MCSE time limitation and preperation

Hello All,

I am in the midst of beginning my certification for MCSE: Security, and had
a couple quick questions an i am hoping this is the place to post.

1) is there a time limitation on how quickly you have to write all the
exams? do they expire, or does it all have to be done within 1 year, etc...I
work fulltime, and have a family, so unfortunately i dont have all the time
to dedicate like when i was back in college.

2) What would you recommend for the best preperation for these exams? I
have 3-4 years experience as a systems and network admin, so i am hoping that
this will assist me. As far as books go, i have heard mixed opinions
regarding the MS Press books recommended by microsoft (questions about
material not even covered in the books, etc..). Any suggestion on other book
material, or am i simply just reading the wrong reviews and the MS Press
Books are an excellent prep guide.

I appreciate your time and response,

Cheers

=?Utf-8?B?ZGFsbGVu?=

=?Utf-8?B?ZGFsbGVu?= <> prattled
ceaselessly in news:F479DECB-30AB-4DEA-8A38-:

> Hello All,
>
> I am in the midst of beginning my certification for MCSE: Security,
> and had a couple quick questions an i am hoping this is the place to
> post.
>
> 1) is there a time limitation on how quickly you have to write all the
> exams? do they expire, or does it all have to be done within 1 year,
> etc.
>
> 2) What would you recommend for the best preperation for these exams?

1) Once you pass, the qualification does not expire but may become
obsolete as technology changes. Some of the exams are set to retire this
in March 2008 so you'll want to check the MS Learning site to make sure
the ones you want to take will still be available when you want to take
them. You do not have any other time limits. As long as the exams are
still available you can take them as quickly or as slowly as you like. I
found that after my first couple, I was taking the next one every 4-6
weeks.

2) Check reviews at amazon, barnes and noble, borders etc. Go to the
bookstore and look at the books. I used MS press for all the exams I
took and found them to be helpful. No one book will cover everything
completely, however. There are tons of articles and resources on technet
and the knowledgebase and the readiness and review section of ms press
will direct you to additional reading material there and elsewhere.

The best prep for the exams is to make sure you can actually do what is
described in the objectives in the exam. If you can't, set up a lab and
do it until you can. Reading alone will not help you.

--
Catwalker
MCNGP #43
www.mcngp.com
"Definitely not wearing any underwear."

catwalker63

Excellent! everything i needed to know.

fyi - amazon and chapters were the sites i read many mixed reviews regarding
the MS Press books. I have a feeling they may have been inexperienced, and
were trying to write the exams based on the textbooks alone.

Thanks for the timely and informative response! excellent first impression
of teh MS Learning message boards!

cheers,

"catwalker63" wrote:

> =?Utf-8?B?ZGFsbGVu?= <> prattled
> ceaselessly in news:F479DECB-30AB-4DEA-8A38-:
>
> > Hello All,
> >
> > I am in the midst of beginning my certification for MCSE: Security,
> > and had a couple quick questions an i am hoping this is the place to
> > post.
> >
> > 1) is there a time limitation on how quickly you have to write all the
> > exams? do they expire, or does it all have to be done within 1 year,
> > etc.
> >
> > 2) What would you recommend for the best preperation for these exams?
>
> 1) Once you pass, the qualification does not expire but may become
> obsolete as technology changes. Some of the exams are set to retire this
> in March 2008 so you'll want to check the MS Learning site to make sure
> the ones you want to take will still be available when you want to take
> them. You do not have any other time limits. As long as the exams are
> still available you can take them as quickly or as slowly as you like. I
> found that after my first couple, I was taking the next one every 4-6
> weeks.
>
> 2) Check reviews at amazon, barnes and noble, borders etc. Go to the
> bookstore and look at the books. I used MS press for all the exams I
> took and found them to be helpful. No one book will cover everything
> completely, however. There are tons of articles and resources on technet
> and the knowledgebase and the readiness and review section of ms press
> will direct you to additional reading material there and elsewhere.
>
> The best prep for the exams is to make sure you can actually do what is
> described in the objectives in the exam. If you can't, set up a lab and
> do it until you can. Reading alone will not help you.
>
> --
> Catwalker
> MCNGP #43
> www.mcngp.com
> "Definitely not wearing any underwear."
>

=?Utf-8?B?ZGFsbGVu?=

"dallen" <> wrote in message
news9AADD92-6709-4CD0-B38D-...

excellent first impression
> of teh MS Learning message boards!

