MCDST or A+

Discussion in 'MCDST' started by phily, Dec 27, 2008.

  1. phily

    phily Bit Poster

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    Not sure if this question is asked before or not. I'm in the process of doing my MCDST but when looking at the jobs requirements it seems the A+ dominate over MCDST. Which one really worth the MCDST or the A+ certificate?
     
  2. Evilwheato

    Evilwheato Kilobyte Poster

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    They're both worth doing ;)
    A lot of people doing the A+ (sometimes N+) first to get a solid grounding- but this is by no means absolute!
     
  3. del_port

    del_port Byte Poster

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    The A+ for me is much more enjoyable,i find the mcdst fairly boring,and there isn't a lot to it,that is not to say it's easy,i find it dificult myself,the A+ is the easier of the two,for me anyway.

    Loads of interesting subjects in the A+ ,10 subjects in total,i would reckon the microsoft certificate is more respected than the A+ when it comes to employment, i haven't yet seen anywhere that asks that the person has the A+ ,i've seen plenty that require microsoft qualifications though.

    In my own experience i think i've done them in the correct order,i started with the A+ ,and the mcdst followed further on from where i left off with the A+.

    I don't think it would have made sense to do the mcdst before the A+.

    A few of my classmates had also passed the A+ before they started on the mcdst,infact they were hugely experienced.
    The mcdst isn't for amateurs or beginners really,whereas the A+ is.
     
    Certifications: A+ and MCDST 70-271
    WIP: mcdst 272
  4. Kitkatninja
    Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    Kitkatninja aka me, myself & I Moderator

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    The A+ & Network+ combo is actually compliments the MCDST, I would also recommend you do both :)

    All 3 teaches different skills.

    -Ken
     
    Certifications: MSc, PGDip, PGCert, BSc, HNC, LCGI, MBCS CITP, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MCE, A+, N+, S+, Server+
    WIP: MSc Cyber Security
  5. phily

    phily Bit Poster

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    Thanks everyone for the replies. Here is the real scenario for my case. I graduated from college two years ago with B.S Computer Networking. I did my MCSE 2k and 2003 while I was in college. I read the books and installed windows server 2003 in a home lab. And the main benefit of doing that because the courses were fresh and it was easy to get practical at the college lab.It took me a while to get myself up and running at that time. I landed my first IT job as a help desk about 7 months ago.I was working another job not really realted to the IT, money was issue at that time. Then I decided to get into the field. My MCSE didn't worth anything because I don't have the experience to get higher paying job. I decided to start from scratch to step up. Thats why now I need to get an entry level certification with the experience I make with my current help desk position. I am not worrying about how long it takes me to get there, but I think I will do both the MCDST and the A+.
     
  6. Kitkatninja
    Highly Decorated Member Award 500 Likes Award

    Kitkatninja aka me, myself & I Moderator

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    Cool, good plan :)

    -Ken
     
    Certifications: MSc, PGDip, PGCert, BSc, HNC, LCGI, MBCS CITP, MCP, MCSA, MCSE, MCE, A+, N+, S+, Server+
    WIP: MSc Cyber Security
  7. Benjamin Woodcock

    Benjamin Woodcock Bit Poster

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    I personally would take the A+ first to gain a basic knowledge and understanding of an IT technician role, then look into MCDST, i'll be studying MCDST over the next few weeks thinking about it :)

    Good luck in the future :)
     
    Certifications: A+, MCP, MCDST
    WIP: Network+, MCSA
  8. SarlechS

    SarlechS Bit Poster

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    with you having a degree i would do the MCDST rather than the A+, that's what i'm doing, the degree you have shows you already have quite a foundation of knowledge in I.T.
     
    Certifications: BA(Hons) Business Information Technology
    WIP: MCDST
  9. greenbrucelee
    Highly Decorated Member Award

    greenbrucelee Zettabyte Poster

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    I have a HND in a similar subject which isn't too far of a degree and believe me I learned things on the A+ that I didn't learn on the HND and wouldn't have learned if I had been able to do the extra year to make it into a degree.

    More certs and qualifications of similar levels can't hurt, it's when you start doing qualifications and certs that are beyond your experience level that can hurt.
     
    Certifications: A+, N+, MCDST, Security+, 70-270
    WIP: 70-620 or 70-680?
  10. SarlechS

    SarlechS Bit Poster

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    that is a good point, it would make most sense doing the A+ first i agree. i decided not to go for the A+ because i felt there wasn't much of a job prospect for that certification (in the UK that is)
     
    Certifications: BA(Hons) Business Information Technology
    WIP: MCDST

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