Questions about MCSE Cert programs

[nomadman]

hi everyone,

i've been looking for the right people to train me in getting me ready for the MCSE cert. exam. the problem is, there are a handfull of schools that offer it and i don't know where to start and what questions to ask.

i have experience in LAN, limmited in extranet, experienced in hardware. i also have enough experience in win2k adv. server, winxp pro, and .NET stand. servers to get by.

does it make a difference which schools i go to? what should i be looking for when choosing one?

if you could provide a link or two would be great. i've scanned though MS's sites and i could not find anything that would help me look for the right school.

thanks,
nomadman

[DVNT1]

You mentioned "the MCSE cert. exam", typically that is seven tests that can be spread out so you can study for each piece individually.

The MCSE related training can be self study, 1 or 2 week "boot camps", and even longer (ie: 2 semesters) like through a college.

What is best for you depends on your current knowledge, ability to learn, time, and money.

I doubt many peolpe take more than one boot camp so it may be hard to find fair comparisions.

A couple notes on my experience through a 2 week "boot camp" can be seen at http://www.techimo.com/forum/t2509.html

[nomadman]

thanks for the info and the link DVNT1. oh btw, belated congrats!!!

i've been planning this for almost a year now and i haven't lost the urge. so the desire for knowledge is still there. i'm looking at taking the MCSE 33 day course for around $2200. does that seem fair to you?

[DVNT1]

Thanks.

Costs seems reasonable to me (I didn't resarch the current pricing though). When I was researching this the 2 week type classes are frequently $5500 ~ $7000. Most I checked offered a free repeat classes if you didn't pass all the tests. You might try to get that added in if not already present with this training center.

It also seems like most centers have a lot of room to negociate services and price. I went to a CISSP related training and some people paid >$4800 and I only paid like $3100.

[MDdan]

Try to find folks who've done their program. I took a Checkpoint firewall Certification class this past semester that was a joke. The instructor was "Checkpoint Certified" but he admitted that he didn't know much about "security" and wanted to know if the class thought that was a good field to be in.

LOL?!? Teaching a firewall class and admits that he doesn't know anything about security.

This course was through a real college, for credit, and was very expensive.

Good instructors make all the difference. So does hands on experience, find out if the school will let you stay after class and try stuff. If they will, that's all the better, be sure and do it. Get as much hands on as you can.

[nomadman]

thanks! that's the type of input i needed to know. i will look into bootcamp discounts and freebies..

looking through the MCSE on Microsoft Windows 2000 Certification Requirements, there are some things in there that the program doesn't offer. maybe this would be a weeknesses of such training centers.

the center that i wanted to attend doesn't have Course 2159: Deploying and Managing Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration Server 2000 (3 days). which i think i lack the knowledge of . the self learn method may be the only way around this, but actually deploying and managing this on a win2k or .net server is a bit of a pain in the rear .

[nomadman]

thanks for the comment MDdan. i will ask about that. there's nothing better than on-hand experience..

i have enough computers (5) here at home, i hope to replicate the training environment from what i've learned at the center.

[nomadman]

not trying to swerve from the subject. but what do you guys think of the MCSA cert.? is it worth it?

[maface]

This is a good site for info. www.mcpmag.com

As for the MCSA it wouldn't hurt to get that first then the MCSE. I think thats what I may do

[DVNT1]

Course 2159: I didn't take that elective to get my MCSE

As to the MCSA question, it has been discussed here before so you may want to browse through the older posts in this forum for some of the previous discussions/thoughts.

[nomadman]

thanks for the link maface, and i'm on it now DVNT1. i'll collect some questions and post back later. thanks for your time...

[vesther]

Originally posted by nomadman
hi everyone,

i've been looking for the right people to train me in getting me ready for the MCSE cert. exam. the problem is, there are a handfull of schools that offer it and i don't know where to start and what questions to ask.

i have experience in LAN, limmited in extranet, experienced in hardware. i also have enough experience in win2k adv. server, winxp pro, and .NET stand. servers to get by.

does it make a difference which schools i go to? what should i be looking for when choosing one?

if you could provide a link or two would be great. i've scanned though MS's sites and i could not find anything that would help me look for the right school.

thanks,
nomadman

If you live at DuPage County, you should scan around at http://www.niubis.com for more details regarding about their MCSE Program. You are highly recommended to get your A+ Certification first before pursuing an MCSE, and quite possibly a Network+ Certification as well. NIU-BIS should offer programs that allow you to pursue the recommended prereqs (CompTIA A+ and Network+, both Vendor-Neutral Certifications), but the price is kind of STEEP. so be prepared to max-out your credit card and/or borrow lots of money, and be prepared to pay them back on time, and according to the terms. There is also a school that offers an A+/MCSE Program but also gives you College Credit towards transfer to a preferred Baccalaureate Institution of your choice, and that's the Northwestern Business College's Info Tech Institute. Sadly, the link does not work for now (Alleged Page Updating) but there should be a phone number somewhere in the http://www.northwesternbc.edu if you are interested.

