A+ or MCP

Hello Group
Have been following for awhile. I am considering going for either cert.
I know the important question is "what am I going to do with the cert?"
I think I want to start by working on the side for small businesses and
individuals. Where that leads I don't know. I have an A+ from 1998.
The track on the MCP closest to the A+ is Microsoft Certified Desktop
Support Technician (MCDST) on Windows XP

I could be wrong about the track, correct me if I am

I am seeking responses from qualified certified people who would like to
give their 2 ¢

Richard

Richard

More importantly, what will you be doing for these small businesses? A+ (as
you know because you already have the certification) is mainly about
hardware and Basic OS knowledge. MCP is a title you get by completing pertty
much any MS test. For most, this would currently be the XP workstation cert.
If you will be working with hardware (building, repairing computers), then
A+ is your game. MCP by itself is not likely to win many points. Even small
businesses (more than 5 - 7 PCs) nowadays need a server with Active
Directory, solid backups, etc. You'll get some disagreement on this, but
even small offices with 4 or 5 workstations get themselves screwed up by
having shares all over the place, a jumble of passwords, shares, no backups
or backing up the wrong stuff, etc. Most will run some kind of client-server
software, many times something proprietary to their line of business. Think
MCSE. And see if you can get a job at a larger place, either a business with
in-house IT or better, a consulting-type company that services a bunch of
different setups so you can get some real experience. Even if you have to
work there for free on your day off (I did).

....kurt

"Richard" <> wrote in message
news:%...
> Hello Group
> Have been following for awhile. I am considering going for either cert.
> I know the important question is "what am I going to do with the cert?"
> I think I want to start by working on the side for small businesses and
> individuals. Where that leads I don't know. I have an A+ from 1998.
> The track on the MCP closest to the A+ is Microsoft Certified Desktop
> Support Technician (MCDST) on Windows XP
>
> I could be wrong about the track, correct me if I am
>
> I am seeking responses from qualified certified people who would like to
> give their 2 ¢
>
> Richard
>

Kurt

More importantly, what will you be doing for these small businesses? A+ (as
you know because you already have the certification) is mainly about
hardware and Basic OS knowledge. MCP is a title you get by completing pertty
much any MS test. For most, this would currently be the XP workstation cert.
If you will be working with hardware (building, repairing computers), then
A+ is your game. MCP by itself is not likely to win many points. Even small
businesses (more than 5 - 7 PCs) nowadays need a server with Active
Directory, solid backups, etc. You'll get some disagreement on this, but
even small offices with 4 or 5 workstations get themselves screwed up by
having shares all over the place, a jumble of passwords, shares, no backups
or backing up the wrong stuff, etc. Most will run some kind of client-server
software, many times something proprietary to their line of business. Think
MCSE. And see if you can get a job at a larger place, either a business with
in-house IT or better, a consulting-type company that services a bunch of
different setups so you can get some real experience. Even if you have to
work there for free on your day off (I did).

....kurt

"Richard" <> wrote in message
news:%...
> Hello Group
> Have been following for awhile. I am considering going for either cert.
> I know the important question is "what am I going to do with the cert?"
> I think I want to start by working on the side for small businesses and
> individuals. Where that leads I don't know. I have an A+ from 1998.
> The track on the MCP closest to the A+ is Microsoft Certified Desktop
> Support Technician (MCDST) on Windows XP
>
> I could be wrong about the track, correct me if I am
>
> I am seeking responses from qualified certified people who would like to
> give their 2 ¢
>
> Richard
>

Kurt

"Richard" <> wrote in news:#Y0zaM6pGHA.1796
@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl:

> Hello Group
> Have been following for awhile. I am considering going for either cert.
> I know the important question is "what am I going to do with the cert?"
> I think I want to start by working on the side for small businesses and
> individuals. Where that leads I don't know. I have an A+ from 1998.
> The track on the MCP closest to the A+ is Microsoft Certified Desktop
> Support Technician (MCDST) on Windows XP
>
> I could be wrong about the track, correct me if I am

I think the following could be good for you:

MCDST (Two exams)
70-282 - Solutions for Small and Medium Sized businesses. (NOTE: This is
NOT a Small Business Server exam, but SBS is included in the exam).

--
Ole Kristian Bangås
MCT, MCDBA, MCDST, MCSE:Security, MCSE:Messaging, MCTS, MCITP

Ole Kristian Bangås

"Richard" <> wrote in news:#Y0zaM6pGHA.1796
@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl:

> Hello Group
> Have been following for awhile. I am considering going for either cert.
> I know the important question is "what am I going to do with the cert?"
> I think I want to start by working on the side for small businesses and
> individuals. Where that leads I don't know. I have an A+ from 1998.
> The track on the MCP closest to the A+ is Microsoft Certified Desktop
> Support Technician (MCDST) on Windows XP
>
> I could be wrong about the track, correct me if I am

I think the following could be good for you:

MCDST (Two exams)
70-282 - Solutions for Small and Medium Sized businesses. (NOTE: This is
NOT a Small Business Server exam, but SBS is included in the exam).

--
Ole Kristian Bangås
MCT, MCDBA, MCDST, MCSE:Security, MCSE:Messaging, MCTS, MCITP

Ole Kristian Bangås

Hi Richard,

Both Kurt and Ole Kristian Bangas make very valid points. Microsoft
Certified Professional in and of itself does not really have the same level
of credibility that it once did. If you combine it with other certs then you
have yourself a ballgame though!

