Live Meetings for IT Managers (The Truth About Certification Exams)

Please join us for a special Live Meeting series created specifically for managers of IT professionals and developers. Click below to register for: *** Whatever Happened to the MCSE? (and What’s This MCITP?) Thursday, January 28 at 8:00 A.M. Pacific Time (What time is this in my region?) *** The Truth About Certification Exams Thursday, February 25 at 8:00 A.M. Pacific Time (What time is this in my region?)

The MCSE was once the most popular certification for IT Pros and a guaranteed foot- in-the-door for a job interview. Although MCSE stepped out of the limelight following the release of Windows Server 2008, IT managers are still asking staff and candidates for this credential. So, what certification should you be looking for on resumes and training plans?  MCITP: Enterprise Administrator is the direct successor to the MCSE credential – with almost the exact same requirements and tested skills.

As an IT Manager, you look to Microsoft certification to help ensure candidates and team members have the qualifications to deploy, use, and manage the latest Microsoft technologies. Making sure that certification exams are a valid measure of technical skills is both an art and a science, and there is more to it than meets the eye!

Join psychometrician Liberty Munson to hear how Microsoft determines what questions to ask on a certification exam, how we set the passing score, how Microsoft maintains the quality of exams over time, and about new innovations such as Performance Based Testing.

Microsoft Exams released in November 2009

Exams released in November 2009	Preparation guide
PRO: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Administrator (English)	Exam 70-686
TS: Windows 7, Preinstalling for OEMs (English)	Exam 70-683
PRO: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician (English)	Exam 70-685

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MCITP: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician certification update

MSL will be offering a MCITP: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician certification. The requirements are not yet finalized. Microsoft expect to have final requirements shortly. Candidates wishing to pursue this certification can safely proceed to prepare for 680: Win 7, Configuring and 685: Win 7, EDST. Additional requirements will be announced by the end of December 2009. Upgrade requirements have not been determined yet and will be announced at the same time.

If you have any questions, post a comment here and Microsoft will have their certification product managers answer them.

One More Reason to Love Windows Server 2008 ITPro Certifications

On September 17, Microsoft received ANSI accreditation for two of the biggest Microsoft Certified Professional credentials!

· Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Windows Server 2008 Server Administrator

· Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Administrator

Accreditation for these credentials certifies that they meet the ISO 17024 (Personnel Certification Bodies) requirements. ANSI accreditation is recognized as the highest standard in personnel certification accreditation and is the only accreditation that is recognized by governments around the world.

Why is this so cool?

Accreditation means that you (and your manager/organization) can trust that we’ve applied strict international industry standards and rigor to the process of creating and maintaining these credentials. You can count on high quality, valid, and reliable exams, as required under the ISO 17024 standard.

Additionally, the US Government and other organizations are increasingly using ANSI accreditation to verify the quality of certification programs and to control fraud and misuse. In view of the proliferation of certification programs and the need to help the consumers make informed decisions, government agencies look to ANSI accreditation to differentiate quality programs and improve practices in industry. The ANSI accreditation process is designed to increase the integrity, confidence, and mobility of certified professionals.

Finally, this is a differentiator for Microsoft credentials in comparison to other IT credentials in the market. These two Microsoft credentials are the FIRST two product specific IT certifications to receive the ANSI accreditation under ISO 17024.

Clearly, accreditation is critical to the value of your certification. Because it puts an external stamp of approval on the rigor with which we develop and maintain exams, we plan to put more of our credentials through this process and are currently working on the MCSA–Security Specialization credential, which we hope will be accredited in December 2009. Keep watching this blog for more details.

NEW MICROSOFT BETA EXAMS AVAILABLE!

Two new Beta exams for all of you to try!

71-685: PRO: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician

Availability

Public Registration begins: September 14, 2009

Beta exam period runs: September 14, 2009- October 16, 2009

Please use the following promotional code when registering for the exam: EDST7

 

71-686: PRO: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician

Availability

Public Registration begins: September 14, 2009

Beta exam period runs: September 21, 2009- October 16, 2009

Please use the following promotional code when registering for the exam: EDA7

Windows 7 Certifications/Exams (MCTS & MCITP)

 

Certification	Exam Number
MCTS: Windows 7 – Configuration	Exam 70-680
MCITP: Enterprise Desktop Administrator 7	Exam 70-686 (available late 2009)

Hope this is helpful.

Exam 70-685: Pro: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician

Published:	September 14, 2009 (in development)
Language(s):	English
Audience(s):	IT Professionals
Technology:	Windows 7
Type:	Proctored Exam

 

Credit Toward CertificationWhen you pass Exam 70-685: Pro: Windows 7, Enterprise Desktop Support Technician, you complete the requirements for the following certification(s):

Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP): Enterprise Desktop Support Technician 7

Skills Being MeasuredThis exam measures your ability to accomplish the technical tasks listed below.The percentages indicate the relative weight of each major topic area on the exam.

