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scs
Guest
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 Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 7:47 pm Post subject: Wait for new test or go for current one? |
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I'm trying to get a couple of microsoft certs and have come to the
conclusion that I really don't know the basics as well as I thought. I
need to have the knowledge tested in A+ and Network+ to even really
start studying for the Microsoft exams. If I study for those tests I
might as well take them.
My question is: I have a pretty good background in compters. I don't
anticipate having to spend months studying for the A+. Should I take
the current test or wait for the 2006 materials to be available in Oct.
What do you all think about the idea of taking the Network+ first?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Steve |
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Thumper
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 11:33 pm Post subject: Re: Wait for new test or go for current one? |
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On 30 Aug 2006 07:47:16 -0700, "scs" <ssanden@gmail.com> wrote:
| Quote: | I'm trying to get a couple of microsoft certs and have come to the
conclusion that I really don't know the basics as well as I thought. I
need to have the knowledge tested in A+ and Network+ to even really
start studying for the Microsoft exams. If I study for those tests I
might as well take them.
My question is: I have a pretty good background in compters. I don't
anticipate having to spend months studying for the A+. Should I take
the current test or wait for the 2006 materials to be available in Oct.
What do you all think about the idea of taking the Network+ first?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Steve
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I don't see why you should wait. Take whichever test you feel most
comfortable in first. If it's N+ fine.
Thumper |
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JohnO
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 1:49 am Post subject: Re: Wait for new test or go for current one? |
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scs wrote:
| Quote: | I'm trying to get a couple of microsoft certs and have come to the
conclusion that I really don't know the basics as well as I thought. I
need to have the knowledge tested in A+ and Network+ to even really
start studying for the Microsoft exams. If I study for those tests I
might as well take them.
My question is: I have a pretty good background in compters. I don't
anticipate having to spend months studying for the A+. Should I take
the current test or wait for the 2006 materials to be available in Oct.
What do you all think about the idea of taking the Network+ first?
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
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Employers with a clue could possibly be more impressed with the new
exam...assuming you choose the most relevant elective. Most won't know
there's a now/old exam.
Makes no diff which you take first, given your situation.
-John O |
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John P. Dearing
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 5:55 am Post subject: Re: Wait for new test or go for current one? |
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scs wrote:
| Quote: | I'm trying to get a couple of microsoft certs and have come to the
conclusion that I really don't know the basics as well as I thought. I
need to have the knowledge tested in A+ and Network+ to even really
start studying for the Microsoft exams. If I study for those tests I
might as well take them.
My question is: I have a pretty good background in compters. I don't
anticipate having to spend months studying for the A+. Should I take
the current test or wait for the 2006 materials to be available in Oct.
What do you all think about the idea of taking the Network+ first?
|
Given your background, you could probably take the Net+ first if you
wanted to. Network+ was last updated in 2005 and isn't scheduled for
another update for a couple of years.
For most folks, the usual path is to take A+ Core Hardware first, then
The O/S exam. I tell my students to take whichever exam they feel the
best about first.
There is plenty of time for you to complete the existing A+ exams before
they run out. The advantage of doing it now is that there are plenty of
books/study guides available for the current objectives. The current
objectives are a known quantity and the existing training information is
well aligned to those objectives.
The new objectives are somewhat of an unknown at this point, especially
the "Customer Service" parts. It's gonna take some time for that portion
of the exam to come into focus.
As I see it, there is no good reason to wait for the new exams if you're
ready (or almost ready) for the existing exams.
John
--
John Dearing
A+, Network+, Server+
To reply, just drop "YOURPANTS" from my addy |
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dav
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 3:04 pm Post subject: Re: Wait for new test or go for current one? |
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Hi Scs,
Yes, I would reccommend taking an MCP in preference to the A+ and
Network+. Many employers hold the Microsoft Certified Professional
examinations in higher regard to comptia exams, because they are
Microsoft specific. The MCP most likely to be of immediate benefit to
you as a stand alone professional certification is the " 70-270
Installing, Configuring, and Administering Microsoft Windows XP
Professional ". This certification is also a core requirement on both
MCSA and MSCE certification tracks. The Microsoft official Academic
Course of the same name by Dave Field is available direct from
microsoft at around £40GBP and contains textbook, lab sim book, 120
day evaluation copy of Windows XP Professional with service pack 2, a
lab sim together with Microsoft readiness review practice tests
powered by measure up which will tell you when your ready for the
exam, so you can book your test. So work at home at your own pace with
everything you need to get your first MCP. As for your second
qualification you could go for the Comptia Security+ for the following
reasons: it covers the elective requirement on both MCSA and MCSE
tracks, it also counts as one of the security elements on the above
tracks with security. But perhaps more importantly, specialist
security skills are always in high demand, and the demand will grow
greater in the future as more gifted 8 and 9 year olds find loopholes
in software and other ways to circumvent network security.
Good luck with your exams,
Dav.
On 5 Sep 2006 18:44:17 -0700, "scs" <ssanden@gmail.com> wrote:
| Quote: | Are you suggesting taking a Microsoft MCP exam instead of A+ or
Network+. If so which ones?
Thanks
dav wrote:
Before you decide which exams to take you need to consider your
eventual goal. Although students would normally sit both A+ exams
before embarking on the Network + as the A+ covers a lot of the
network basics. You could use both exams to forfill the elective exam
requirement on the MCSA certification track, but you cant use them for
the MCSE certification track. Taking the comptia security + covers the
elective on both the MCSA and MCSE certification tracks, and is the
only certification which Microsoft will count twice. Official
Microsoft Academic Course training packs cost £40 in the UK and
include training software, lab and test sims, together with textbook,
and cover everything that you need to pass the MCP exam. Taking the A+
& N+ might seem like a good idea initially, but wont prepare you for
the 3hour microsoft exam, and will only encourage to skip topics
necessary for your MCP because you think you have already covered that
subject. MCP's are specific to Microsoft software and its
implementation and operation, a general knowledge isn't any good. Good
luck with your decision and your studies.
dav |
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