MCDST and MCSA

Ciphon

Ciphon

Ciphon

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Hi All,

Wasn't to sure where this should go, putting it here due to it being about Windows Certs.

I'm trying to plan which exams I would like to take, and in which order.

I figured I would start at the bottom of the pile and go for the MCDST (271 and 272), then move on to do the full MCSA.

When you complete the MCDST, this counts as your elective exam for the MCSA. I was planning on taking the Exchange 2003 (284) as an elective before I found out the MCDST would do.

What I want to know is, if I do the MCDST, then the other three exams needed for the MCSA, will I be an MCDST and an MCSA, or just an MCSA?

And if just an MCSA.. if I choose to do the 284 exam anyway.. will I then be an MCDST and an MCSA?

My guess is that I would just be an MCSA.. in which case I may as well save myself £90 and just do the 270 rather than both the 271 and 272.

Cheers!
 
iirc you can go MCSA and MCDST in the same set of exams, or with one extra, then MCSE with another two.
 
All Microsoft exams are culmative.

Do your MCDST do the next three exams for the MCSA (making you a MCDST AND MCSA) do another three for MCSE. If you do the messaging / security exam that would be a MCDST and MCSA and MCSE + SM

I've done the MCDST to MCSA to MCSE route as you are describing.



M.
 
*cough*Bump*cough*

I've been looking at doing similar to what is mentioned in this thread... Is it worthwhile?
I've been working in my current job for just over a year now, doing mainly desktop support and some minor server admin.

What sort of time frame are you looking at, in general, for getting the required work done? Is it just a case of knowing your stuff, and getting booked in for an exam?

Thanks :)
 
Well.. it's very difficult to say it depends on how well you know the product. Microsoft questions are asked in a very different way to what you would expect. You have to read the question and understand what they are looking for. Sometimes, technically, there are two or three correct answers. It's up to you to know which is the best answer or which is best practice.

Try some of the online questions (MS list a couple) and see how you go.



M.
 
I am MCSE qualified, I did a 3 week MCSE course (after working in it for 4-5years).

My apprentice has just finished her MCSA and I personally feel she has gained very little from the courses or exams. Micorsoft teach you very workplace unfriendly techniques ;)

Do you have the experience to go with these exams or are you just doing them for the certs anyway?
 
Do the MCPs that are relevent to your job because A. it will make them easier and B. it will help you with your job. You will soon acquire enough to achieve an MCDST/MCSA/MCSE. If you choose the MCPs that you need to pass by certain certs you'll find them fairly useless and over time you'll forget everything you've learnt.

MW
 
Cost of around £110 per exam. You don't have to do any courses. Books around £50 per exam though you can get sets.

Depending on what you want:

MCDST - 2 Exams
MCSA - 4 Exams (3 for upgrade from MCDST)
MCSE - 7 Exams (3 for upgrade from MCSA)


M.
 
Yet more bumpage for me... Just because that's what I'm like...
Did my 70/271 and 70/271 the last week so will be down as MCDST. Woo!

Do people think the MCSA holds any value these days?
We're a small department so quite varied roles, running mainly 2003 with 2 2008 servers.
The company I work for is willing to pay for me to go through courses for the MCSA so I guess it'd be stupid not to?
The question earlier of do you have the experience to go with exams or just want the certs... My answer to that would be, I have some experience but I also want the certs. Feel like there's more value in myself maybe? Happy that company would invest in me.

People that have done it, have you felt it benefited you at all?
I have experience with 2003 but I feel more knowledge would be of use, especially around the subject of the 70/291 exam.

Bit of an all over the place post, but I don't want to do something that's of zero worth to myself or my employer...
 
Emlyn_Dewar said:
Yet more bumpage for me... Just because that's what I'm like...
Did my 70/271 and 70/271 the last week so will be down as MCDST. Woo!

Do people think the MCSA holds any value these days?
We're a small department so quite varied roles, running mainly 2003 with 2 2008 servers.
The company I work for is willing to pay for me to go through courses for the MCSA so I guess it'd be stupid not to?
The question earlier of do you have the experience to go with exams or just want the certs... My answer to that would be, I have some experience but I also want the certs. Feel like there's more value in myself maybe? Happy that company would invest in me.

People that have done it, have you felt it benefited you at all?
I have experience with 2003 but I feel more knowledge would be of use, especially around the subject of the 70/291 exam.

Bit of an all over the place post, but I don't want to do something that's of zero worth to myself or my employer...
Click to expand...


Do the MCITP: Enterprise.

It's essentially the MCSA/E of Server 2008 world. There are differences but on the whole if you can use 2003 you can use 2008 and vice versa. Is your comapny going to continue to deploy 03 servers or 08?

Are you comfortable in 03? If so go for the newer exam mate, no point going behind the times to have to do the upgrade exams when you can do the new style that is designed for the new OS, imo.
 
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