 

Identifying Cause of and Resolving Desktop Application Issues (20 percent) Identify and resolve new software installation issues. This objective may include but is not limited to: installation permissions; local administrator requirement; licensing restrictions; digital signing Identify and resolve software configuration issues. This objective may include but is not limited to: enabling and disabling features; advanced settings; pointing to a network resource; changing the default settings on the image Identify cause of and resolve software failure issues. This objective may include but is not limited to: checking the logs; checking whether the application runs in Safe mode; running the application in a previous version of Windows; repairing the installation; checking recently added programs; restoring or reimaging the system Identifying Cause of and Resolving Networking Issues (23 percent) Identify and resolve logon issues. This objective may include but is not limited to: hardware vs. network; password expiration; trust relationships with machine accounts; determining logon context; logon hours compliance Identify and resolve network connectivity issues. This objective may include but is not limited to: determining scope of issue; determining whether it’s a PC or a network connectivity issue; TCP/IP; hardware and cabling; proxies; default gateway Identify and resolve names resolution issues. This objective may include but is not limited to: checking which DNS is assigned; flushing the DNS cache; nslookup to DNS server; checking the DHCP scopes Identify and resolve network printer issues. This objective may include but is not limited to: hardware failure; server issues; printer failure; network issues; driver issues Managing and Maintaining Systems That Run Windows 7 Client (21 percent) Identify and resolve performance issues. This objective may include but is not limited to: analyzing system and application logs; analyzing started services; setting power management; checking hard drive space; optimizing virtual memory Identify and resolve hardware failure issues. This objective may include but is not limited to: identifying bad sectors; diagnosing memory issues; recommending replacement hardware; updating the BIOS; determining which component is broken Supporting Mobile Users (18 percent) Identify and resolve wireless connectivity issues. This objective may include but is not limited to: signal strength; encryption types; encryption keys; wireless profiles; mobile devices Identify and resolve remote access issues. This objective may include but is not limited to: VPN client not connecting; IPv6 support; access and authentication to network resources Manage file synchronization. This objective may include but is not limited to: synchronizing offline files and folders; restoring the backup files; folder size limits; roaming profiles Identifying Cause of and Resolving Security Issues (18 percent) Identify and resolve Windows Internet Explorer security issues. This objective may include but is not limited to: adding trusted sites; advanced settings; installing plug-ins; identifying group policy restrictions; certificates Identify and resolve firewall issues. This objective may include but is not limited to: determining whether a port or a protocol needs to be enabled; determining whether access needs to be provided to an external address Identify and resolve issues due to malicious software. This objective may include but is not limited to: analyzing services; analyzing programs; analyzing processes; analyzing browser helper add-ons; user account control Identify and resolve encryption issues. This objective may include but is not limited to: requirements for installing; recovering encryption keys; key management Identify and resolve software update issues. This objective may include but is not limited to: identifying software update level; checking whether client is receiving regularly scheduled updates; identifying incompatibility of update with other applications

The New Features of Windows Server 2008 that All MCITP’s Should Study | NetworkWorld.com Community

The New Features of Windows Server 2008 that All MCITP’s Should Study | NetworkWorld.com Community.

Shipping and Handling Details for Microsoft Paper Certificates

Starting next week, if you’d rather not print your own certificates or have a local print shop do it, you can order a paper certificate from our fulfillment vendor.

We’ll post instructions and a link next week both here and on the MCP Member site, but since many of you have been asking “how much is this going to cost,” we can share that information now:

The base shipping and handling cost for a paper certificate is $9.95 USD—to anywhere in the world. One price, worldwide.

Additional information:

You can add additional certificates to your order (maximum of 6) for $0.99 each… so an order for 3 certificates would cost $9.95 + $0.99 + $0.99 = $11.93

There will be an “express shipping” option for faster delivery, at an additional fee of course. Don’t have the details on that yet.

Some U.S. residents will be charged sales tax (if you live in a state where our fulfillment vendor has facilities—I have no idea why, but it’s a legal requirement).

No sales tax or VAT outside of the U.S.

Only Visa, MasterCard, and American Express payments are accepted—no other payments of any type.

More details next week.

Microsoft Exams: Why Pay Retail?

So you took the training and now want to take the exam.

Exams cost money, so you may be searching the internet for a nice discount . I know I do, for most things I buy that really pay off (or it pays back).  

There is no need to search for the best deal, just ask your Microsoft Certified Trainer!

We just (re)launched a program that enables your MCT to offer you exam discount vouchers. Discounts may vary by country and are usually 10 or 20% off of the regular exam price in your country.

Detail: http://borntolearn.mslearn.net/2009/06/exams-why-pay-retail