Don't worry, that will soon fade.

CBIC

This could be a stupid question...but i cant seem to find the retire dates
for the exams on the MS learning site? am i missing something here? where can
i find them?

thanks in advance,

"catwalker63" wrote:

> =?Utf-8?B?ZGFsbGVu?= <> prattled
> ceaselessly in news:F479DECB-30AB-4DEA-8A38-:
>
> > Hello All,
> >
> > I am in the midst of beginning my certification for MCSE: Security,
> > and had a couple quick questions an i am hoping this is the place to
> > post.
> >
> > 1) is there a time limitation on how quickly you have to write all the
> > exams? do they expire, or does it all have to be done within 1 year,
> > etc.
> >
> > 2) What would you recommend for the best preperation for these exams?
>
> 1) Once you pass, the qualification does not expire but may become
> obsolete as technology changes. Some of the exams are set to retire this
> in March 2008 so you'll want to check the MS Learning site to make sure
> the ones you want to take will still be available when you want to take
> them. You do not have any other time limits. As long as the exams are
> still available you can take them as quickly or as slowly as you like. I
> found that after my first couple, I was taking the next one every 4-6
> weeks.
>
> 2) Check reviews at amazon, barnes and noble, borders etc. Go to the
> bookstore and look at the books. I used MS press for all the exams I
> took and found them to be helpful. No one book will cover everything
> completely, however. There are tons of articles and resources on technet
> and the knowledgebase and the readiness and review section of ms press
> will direct you to additional reading material there and elsewhere.
>
> The best prep for the exams is to make sure you can actually do what is
> described in the objectives in the exam. If you can't, set up a lab and
> do it until you can. Reading alone will not help you.
>
> --
> Catwalker
> MCNGP #43
> www.mcngp.com
> "Definitely not wearing any underwear."
>

=?Utf-8?B?ZGFsbGVu?=

"dallen" <> wrote in message
news:B84E809F-0F3B-45AC-A04B-...
> This could be a stupid question...but i cant seem to find the retire dates
> for the exams on the MS learning site? am i missing something here? where
> can
> i find them?

http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mc...storetire.mspx

CBIC

thanks!

by the look of things, ill have all kinds of time to complete the
MCSE:Security cert for 2003.

cheers

"CBIC" wrote:

>
> "dallen" <> wrote in message
> news:B84E809F-0F3B-45AC-A04B-...
> > This could be a stupid question...but i cant seem to find the retire dates
> > for the exams on the MS learning site? am i missing something here? where
> > can
> > i find them?
>
> http://www.microsoft.com/learning/mc...storetire.mspx
>
>
>

=?Utf-8?B?ZGFsbGVu?=

"dallen" <> wrote in message
news:EA910D1B-0531-4829-B166-...
> thanks!
>
> by the look of things, ill have all kinds of time to complete the
> MCSE:Security cert for 2003.

Absolutely.

Especially since you have all of us to do your research for you.

Frisbee®

ouch

"Frisbee®" <> wrote in message
news:...
> "dallen" <> wrote in message
> news:EA910D1B-0531-4829-B166-...
>> thanks!
>>
>> by the look of things, ill have all kinds of time to complete the
>> MCSE:Security cert for 2003.
>
> Absolutely.
>
> Especially since you have all of us to do your research for you.
>
>

Consultant

Cool it!

it's not like i have not looked into this. I have been looking for these
answers for sometime now. Unfortunately i dont have all the time in the
world like yourself to sit in front of your computer and play on the internet
all day, so i resulted in a what seemed to be "legit" newsgroup. I was not
expecting to find someone with your level of ignorance sitting around and
waiting for interested people to post threads.

If you are not interested in using newsgroups for information and helping
others, than quit being a smartass and find something better to do with your
time.

People like you should not be allowed to associate with the public.

"Frisbee®" wrote:

> "dallen" <> wrote in message
> news:EA910D1B-0531-4829-B166-...
> > thanks!
> >
> > by the look of things, ill have all kinds of time to complete the
> > MCSE:Security cert for 2003.
>
> Absolutely.
>
> Especially since you have all of us to do your research for you.
>
>
>

=?Utf-8?B?ZGFsbGVu?=