Continue to MCSA or..?

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Having passed the 70-270 and MCDST, I need to complete the 70-290 and 70-291 to achieve the MCSA. This was my original aim for 2010. Firstly, the certs. verify the work I have been doing for a decade, secondly I'm all too aware that many recruitment agents do not understand the certs and simply want someone who has an MCSA, regardless of what it actually means..

However, the more I look at job adverts outside of my own company the more I see Server 2008, SharePoint 2007 and Exchange 2007. Although I did see a server admin. advert this morning asking for WAN LAN TCP/IP Outlook MCP, so clearly there's still agents out there who aren't clued up.

Given that my son was born earlier this year, it's becoming quite important that I bring home the extra bucks, so I'm wondering whether to skip the MCSA in favour of a few MCTS and then an MCITP or two.. or if I should get my MCSA first and then go on to MCTS...

Thanks for any advice!

 

This is the path I was thinking of taking, but it takes longer than skipping 290 + 291.. You don't think it's worth skipping the 70-290 + 291 (MCSA) then?

 

I'm with wagnerk on this one, finish what you started and then upgrade

 

Also showing that you can handle previous versions of Windows, via the certification, is an advantage on a CV

 

Thanks for the feedback, I've booked 290 for the end of June.

 

Good Luck

 

Wouldn't you also need to select a client exam as well to get the MCSA, I thought the MCDST counted for 1 elective.

 

Hes done the 70-270 and MCDST(271|272) bud so that should cover his elective and Client

 

I don't. Having both puts you in a *much* better position than having just one. In fact, I'd recommend knocking out the whole MCSE while it's still available. Once it's gone, it's gone.

 

I have to agree. Having more than one cert shows that you're committed to the IT education process, and will likely be adding more in the future. If you're worried about passing, you can also try the Second Shot program that's currently going on. It lets you try again free if you mess up the first time. Good luck!

 

In the same position myself. Finishing the MCSA (2 MS Exams and the CompTIA Electives) then upgrading. Aiming for MCITP - Server 2008 Enterprise Administrator via upgrading, skipping the other MCSE items I think.

 

The MCSE is something I have considered, but given the other things I wish to achieve this year, I'm not sure I would have time. If I started the MCSE this year I would have to push back other commitments into 2011; if I started the MCSE next year the required exams might expire in June/July and I run out of time!

My current IT certificate path is as follows:
70-270
70-271
70-272
70-290
70-291

70-648
70-646


I want to slip SharePoint and Exchange in there somewhere, perhaps before 648 + 646. I'm thinking the 70-667 and 70-662.

I'm open to suggestions and appreciate the feedback.

 

I doubt they'll retire the MCSE track next year. That'd be only two years after retiring the Windows 2000 exams, and there was a LOT more time between the release of 2003 and 2008 than there was between the release of 2000 and 2003. If I had to guess, the MCSE will likely be around for a couple more years, if not longer.

By the time you get done with 70-290 and 70-291, you should have a clearer picture of whether Microsoft is going to retire 70-293 and 70-294 soon. If the announcement hasn't come by then (and I doubt it will), you'll have plenty of time to knock them out!

 

Lovely weather over the weekend, but having been sick as a dog for the past few days all I could do is gaze out of the window and wish I could go to the beach! But it gave me plenty of time to have a long and hard think and discuss all manner of options with the power's that be (wife).

I've decided to do the MCDST to MCITP 7 upgrade exam (70-682) followed by MCTS in SharePoint and Exchange. If after those to the 290 and 291 are still around, I'll finish my MCSA.