question about microsoft qualifications

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rjk

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my boss has offered me a chance to get a microsoft MCDST Certification

has anybody got one - is it worth it - how much does it cost and how do you go about study for it [where]
 
You get some big massive books to read thru with no pictures :(

If work pay for it, i wouldnt worry about the cost, and yes it is worth it
 
I'm going to be doing that hopefulyl after my Network+, by the looks of it its not a very long course and always handy to have, even if it just as hard proof that you "can do what you say on the tin"

- Pea0n
 
yea you could learn the material for both exams in under a week - really easy stuff

any cert is a good cert :D
 
how do i go about applying for it?

they have said they will foot the bill
i just need to find out how to get onto it?
 
Done this (exams only never did the training) a while back I was actually one of the founder members (or whatever they're called - basically one of the first 1,000 people to pass it).

It consists of two exams:

70-271 - Supporting Users and Troubleshooting a Microsoft Windows XP Operating System
70-272 - Supporting Users and Troubleshooting Desktop Applications on a Microsoft Windows XP Operating System

Full information about the exams can be found here:
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mcp/mcdst/requirements.mspx

You will need to know about the Active Directory, IP Addressing, DHCP, DNS, Domains all to a low to competent level.

It also is an exam towards the MCSA as well.

I'd just google a company who provide and do the training. To book the exams you need to register with Prometric (www.prometric.com) though I'm sure your training provider can give you better hints - infact some include the exams during the training.

.Kencs is correct in the fact that you do get two books. These have trial versions of the stuff you will have been studying and contary to what .Kencs says they do have pictures in them. Basically they're great reference materials.

I'd say go for it.



M.

Edited for proper exam titles and links.
 
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They weren't too bad. I made a huge mistake in the first one, and although I passed it, it made me study properly. I went into the exam with the thought process of 'well I know Windows XP like the back of my hand' and almost failed it.

The way Microsoft asks questions is to catch you out and make sure you read the questions fully. I'd recommend studying the books (but if you're going on the courses they will drum this into you).

They're not particularly hard exams but when you do them and you have the clock counting down in a quiet room there can be the odd question where you have two answers that are very similar and it's very easy to get it wrong.

I've now done all the exams up to MCSE+S 2003 (which is 10 exams in total) so I have a fair bit of experience on them. Study, revision and mostly experience (ideally using the technologies in the workplace) will get you through it.

Mostly enjoy the training, if theres something you don't understand ask and then keep asking until it's right in your mind as this is what they get paid for.



M.
 
Really pay attention to the wording of the questions. The MCDST itself is incredibly easy, but Microsoft do word the questions in such as away as to catch you out or confuse you. Take your time (within reason) and make sure you completely understand the question before answering it.

Do a lot of online practice exams. The "Exam Cram" training kit for the MCDST is actually very, very good.
 
I'm currently sole in-house out-sourced IT for a company with 10 servers (4 of which are VMWare ESX Server hosted), with a Citrix farm and a couple SQL servers for our hosted apps, I've got no MS certs under my belt, but I can do the work that's needed of me in this role.

I think the first certs I'll bother with are the MCDSTs simply because after that you can do 1 Vista transition cert exam (70621 iirc) and you'll have MCP, MCDST, MCTS and MCITP from doing 3 exams total.
 
While it's still around I would aim for the MCSE 2003. I say this because of several webchats with Microsoft that I've viewed.

Basically the MCSE 2003 will be sort of the pinacle of exams. It will permanently be on your transcript.

The newer exams will have to be renewed (I believe every 3 years).

Saying that though it's down to personal preference and how you want to do your certification but it's something to be aware of.



M.
 
EvilGrin said:
I'm currently sole in-house out-sourced IT for a company with 10 servers (4 of which are VMWare ESX Server hosted), with a Citrix farm and a couple SQL servers for our hosted apps, I've got no MS certs under my belt, but I can do the work that's needed of me in this role.

I think the first certs I'll bother with are the MCDSTs simply because after that you can do 1 Vista transition cert exam (70621 iirc) and you'll have MCP, MCDST, MCTS and MCITP from doing 3 exams total.
Click to expand...

I'd go for the VCP and CCA quals if i were you. Would look much more impressive on your CV.
 
Before i moved on from Ops Manager i put all our desktop & service desk techies through this, 5 days training outside the work environment (a 2 day and 3 day course) then paid for an exam plus resit if required, it became part of their Personal development and has since been continued by my replacement and pretty much everyone on 1st/2nd line has this (+ ITIL foundation training) as a requirement of their 2nd year of employment in their Pers. Dev. plan. As said it's quite an easy exam to acheive if you already use Xp to any depth and is a good foundation to beginning your certification route down the MCSA/MCSE route.

/edit. If your company has any kind of decent contract with a training company like iLX, Remarc, FoxIT, Global Knowledge etc you should expect to pay about £500 for the training course then £80 (i think) for the exam.
 
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Exams are £88 including VAT with Prometric (don't think anyone else can offer them other than Prometric - the only downside is there booking system is absolutely awful with previous suppliers the exams were dearer - £103.40 including VAT but the website could search by postcodes, etc. unlike Prometrics poor offering).

I'd certainly look into a VCP (VMWare Certified Professional) as well but I'd do the Microsoft exams to as high a degree as you can go before looking elsewhere (unless you have a specific career path you want to follow). Microsoft exams, love them or hate them, are what employers want. I've seen so many jobs now advertised for MCSE's only it's mad. Considering the amount of MCSE 2003 there are in the world and then narrow that down to the UK it leaves only a handful.



M.
 
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