You are to be warned that MCSE is not going to be a cakewalk--There's going to be plenty of theory as you learn Windows 2000 and be prepared to learn Windows XP Professional (More likely will be augmented according to Market Demands) during your quest for an MCSE. I recommend that you enroll in classes where you can learn Microsoft's Networking Products so this way you can stand a better chance of cramming any MCSE Tests. You should take the following courses before you even cross the line:

* Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional or Microsoft Windows XP Professional
* Microsoft Windows 2000 Server Family or Microsoft Windows.NET Server Family
* Active Directory Concepts
* Network Infrastructure
* Network Security
* Designing a Network
* SQL

I'm not sure about the exact names of the courses, but you can ease some of the pain of having to take one of the 7 very hard exams if you can become A+ and Network+ Certified first (I have passed BOTH A+ Exams, and I should get my A+ Certification Plaque in a couple of weeks, and I am bidding for Network+). Also, even though the prices may be a bit too steep in most instances, taking ALL MCSE-related classes should help...it can't hurt to try.

So if you want to become MCSE, then first, try to be A+ Certified, and then get Network+ Certified (Note that you should be A+ Certified first, then Network+, A+ is usually the best first certification), and then shoot for MCSE. The most relevant link (http://www.niubis.com) should be handy if you live at DuPage County at Illinois, besides, you might want to do a lot of research through search engines, but I'll try to help you out a bit in searching for the perfect school for you.

BTW Where do you live? Because I like to search for a perfect Vocational Institution for you so this way you can learn A+, Network+, and even MCSE at one roof. Again, an A+ Certification and a Network+ Certification is recommended before taking an MCSE Exam...You need to pass 4 Core Exams, 2 Design Exams, and an Elective to become MCSE Certified, and you possibly need to take and pass 2 more exams if you want to be MCSE+I Certified.

Hope this helps.

REASON FOR STATING A+ AND NETWORK+ CERTIFICATION PREREQ: The reason why I had to state out that you should get A+ Certified and Network+ Certified first before you even shoot for an MCSE is because those two certifications should really help you a lot, and plus, the more certifications you have, the better. These two certifications should serve as a foundation and a gateway to future certifications. Not only that, the best part of being A+ and Network+ Certified is that they aren't Vendor-Biased whatsoever, so being A+ and Network+ Certified can make a difference when taking the MCSE Exams. If you can be MCSE+I Certified (It's basically an MCSE with Internet Proficiency), then I will be pleased at you.

[nomadman]

thanks for the insite vesther. it' seams that everyone's recommends taking the A+ and net+ first before the MCSA then finally the MCSE. i have set an appointment with two schools offering these certs and i hope to get some feedback and recomendations from them.

i do however plan on taking the a course in A+ then net+ starting January.

thanks again.

[nomadman]

REASON FOR STATING A+ AND NETWORK+ CERTIFICATION PREREQ: The reason why I had to state out that you should get A+ Certified and Network+ Certified first before you even shoot for an MCSE is because those two certifications should really help you a lot, and plus, the more certifications you have, the better. These two certifications should serve as a foundation and a gateway to future certifications. Not only that, the best part of being A+ and Network+ Certified is that they aren't Vendor-Biased whatsoever, so being A+ and Network+ Certified can make a difference when taking the MCSE Exams. If you can be MCSE+I Certified (It's basically an MCSE with Internet Proficiency), then I will be pleased at you.

ahh i see. i was under the impression that passing the A+ and the N+ will excuse me from taking 1 or 2 exams for the MCSE. obviousely not... it just sets a foundation for taking my MCSE test.

i went to see a school recruter today and she adviced me on taking the MCP and not take the A+ or N+, if i remember what she said correctly. Is MCP the same thing as A+ and N+? or is it another certification?

please excuse my ignorance, but can you explain these certs. in a very small nutshell? A+, Network+, and MCP. thanks...

[vesther]

Originally posted by nomadman


ahh i see. i was under the impression that passing the A+ and the N+ will excuse me from taking 1 or 2 exams for the MCSE. obviousely not... it just sets a foundation for taking my MCSE test.

i went to see a school recruter today and she adviced me on taking the MCP and not take the A+ or N+, if i remember what she said correctly. Is MCP the same thing as A+ and N+? or is it another certification?

please excuse my ignorance, but can you explain these certs. in a very small nutshell? A+, Network+, and MCP. thanks...

MCP is only another certification, meaning that you are fluent in at least one Microsoft Operating System. MCP, MCSA, and MCSE are vendored by Microsoft, while the A+, Network+ are vendored by CompTIA.

A+ means that you are a CompTIA Certified Computer Technician (and it's also a great start because if you are Entry-Level, you will need this one). This means that you are able to install, repair, troubleshoot computers the right way. Network+ means that you have understood the very basics of Networking and also have an understanding of Network Support and Administration. Both A+ and Network+ are from CompTIA, and any certifications you get from CompTIA are Vendor-Neutral.

CompTIA A+ Information: http://www.comptia.org/certification/a/default.asp

CompTIA Network+ Information: http://www.comptia.org/certification...rk/default.asp

Microsoft Certified Professional Information: http://www.microsoft.com/traincert/mcp/mcp/default.asp

It is recommended that you get certified in the following order: A+, Network+, MCP, MCSA, MCSE. That's 5 Separate Certificates.