Rob_Scarborough
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Registered: 19th Mar 01
Location: Scarborough
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Im wanting to change careers and move into the IT sector, ive got about 14 months notice to give with my current job and want to know what peoples thoughts are reference MCSE MCSA qualifactions. What would be the best route, so far ive looked at people like Computeach and Skills Train etc. All views and thoughts welcomed
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Daniel_Corsa
Premium Member
Registered: 21st Apr 04
Location: Wigton, Cumbria
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MCSE = 4 Microsoft Courses
MCSA = 7 Microsoft Courses
I've sat 3 courses so far, they are fairly intense and not cheap (luckily work paying for mine)
Windows XP
Server 2003 (installing / Config)
Server 2003 (Managing / Maintaining)
Its a good recognised qualification but also look at other courses such as cisco stuff!
Where I am, not alot of companies using it hence why I choose MCP's
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John
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Registered: 30th Jun 03
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Exams are only 100 quid each, materials can be had from the internet and there are also books.
Courses look like a lot of money for something you could do in the house.
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jamesw
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Registered: 28th Jun 02
Location: Station Town, County Durham
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i think you will find MCSA (ms cert system admin) is 4 course and MCSE (ms cert system engineer) is the 7.
So far ive done 70-270 (install and config winxp client)
70-290 (install and config win2k3 server)
and currently studying for 70-291 (manage a win2k3 server network)
Luckily work paying for mine as well
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John
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Registered: 30th Jun 03
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70-270 and 291 are easy if you've used a computer before, start getting a bit more complicated after that.
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Daniel_Corsa
Premium Member
Registered: 21st Apr 04
Location: Wigton, Cumbria
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quote:
Originally posted by John
70-270 and 291 are easy if you've used a computer before, start getting a bit more complicated after that.
270
290
291 - is a tad more in depth
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Andrew
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Registered: 5th May 04
Location: Skoda Octavia Estate, Ford Puma
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MCSE = 7 Microsoft Courses
MCSA = 4 Microsoft Courses
Got that the wrong way around Daniel.
Courses are fairly intense. I find the train signal videos are good and the Trancender exam questions. You will need the relevant MS book to go with them too. Work have purchased mine along with paying the £88 per exam.
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Deadude
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Registered: 30th Jun 07
Location: Spondon, Derby
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im looking into doing this once my apprenticeship is done am i right in thinking theres one exam per course ?
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Adam
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Registered: 1st May 01
Location: Hurstbourne Tarrant
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What previous IT knowledge have you got? unless you train to the highest level in a M$ product then don't expect to be paid much! if you're good at it generally have a look at some IT specific job sites and see what area's are getting paid well
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Andrew
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Registered: 5th May 04
Location: Skoda Octavia Estate, Ford Puma
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You need experience and qualifications to get bigger money.
Guy at my place is on 12.5k doing 1st line. I managed a lot more as i had a degree and 18 months experience.
You can do well in 18 months in you are prepared to work hard and get into the right working enviroment.
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Andrew
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Registered: 5th May 04
Location: Skoda Octavia Estate, Ford Puma
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quote:
Originally posted by Deadude
im looking into doing this once my apprenticeship is done am i right in thinking theres one exam per course ?
One exam per book as far i as i know.
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John
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Registered: 30th Jun 03
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It's 88 + vat per exam except the one I sat at a uni for which i was only charged the 88 quid with no vat for 
You don't need the book either, it can sometimes be handy, I have them and haven't used them yet, gets extremely boring reading them.
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Adam
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Registered: 1st May 01
Location: Hurstbourne Tarrant
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Books are all available off the web in pdf format if you know where to look 
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Daniel_Corsa
Premium Member
Registered: 21st Apr 04
Location: Wigton, Cumbria
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The eBay DVD's I find are best, the books get too tedious after a while!
But the lab manuals are quite good to work through!
I need to sit my exams for the following three:
70-270
70-290
70-291
Then I plan to do one more to get my self upto an MCSA its just finding the time to revise and sit the exams never mind another course!
Money really depends on how involved and at what level you are, my wage is not great at the moment but should increase (or better) when I pass the exams.
What field of IT are you looking to get into?
April '06' Corsasport Feature Car | Aug '08' Total Vauxhall Feature Car | Spring '09' Fast Car Feature Car
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John
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Registered: 30th Jun 03
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It's a pain in the arse trying to get time to sit the exams, they are supposed to be 4 hours etc but normally take about an hour.
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