Am I being blonde, is the Cert Planner crap, or both?

[Qs]

Hi All,

I'm currently very confused and need someone to help me work this Microsoft exam path out. As we all know the Certification Planner isn't exactly the most accurate piece of kit, and I have a headache so am not thinking properly.

I need to know how many more exams (if any - apparently) I need for my MCSE:2003.

The official MS site (here) states that for MCSE:2003 you need to pass seven exams.

My breakdown is as follows:-

Four Networking: 290, 291, 293 & 294
One Client: 621 (as 621 counts as 620 in all cert paths)
One Design: 297
One Elective: [Here is where confusion is setting in]

On the MS site above it counts MCSA:2003 as an elective for MCSE:2003 whereas on the Cert Planner it doesn't (it actually has the client bundled in the electives requirement too for some odd reason).

MS Site:-


Cert Planner:-


Now I fully appreciate the Cert Planner is crap sometimes (with 70-285 still being listed as a core MCSE exam) but I'm somewhat confused.

Any assistance appreciated, because I'm sure I still have one more exam to go....

Ta,

Qs

[jk2447]

I'd quit using it mate its garbage. I reckon you are right, one client to go. Win 7?

[craigie]

Don't listen to JK

Do it properly, not some junk OS cert to finish off your MCSE.

If you use Exchange 2003 or Exchange 2007 lash that in mate and get a proper MCSE

[Qs]

Originally Posted by jk2447

I'd quit using it mate its garbage. I reckon you are right, one client to go. Win 7?

Strange how the MCSE site reads that I have all the requirements though, eh? If the cert planner is wrong, then am I MCSE now? lol

Originally Posted by craigie

Don't listen to JK

Do it properly, not some junk OS cert to finish off your MCSE.

If you use Exchange 2003 or Exchange 2007 lash that in mate and get a proper MCSE

I was tempted by either 70-350 or 70-284 (or 70-236, as we do use exchange 07 at work). My boss wants me to get more design concepts down (which bores the hell out of me), so I guess I'll wait and see...

Any additional comments about my MCSA as elective predicament?

[BosonMichael]

Originally Posted by Qs

Strange how the MCSE site reads that I have all the requirements though, eh? If the cert planner is wrong, then am I MCSE now? lol

No, it's not crap at all. You just have to know how to read it.

Not sure what the confusion is. According to Microsoft's site, you need:
290
291
293
294
Client (621)
Design (297)
Elective (MCSA)

And, from what I can tell, you've got all those, right? Because "Elective" is covered by the MCSA, even according to MS's Web site.

Now consider the cert planner. It says if you fulfill BOTH of the requirement headings listed under MCSA W2K3 Upgrade, then you're certed. Click that little + next to Design Core. I assume it has the design exams in there, and you have taken the one you need. Now, under Electives, it says you've fulfilled everything in there. So despite the fact that ALL of those exams are not electives, you fulfill that requirement.

So... if I'm not mistaken, you're due a pay raise or bonus or some such.

[Qs]

Originally Posted by BosonMichael

And, from what I can tell, you've got all those, right? Because "Elective" is covered by the MCSA, even according to MS's Web site.

Now consider the cert planner. It says if you fulfill BOTH of the requirement headings listed under MCSA W2K3 Upgrade, then you're certed. Click that little + next to Design Core. I assume it has the design exams in there, and you have taken the one you need. Now, under Electives, it says you've fulfilled everything in there. So despite the fact that ALL of those exams are not electives, you fulfill that requirement.

So... if I'm not mistaken, you're due a pay raise or bonus or some such.

The website doesn't match the cert planner, that's the confusion Mike.

If you take a look at your cert planner you will see that MCSA isn't listed under the Elective 'tree', it's separate.

In the image I've posted above it states:-

1 Design (297)
2 Electives (621 and 'something else' - here's where the confusion lies)
MCSA
293
294

It also states that two of those electives are mandatory - and as MCSA isn't listed inside the electives container, it suggests to me that another exam is required. (As 621 would only count as one of the two required).

Hopefully I've explained it clearly enough.

Holding off on the jumping for joy until my MS transcript is updated, lol.

Qs

[BosonMichael]

Originally Posted by Qs

The website doesn't match the cert planner, that's the confusion Mike.

