Administrator

 

[rawle24]

I am thinking in terms of Network Admin

 

[DonMc67]

Good!
A+
Net+
MCSA
MCSE

they all build on each other

then CCNA

 

[rawle24]

Is there a A+ self study book that i can use

 

[anationalacrobat]

I'm not a fan of the books. I'm a big fan of the quiz programs. Now you'll be advised to avoid the braindumps but there are legal test banks out there. People here can probably point you in the right direction. I find they really help cut to the quick and test you on core concepts. There's SOOO much material in any of the A+ books that you could spend years trying to master it all. The test is only a small subset of it.

If you've been playing with computers for years and years then the A+ class if you take it should strike you as a powerfully comprehensive review. It's probably not necessary if you've really been around the block.

As for MCSE, the advice is pretty varied. Right now the recommended steps I'm told are A+, MCSA 2003, then the Server 2008 MCITP. The instructor is also adamant that you should get Linux+ and the CCNA. He's also a big proponent of learning up on virtualization because it's the biggest thing coming down the pike. For the CCNA I remain more skeptical. I think it's valuable to be familiar with the CCNA material but the cert expires every two years and has to be renewed. If you're not a big networking guy it might not be as useful as something else.

Of course, the above is general advice for being a general PC guy. Do you plan on specializing in anything particular?

 

[kmcferrin]

There is some value to the CCNA, but if you end up working in a shop that uses HP, or Dell, or any other brand of networking equipment then much of the material isn't as relevant. Unless you're going into a role where you will be doing routing and switching or firewall activity most of the time you would probably be better served getting a Network+ cert instead of a CCNA. It's much more general, but it's also much more applicable to what someone in a server admin role needs to know than a CCNA is.

If you're working in a server role (MCSA/MCSE or MCITP Server Admiin/Enterprise Admin) the A+ is pretty remedial. Server+ is more relevant.

________________________________________
CompTIA A+, Network+, Server+, Security+
MCTS:Windows 7
MCTS:Hyper-V
MCTS:System Center Virtual Machine Manager
MCSE:Security 2003
MCITP:Enterprise Administrator

 

[anationalacrobat]

You're supposed to be able to substitute certain comptia exams for microsoft exams in some instances. Given the current state of tech and recommend course path do you have any examples?

 

[kmcferrin]

CompTIA exams only can be used as credit towards MCSA/MCSE certifications. The ones that I know of are:

Security+ exam (the best CompTIA exam I ever took) can be used as a Security exam towards the MCSE:Security specialization. It may also count as an elective towards MCSA:Security.

Security+ will also count as an elective towards the standard MCSA.

Having both the A+ and Network+ or the A+ and Server+ certifications will also count towards ONE elective towards MCSE or MCSA certifications. That's more of a help for someone who already has those certs though, because getting A+ and another CompTIA exam means taking three exams for one MS elective instead of just takingg one MS exam for the elective.

If you have already passed a Microsoft exam, you can log into the MCP site and check your certification planner for specifics on how they stack up. There's also some info on Microsoft's site here:

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

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

________________________________________
CompTIA A+, Network+, Server+, Security+
MCTS:Windows 7
MCTS:Hyper-V
MCTS:System Center Virtual Machine Manager
MCSE:Security 2003
MCITP:Enterprise Administrator