I think the MCDST certification is like a nice little toy... useful for
where you are but it won't take you much further. As Kurt pointed out it
will only be of use to companies without a domain/Active Directory server
structure, which the party line says should not exceed five workstations.
The problem with that is twofold: 1) most companies with fewer than five
terminals cannot afford a full-time IT Pro, and 2) if they can afford it they
are probably going to grow, and the minute they do you become obsolete.

Kurt said you should aim for your MCSE. I think this is a good goal but it
is also daunting - eight exams on technology that you probably do not have a
lot of experience with. Not only is it scary to think of, it is bloody
difficult to achieve! However a happy medium between here and there is the
MCSA (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator) cert. If it has not changed
it is four exams which will give you a good basis in the requisite
technologies.

Of course that too is a long way off. As Ole Kristian pointed out the
070-282 exam covers small business infrastructure which focuses on (but is
not exclusive to) Microsoft Small Business Server. By getting familiar with
Small Business Server you get a crash course in all of the enterprise-level
technologies (Active Directory, Exchange, ISA, IIS, SQL, SharePoint, etc...)
without the enterprise environment.

Once you are there you have a choice - you can continue to support small
businesses while continuing to advance your studies in the enterprise
segment, or you can stay there - you will find that the Small Business
Specialist community is vast and vibrant, and there are a lot of people there
who make a very good living at it.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide to do!

M

--
MDG, MCSA


"Richard" wrote:

> Hello Group
> Have been following for awhile. I am considering going for either cert.
> I know the important question is "what am I going to do with the cert?"
> I think I want to start by working on the side for small businesses and
> individuals. Where that leads I don't know. I have an A+ from 1998.
> The track on the MCP closest to the A+ is Microsoft Certified Desktop
> Support Technician (MCDST) on Windows XP
>
> I could be wrong about the track, correct me if I am
>
> I am seeking responses from qualified certified people who would like to
> give their 2 ¢
>
> Richard
>
>
>

=?Utf-8?B?TW9udHJlYWwgTUNTQQ==?=

Hi Richard,

Both Kurt and Ole Kristian Bangas make very valid points. Microsoft
Certified Professional in and of itself does not really have the same level
of credibility that it once did. If you combine it with other certs then you
have yourself a ballgame though!

I think the MCDST certification is like a nice little toy... useful for
where you are but it won't take you much further. As Kurt pointed out it
will only be of use to companies without a domain/Active Directory server
structure, which the party line says should not exceed five workstations.
The problem with that is twofold: 1) most companies with fewer than five
terminals cannot afford a full-time IT Pro, and 2) if they can afford it they
are probably going to grow, and the minute they do you become obsolete.

Kurt said you should aim for your MCSE. I think this is a good goal but it
is also daunting - eight exams on technology that you probably do not have a
lot of experience with. Not only is it scary to think of, it is bloody
difficult to achieve! However a happy medium between here and there is the
MCSA (Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator) cert. If it has not changed
it is four exams which will give you a good basis in the requisite
technologies.

Of course that too is a long way off. As Ole Kristian pointed out the
070-282 exam covers small business infrastructure which focuses on (but is
not exclusive to) Microsoft Small Business Server. By getting familiar with
Small Business Server you get a crash course in all of the enterprise-level
technologies (Active Directory, Exchange, ISA, IIS, SQL, SharePoint, etc...)
without the enterprise environment.

Once you are there you have a choice - you can continue to support small
businesses while continuing to advance your studies in the enterprise
segment, or you can stay there - you will find that the Small Business
Specialist community is vast and vibrant, and there are a lot of people there
who make a very good living at it.

Good luck, and let us know what you decide to do!

M

--
MDG, MCSA


"Richard" wrote:

> Hello Group
> Have been following for awhile. I am considering going for either cert.
> I know the important question is "what am I going to do with the cert?"
> I think I want to start by working on the side for small businesses and
> individuals. Where that leads I don't know. I have an A+ from 1998.
> The track on the MCP closest to the A+ is Microsoft Certified Desktop
> Support Technician (MCDST) on Windows XP
>
> I could be wrong about the track, correct me if I am
>
> I am seeking responses from qualified certified people who would like to
> give their 2 ¢
>
> Richard
>
>
>

=?Utf-8?B?TW9udHJlYWwgTUNTQQ==?=

Thanks for taking the time to respond, I appreciate the information.

Richard


"Richard" <> wrote in message
news:%...
> Hello Group
> Have been following for awhile. I am considering going for either cert.
> I know the important question is "what am I going to do with the cert?"
> I think I want to start by working on the side for small businesses and
> individuals. Where that leads I don't know. I have an A+ from 1998.
> The track on the MCP closest to the A+ is Microsoft Certified Desktop
> Support Technician (MCDST) on Windows XP
>
> I could be wrong about the track, correct me if I am
>
> I am seeking responses from qualified certified people who would like to
> give their 2 ¢
>
> Richard
>

Richard

Thanks for taking the time to respond, I appreciate the information.

Richard


"Richard" <> wrote in message
news:%...
> Hello Group
> Have been following for awhile. I am considering going for either cert.
> I know the important question is "what am I going to do with the cert?"
> I think I want to start by working on the side for small businesses and
> individuals. Where that leads I don't know. I have an A+ from 1998.
> The track on the MCP closest to the A+ is Microsoft Certified Desktop
> Support Technician (MCDST) on Windows XP
>
> I could be wrong about the track, correct me if I am
>
> I am seeking responses from qualified certified people who would like to
> give their 2 ¢
>
> Richard
>

Richard