Attention DoD Employees, Partners, and Hopefuls
October 15, 2009 at 2:44 pm | In Certification Paths, Transcender news | Leave a CommentTags: Certification Paths, DoD 8750.1
If you’re an employee, contractor, or partner of the Department of Defence (DoD) and you’ve been dragging your feet on meeting the 8750.1 Certification requirement, we’re here to help! Or if you’re looking to complete your credentials in hopes of landing a job with the DoD, we’re here to help you too! Transcender has mapped out the certification requirements along with nifty links to our study tools that will prepare you to pass those exams. We’ve also provided some key contact information in case you have any questions not covered on our Web site or in the DoD literature.
The Directive’s requirements are clear: ALL military, contract, civilian, or foreign employees with access to a DoD system must be certified by January 1, 2010, to be considered in compliance and avoid loss of funding to their organization. So check out the details of DoD 8750, and follow the Transcender roadmap to get you started!
–Aima Rotella
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From MCSE to the future of Microsoft certification
July 28, 2009 at 4:02 pm | In Certification Paths, Microsoft | Leave a CommentTags: Certification Paths
For a really great explanation of the business logic behind Microsoft’s shift away from the flagship MCSE certification toward a tangle of specialized certs, check out Geek of All Trades’ “Microsoft’s New Certifications: What They Are, Why They Matter.”
So if you’re still floundering and wondering what certification to strive for with current and forthcoming technologies, read the article. Also check out our related blog posts on the topic from Troy (The New MS Certifiications for Dummies) and Josh (Carving Out the .NET Certification Path).
The new Microsoft certifications and outside vendors: No credits at this time
October 22, 2008 at 4:29 pm | In CompTIA, Microsoft | 2 CommentsTags: Certification Paths, Security+
This follow-up to Troy’s post on the next wave of Microsoft certifications answers two questions:
- Do outside certifications, such as CompTIA’s Security+, still count as elective credits toward any Microsoft certifications?
- Where’s the new version of the MCSE: Security certification?
Let me sum up: Yes and no, and matter is never lost, just transformed.
Let me explain. I couldn’t find an answer to the first question on any Web site, so I went to the source and communicated with Rob at Born to Learn and with Carol at CompTIA. Both confirmed that Microsoft does not apply outside vendor certifications to any “new generation” MS cert – MCTS, MCITP, MCPD, MCM, or MCA – at this time. (You can find out exactly what is required on the Certifications Overview page.) I’m guessing this is because the new certifications were designed for a higher level of specialization and a shorter exam sequence.
However, if you are currently working toward your MCSA or MCSE – certifications that will remain valid for Windows 2000 Server and Windows Server 2003 for the duration of these technologies – then you can apply valid third-party certifications as an elective, same as before. Depending on your path, CompTIA’s A+, Network+, and/or Security+ certifications may count. Refer to this FAQ for more details.
The MCSE: Security specialization, as such, is no longer a supported path for Windows Server 2008 and related technologies. Microsoft did a really good job of explaining the hows and whys with this FAQ. As with other certifications, you can now pick the MCTS or MCITP that showcases your particular credentials, such as the MCTS: Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server.
For those of you working toward a CompTIA Security+ certification, the new exam was released on October 14. We will announce the Transcender pratice test version as soon as it is available. The changes at Microsoft have no effect on CompTIA certification paths.
The New MS Certifications for Dummies
October 16, 2008 at 4:11 pm | In Microsoft | Leave a CommentTags: Certification Paths, MCA, MCITP, MCM, MCPD, MCTS
Having outlined the basic types of IT certification exams, I’m now going tackle the current status of Microsoft certifications. This is directed at those of you who have been certified in the past and are thinking of brushing up, as well as first-time cert-seekers.
Roughly two years ago, Microsoft drastically altered their piece of the certification landscape. The monolithic and sought-after flagship brand certification, the MCSE, was replaced by a bewildering (to some) array of “job specific” certifications. Some IT professionals, career counselors, and employers are still trying to get a handle on this new series of certifications, which was revised again last month with the introduction of the Certified Master concept.
According to Microsoft, industry data showed that hiring managers disliked the MCSE concept, complaining that a MCSE title did not specify where, in the array of Microsoft products, a job seeker was actually proficient. To address this problem, MS created a new certification path designed to allow “specializations.” Without digging too deeply into all the certifications available (including upgrades and phase-outs), let’s look at the basic structure as it now stands.
The new series is organized in four levels meant to represent increasing capabilities in the technology. (There are four, even though they are represented in a three-tier graphic on the Microsoft Learning Web site.) The four levels and their descriptions are:
- Technology Series – These exams demonstrate basic understanding of a particular product. This is the entry-level certification to the specified technology (e.g. SQL Server 2008). Successful completion yields a MCTS (Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist) certification in several “flavors.” For example, for SQL Server 2008, you can obtain a MCTS in Active Directory Configuration, Network Infrastructure Configuration, or Applications Infrastructure. Each indicates a different specialization, and an employer might choose between two candidates in a more targeted manner than if both held an MCSA or MCP.
- Professional Series – These exams demonstrate a deeper understanding and also come in specializations. Successful completion yields a MCITP (Microsoft Certified IT Professional) certification or a MCPD (Microsoft Certified Professional Developer) certification. These also have several flavors. As examples of specializations under Server 2008, there are Support Technician, Enterprise Administrator and Server Administrator. Again, this may affect hiring decisions made by a company looking for one focus over the other. Continue reading The New MS Certifications for Dummies…
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