If you take a look at your cert planner you will see that MCSA isn't listed under the Elective 'tree', it's separate.

In the image I've posted above it states:-

1 Design (297)
2 Electives (621 and 'something else' - here's where the confusion lies)
MCSA
293
294

It also states that two of those electives are mandatory - and as MCSA isn't listed inside the electives container, it suggests to me that another exam is required. (As 621 would only count as one of the two required).

Hopefully I've explained it clearly enough.

Holding off on the jumping for joy until my MS transcript is updated, lol.

Qs

I didn't see that it was a + next to electives.

Regardless of whether the MCSA is under electives as it should, it's underneath the main heading... and thus, it is required. And it is, if you're upgrading your MCSA 2003. Which you are.

So... expand your + next to electives. What is marked?

EDIT: By the way, I can't pull up the MCSE in my Cert Planner, because I've already got it... so it's no longer there.

[Qs]

Originally Posted by BosonMichael

I didn't see that it was a + next to electives.

Regardless of whether the MCSA is under electives as it should, it's underneath the main heading... and thus, it is required. And it is, if you're upgrading your MCSA 2003. Which you are.

So... expand your + next to electives. What is marked?

EDIT: By the way, I can't pull up the MCSE in my Cert Planner, because I've already got it... so it's no longer there.

No worries.

After expanding the electives container it lists pretty much all of the electives on MS' site (see previous link), but it does not contain MCSA.

Ah ok. Fair enough.

Qs

[BosonMichael]

Originally Posted by Qs

No worries.

After expanding the electives container it lists pretty much all of the electives on MS' site (see previous link), but it does not contain MCSA.

Ah ok. Fair enough.

Qs

The question is this - do you have two things check-marked under the Electives section on the Cert Planner? If not, your initial assessment that the planner is poo may indeed be true... because from what I can tell from Microsoft's MCSE requirements page, you should have the MCSE... right?

[Qs]

Originally Posted by BosonMichael

The question is this - do you have two things check-marked under the Electives section on the Cert Planner? If not, your initial assessment that the planner is poo may indeed be true... because from what I can tell from Microsoft's MCSE requirements page, you should have the MCSE... right?

Nope. Only the 621 is marked under the electives container and nothing else.

So I may be MCSE now, but I may not be. Sucks doesn't it?

I'll have to wait patiently until the transcript is updated I suppose.

Qs

[Qs]

Originally Posted by BosonMichael

No, it's not crap at all. You just have to know how to read it.

Not sure what the confusion is. According to Microsoft's site, you need:
290
291
293
294
Client (621)
Design (297)
Elective (MCSA)

And, from what I can tell, you've got all those, right? Because "Elective" is covered by the MCSA, even according to MS's Web site.

Transcript has been updated. Not MCSE yet, so the site's crap.

My boss has decided I'm not doing 680/682 for my elective, so time to check the list and find something 'fun'.

Joy.


Qs

[craigie]

Originally Posted by Qs

Transcript has been updated. Not MCSE yet, so the site's crap.

My boss has decided I'm not doing 680/682 for my elective, so time to check the list and find something 'fun'.

Joy.


Qs

Exchange, exchange, exchange, exchange, exchange, exchange, exchange, exchange, exchange, exchange

Did I mention exchange?

[Qs]

Originally Posted by craigie

Exchange, exchange, exchange, exchange, exchange, exchange, exchange, exchange, exchange, exchange

Did I mention exchange?

Only got a month matey. We use 2007 at work, and presumably I'd be in over my head if I jumped straight into 70-236, right?

Might see if I can twist his arm and do 70-284...

Qs

[craigie]

Originally Posted by Qs

Only got a month matey. We use 2007 at work, and presumably I'd be in over my head if I jumped straight into 70-236, right?

Might see if I can twist his arm and do 70-284...

Qs

One month is like a year in Q's time.

Get balls deep mate!

[Qs]

Originally Posted by craigie

One month is like a year in Q's time.

Get balls deep mate!

Hah. I appreciate the compliment.

Might placate him with the 70-400, which is the SCOM07 exam.

So far it's down to this:-

70-284 = Exchange 03
70-236 = Exchange 07
70-400 = SCOM07

(or sneak off and do 70-680 tomorrow lunchtime )

If I'm going to specialize I'll gun for the Messaging track.

Will keep you updated.

Qs