Microsoft Certified Training

[NetworkNinja]

I am wanting to do an exam to expand my knowledge but i am unsure what to choose. I am 21 Years Old and have been working in the education Sector since i left sixth form and since completing my apprenticeship i haven't really earned any other qualifications.

 

I'm the Main Network Technician in my school while working along side the senior network manager (He is now training to teach), I have basic understanding about servers.

 

But i would like to know more and would love to study towards an exam. which one would you recommend.

[jertsy]

I would say do the 70-410 and get your MCP, if you feel like it after take 70-411 & 70-412 to upgrade to an MCSA. Having said that their are many qualifications and paths just on Microsoft and even more elsewhere but I think the MCP is relevant to your job by the sounds of it.

 

*edit you could go the Server 2016 route too, I have server 2012R2 hence me doing the 70-410 as its relevant to my job.

Edited February 8, 2017 by jertsy

[Badzeye]

I did the comptia A+ and N+ and Microsoft MTA im now going through doing my MCSA as thats then another two exams for the MCSE then. What certs did you get on your apprenticeship?

[jertsy]

I did A+ and N+ first and that was a good introduction to the Microsoft stuff.

[NetworkNinja]

I would say do the 70-410 and get your MCP, if you feel like it after take 70-411 & 70-412 to upgrade to an MCSA. Having said that their are many qualifications and paths just on Microsoft and even more elsewhere but I think the MCP is relevant to your job by the sounds of it.

 

*edit you could go the Server 2016 route too, I have server 2012R2 hence me doing the 70-410 as its relevant to my job.

 

I would love to do this exam and i was considering it but i don't think i have the knowledge yet to undertake this. However i suppose if i read through the book and did practice questions/installation of windows server 2012 then i could possibility do it. Will take some time i suppose. if i pass the 2012 server exam then i will definitely consider doing the 2016. The problem is that all our servers already have everything installed and working so i haven't had the experience of installing any as of yet.

[NetworkNinja]

I did the comptia A+ and N+ and Microsoft MTA im now going through doing my MCSA as thats then another two exams for the MCSE then. What certs did you get on your apprenticeship?

 

At the top of my head it think it were: city & Guilds Level 2 Award in ICT System and Principles & City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in ICT Professional Competence. I will have to double check the certificates.

[jertsy]

Go onto the Microsoft virtual Academy, you can play and learn with VM's until your hearts content, IMO you will need hands on experience to pass the exam as theory just is not enough. As someone else suggested, maybe A+ or N+ would be an easier introduction.

[NetworkNinja]

Go onto the Microsoft virtual Academy, you can play and learn with VM's until your hearts content, IMO you will need hands on experience to pass the exam as theory just is not enough. As someone else suggested, maybe A+ or N+ would be an easier introduction.

 

I think you might be right, I suppose i could use them as a starting point. Then maybe in a year i could consider doing the Windows Server Exams.

 

I Love using Microsoft Virtual Academy, there is alot of useful stuff on there.

[Badzeye]

"At the top of my head it think it were: city & Guilds Level 2 Award in ICT System and Principles & City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in ICT Professional Competence. I will have to double check the certificates."

 

Sounds very similar to what I did on my apprenticeship then. I did A+ and N+ and the MTA on top of that and feel like it gave me a decent knowledge of things but passing the exams was nothing compared to what ive learned by doing the job.

Edited February 8, 2017 by Badzeye
forgot to quote text

[hardtailstar]

I'm just working through this one https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/learning/exam-70-680.aspx

 

Then going to work through the upgrade to Windows 10 then server side.

[GuyJD]

IMO you will need hands on experience to pass the exam as theory just is not enough.

I found that my hands on experience put me at a disadvantage when sitting Microsoft exams, after all there's the way everyone does it and there's the way Microsoft says you should do it.

[jertsy]

I found that my hands on experience put me at a disadvantage when sitting Microsoft exams, after all there's the way everyone does it and there's the way Microsoft says you should do it.

