Certification Spec + 70-620

Hey all!

I recently graduated from Michigan State University and I'm looking to pad
my resume with a few MS certifications before going out into the IT job
market. I have the 70-620: Vista Configuration exam scheduled for this
Wednesday, (I've been studying for a good 2 weeks now - pretty straight
forward) and I'm pretty sure that I'll pass. Anyways, if I do succeed with
the exam, will I get both the MCP and MCTS title? Does this also mean that
if I pass 70-622 that I become an MCITP?

I'm new to newsgroups, so I apologize if this post is off-topic or against
newsgroup norms.

Also, any hints on how to calm my nerves about this exam. I'm stressing
about the posibility of failure. I have the Microsoft Press book - which I
actually like a lot (and I hate to read) and I don't know if it is enough.
Perhaps it is just my nerves though

 

Hi Robert,

Welcome to the newsgroup.

First piece of advice. You're young, just out of college, your whole life
in front of you, and you're thinking about getting into IT? Run. Run as
fast as your legs can carry you. Get a girlfriend. Have a life. Look into
selling hot dogs at the local stadium. IT is a geeky life, the technology
rolls over every 4 to 6 years. You'll sit at a desk and review log files 4
to 6 hours every day of your life. You'll need glasses in 3 to 6 years.
Run. Run now, go on, get going, don't look back, go!!!

Oh well, you're not listening. Ok...

70-620 will not grant MCP status, but it will grant MCTS - Vista Config.
And, yes, if you further pass 70-622, that will give you MCITP - Enterprise
Support Technician.

I have, in the past, used the Microsoft Press book as the only study
material prior to taking tests, and passed. However, I had lots and lots of
actual experience in the study area. For example, I have been both a system
admin and helpdesk team member for my company for years. The experience
helped me much more than the books because I had actually worked through the
scenarios over and over again.

Folks around here will tell you that certifications are all about certifying
experience. However, more and more employers are requiring them for that
first job, something that doesn't make sense from a purist point of view.

At any rate, you should review the exam objectives. See the 'Skills
Measured' section on this page...
http://www.microsoft.com/learning/exams/70-620.mspx
Those are the skills you will actually be tested on.

As to the nerves, it's just a test. If you have graduated from MSU,
(congrats, btw) you certainly have taken one or two of those in the past.
Just get out your test taking skills. Get a good nights sleeep, arrive a
little early, use the facilities, have a good meal about an hour before (but
no burritos or anything that might give you stomach trouble), in other
words, don't let other things distract you during the test. When you are
unclear or uncertain, reread the question looking for keywords, try to
eliminate distractor answers, etc, etc. You will have plenty of time so
don't let that little clock in the corner of the screen bother you. In the
end, if you know the material, you'll do fine, and if you don't, well you'll
have the test experience to take home.

Best of luck to you.

John R

 

Thanks for the response John!

I'm slightly bummed that I won't be getting the MCP certification as I had
been previously expecting. Oh well... I'm unsure which track I should be
going down. I was thinking about MCSA Windows Server 2003 because I have
little experience with servers and I'm positive that being knowledgable in
that area is a must. I'm also going to - correct me if I'm wrong - assume
that passing either 70-290 or 70-291 will bring along an MCP certification
as well as core exam requirements? I'm just incredibly confused by the
statement, "Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) candidates are required
to pass one current Microsoft Certification exam* -- A current exam is any
exam that has not been retired." I guess I'm fixated on the MCP part simply
because I don't see employers seeking MCTS candidates on job requirements.
I'm not sure if I should take one of those before tackling the 70-622 for
MCITP certification.

I may be a newbie when it comes to the certification and track know-how, but
I'm well aware of what I may be getting myself into

 

Yea, it is confusing. Up until last year, that statement was correct.
Passing any exam did get you MCP. However, with the new generation of
certifications, that is the MCTS and MCITP, MCP is no longer a given. So,
the way it works now is that if it is related to a new certification (such
as those Vista and Server 2008 related exams) that bring MCTS or MCITP, then
it does not grant MCP. If it is related to XP, Server 2003, or prior, and
does not specifically grant MCTS or MCITP, then it will be an MCP exam. I
know, very confusing, even for some of us that are used to it now.

If you pursue MCSA on 2003, then yes, you'll also need 70-290, 70-291, and
an elective. Passing any of those will bring MCP status. This is part of
the reason Microsoft wants to leave MCP status behind. MCP doesn't tell you
anything about the individual. Their test could have been on SQL and if you
don't use SQL, what's the advantage of hiring that particular MCP? The new
certs, like MCTS - Vista Config tells the employer straight out what they
know. If the employer needs help with Vista boxes in their environment,
then a MCTS - Vista Config is going to be a better match than a MCTS -
Server 2008 Config.

I don't think employers are asking for MCTS or MCITP credentials yet because
they don't understand them themselves yet, and also they are pretty new.
Although I am sure there are some MCITP - Enterprise Administrators out
there, I'll bet there's not too many, and certainly not enough to demand
that as a job requirement.

As to which track, that's going to have to be your call. I certainly see
value in XP and Server 2003 for a long time to come (more so with Server
2003). But if you want to work for a cutting edge company, they may have
already moved to Server 2008 and won't care about your MCSA on 2003, they
will be looking for MCITP - System Administrator, or MCITP - Enterprise
Administrator. My company only recently moved from an NT domain to a 2003
domain, so I think they will be on 2003 for years.

Again, best of luck to you.

John R

 

John,

Have you found that while completing the practice tests on the included CD
that some of the answers are actually wrong? I have run into this twice,
one with windows Firewall import/export policies, and one with backup and
restore items. I would post both questions here but I'm pretty sure that
would violate copyright laws. I just dont want to ingrain something into my
memory bank that is incorrect.

 

Yes, ocassionally there are mistakes. You might be able to request an
update, or check microsoft's website for errata to both the book and the cd.
They were developed by humans (fortunately) and probably rushed to market
just like everything else. I haven't run the readiness review for 70-620
yet, although I am nearing that point.

John R

 

I passed my certification test today... sadly with a 769/1000, but whatever,
passing is passing

 

Don't assume the "/1000". That is not a given. Each test is scored
independently, and then that score is converted to Microsoft's standard
scale where 700 or better is pass. You may have actually answered 99%
correct.

The important thing is that you passed, that is all that matters.

Congrats, BTW

John R

 

Hi all,
Regarding the MCP and MCTS, i have confirmed that the exam Grants you MCP
status and MCTS, you earn both
Kind Regards
Gareth

 

Technically anyone who holds a Microsoft certification is considered a
Microsoft Certified Professional.

But does this really matter? You're only getting one certification: MCTS

 

Can you source a Microsoft page that says you get MCP for 70-620? I agree
with Michael that it's kind of a moot point, but the page I quoted clearly
says...

When you pass Exam 70-620: TS: Configuring Microsoft Windows Vista Client,
you complete the requirements for the following certification(s):
a.. Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): Windows Vista,
Configuration

It says nothing about MCP. I'm not trying to be a hard-arse or anything,
but if MCP and MCTS were the same thing, one of them would not exist. MCP
does not expire, MCTS does. I can find no link anywhere that says you can
get both MCP and MCTS for any one exam.

John R

 

I would not expect many of a type of questions such as simulations.but if
you revised well that may not be a prob.
The thing i want to know is that what is the total scoring for the 64
questions