New MS Certs - Confused!

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First off, Hello! I trust everyone is well and progressing as usual!

I haven't been around for quite some time due to a very heavy workload and although I'm happy to report I've progressed very well in my career and salary, I haven't at all in my certs.

So I've come back to finish my MCSA 2003 with the view of then upgrading it to MCITP:SA 2008 pretty quickly afterwards, but I'm confused as to whether that's an available option?

I can see the exam 70-648 which takes me from MCSA 2003 --> Windows Server 2008, Technology Specializations which are Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2008 Active Directory Configuration and Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist: Windows Server 2008 Network Infrastructure Configuration. I then see this new MCSA: Windows Server 2008, am I going crazy or is this new?

I'm now completely at a loss of the best paths to take after the 291. From what I can gather I can do the 648 to get the above two certs which are only MCTS's and not the MCITP:SA that I wanted to achieve originally, but then has this basically now changed to MCSA 2008? In which case I'd go 640, 642 and 646?

Sorry for the messy topic, I've tried to make it as clear as possible!

- - - Updated - - -

...phew... I continued to dig and found a lot more information which I believe pretty much answers my above question!

The two paths I think are available I've put below;

291 - To become MCSA 2003
648 (which is a combination of 640 and 642) - To become MCTS x2
646 - To become MCITP:SA (which is also automatically MCSA 2008 as well I believe..?)

All three of these exams retire on 31st July 2013, so they'd need to be completed by then!

OR

291 - To become MCSA 2003
640 - Part 1 of MCSA 2008
642 - Part 2 of MCSA 2008
646 - Part 3 of MCSA 2008

Only the 291 retires on 31st July 2013, with the other 3 giving me MCSA 2008.

If anyone can confirm that or tell me where I'm going wrong I would appreciate the help!

Thank you

 

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You are correct about the two paths. If you can complete the 291 and 648 before July 13th, 2013 you'll be on your way, since no date has been set for retiring 646 or the main MCITP:SA/MCSA:2008 path. If you complete the MCITP:SA before July next year both that and the MCSA:2008 cert will show up on your transcript. If you complete the requirements after that date then only the MCSA:2008 will show on the transcript.

Think I covered everything. Good luck.

 

Good stuff, thanks for that.

Its good news as I thought I had to do the 291, 648 and the 646 before July 31st so it gives me a bit more breathing space only having to do the first two before then! I read that back and I know i'll regret using the word "only", its going to be a hard task without any doubt!

 

the 291 wasn't that bad, had a good few simulations and to me it was fairly straightforward. I would recommend the CBT nuggets video for that one, James Conrad was the trainer and the series was very well done. Never took the 648, so can't comment on that one. You should be able to do those 2 in a year, no problem

 

I sure hope so!

I been so out of the game for so long now I think its going to be hard to get back into the swing of things. It was December 2010 when I done my last exam. Shameful!

Oh well, no time like the present, I'm going to start tonight.

 

I'd get your MCSA sorted then forget about MCITP.

You are looking at requiring so many upgrade exams that you might as well wait and start from scratch on a new track later.

MCSA is still what recruiters recognise and its for life, MS are bringing back MCSA and MCSE anyway so to most recruiters they won't know the difference ;)

 

I think your spot on with the experience vs paper thing Jim, its a hard thing to keep balanced to ensure you come across in the right way to potential employers. I think I'm currently weighed in the experience over paper so hopefully I can sort that out over the next year or so.

dmarsh; The only reason I was looking at the upgrade path was because if I manage to do the 291 and 648 before the deadline, and then do 646 which isn't due to retire just yet, I'd automatically get the MCSA:2008 in one less exam. Although I do agree that it might be nice to clear the MCSA 2003, and then start a fresh with the MCSA 2008, which is now only 3 exams. Am I right in saying that? There doesn't seem to be a client exam in there any more.

 

What I was proposing is something like MCSA 2003.

then put feet up and list it just as 'MCSA' on CV

..then MCSE 2025 or whatever...

Alternatively if you want do it now you have, to get MCSA 2003, upgrade to MCITP 2008, upgrade to MCSA 2012, then take 413 and 414 to get MCSE 2012. (5 exams).

MCSE 2012 is only 5 exams from scratch, so really upgrade exams buy you nothing if you'd rather skip a generation or two...

 

Ahh I see what you mean, probably not a bad idea as you said 99% of employers see MCSA and don't even realise the different generations.

I think first and foremost I need to get this 70-291 done, as by the time I'm finished that I'll probably need another break to get over it!

I cracked open the book last night, and am now in the process of setting up virtual machines on a portable hard drive so I can study at work and at home, so i'll hopefully get plenty of hours in and get it done as soon as possible!

Thanks for all your input guys!