 

I dont understand, if you are being tested by MS and you have a simulation in front of you, I dont see how doing it your way can help. I know there is more than one way to skin a cat in the real world but for the purpose of the test you have to do it MS way. I just find the labs useful to learn where the settings are for the exam and in real life, just reading a book does not do it for me but everyone has different learning styles.

[GuyJD]

I dont understand, if you are being tested by MS and you have a simulation in front of you, I dont see how doing it your way can help. I know there is more than one way to skin a cat in the real world but for the purpose of the test you have to do it MS way. I just find the labs useful to learn where the settings are for the exam and in real life, just reading a book does not do it for me but everyone has different learning styles.

Simulations are different, if you are sitting their multiple choice exams then you have 4 very similar answers 3 of which will accomplish the task but only one is the "Microsoft" correct way.

[sted]

I found that my hands on experience put me at a disadvantage when sitting Microsoft exams, after all there's the way everyone does it and there's the way Microsoft says you should do it.

id tend to agree with that the questions are something like

 

what command would you use to find the mac address of a pc

 

a ipconfog

b ipconfog /all

c ipconfig

d ipconfig /all

 

or the awful pick three out of 5 (or whatever number) with very similar sounding options, put these in order (where a couple could be swapped round and it would still work)

 

its all multiple choice. The first one i did i literally booked the test read the book for a week went and passed.

 

Just be aware with ms exams at the centre leave your phone/watch/keys/wallet etc somewhere else (some provide lockers) as they wouldnt even let me take tissues in on my last one and i had a runny nose

[jertsy]

I did 70-410 last week and there were no gimme questions like that, I did some 10 years ago and there were that type of question but not now, I think MS have upped the anti in their current exams or maybe that was just my test. Loads of where do you click and simulation type questions. I guess I will find out when I sit the 70-411 next month

[PotNoodleTech]

If your school has an EES licencing agreement you should be able to access E-Learning courses via the Software Assurance part of the Volume Licencing Centre.

[GuyJD]

The last MS exam I did was on Installing and Managing server 2012 a good few years ago and the answers to the questions were all very similar, not as easy as the ipconfig example above but rather a good couple of sentences that all looked very similar with just slight variations in wording.

[DanTheLacky]

I found the Microsoft books in particular very wordy (I had 70-410 for server 2012r2 and 70-685 for windows 7 enterprise). When I done practice exams I would always get to the end, see I had a question wrong and be like "WTF that isn't wrong", then when re-reading the question / answers realize they did have typpo's in the answers or something. That is the one I was doing I believe @GuyJD .

 

Practicals, helped me learn / remember things a lot better, ebay is great for second hand equipment, servers, routers and switches that are a bit older can go for peanuts on there if you are willing to drive and collect from somewhere. There are also a few video sites that are great to accompany your reading. CBT nuggets and plural sight use to offer free trials, definitely do the reading as well though as videos alone will not help you pass in my opinion.

 

I would advise the most well known ones if you want to get certified, just for the hire-ability factor, Cisco and Microsoft are probably your best bet.

Edited February 9, 2017 by DanTheLacky

[hulsey1997]

Hello JJames

I hope you don't mind me contacting you. I noticed your Post regarding Microsoft Certified Training. I am 20 years old and in a Similar position myself to the position you are in within your work.

I am the IT Technician at a Secondary School. My Manager is keen for me to get more involved with the networking side though. I have a little bit of knowledge about the basics of networking but I am trying to find a course that will not only expand my knowledge here at the school but also give me career prospects should I move to another job in the future.

I read through all the comments you got back and they all sounded interesting. I was just wondering what Path did you take eventually? Was the course Expensive?

I have since been onto the Microsoft Certified Training Website and looked through all the courses they offer but just puzzled as to where to start for the best.

Look forward to hearing from you. Have a good day.

Many Thanks,

Hulsey1997